AND

PLAN OF A COCOONERY,
manner; but, with the aid of diagrams, the diffi-
FIXTURES FOR TRE SPINNING OF THE Culty may possibly be overcome.

SILK-WORMS.

The advantages of the modern over the old fixtures, must be apparent on the slightest examina

The 'Directions for the management of Silk-tion, to every person who has any experience in the rearing of silk-worms. The slow and tedious worms,' translated for and published in the last vo- process of shifting the worms, and cleaning the lume of the Farmers' Register, (commenced at shelves of litter, is now entirely superseded; and page 464,) stopped at the period when the worms all the careful provision of brush and dried leaves, were ready to spin their cocoons. This was be-or of broom-corn and straw, is totally dispensed with. The management of the silk-worm is at cause it was not thought desirable to present the present conducted with a saving of labor and a very troublesome and yet defective European me-facility which were not attained in former times. thods of arranging the "hedges" or arcades of It is true that the expense of putting up these fixheath, bushes, &c. for the worms to climb and spin tures is considerably greater; but the additional upon. We are now enabled, by the aid of a cor durable, in the place of perishable materials-by cost is fully compensated by the substitution of respondent who has seen and observed much on neatness for clumsiness-by the attainment of inthis subject, to redeem the promise then made, o creased facilities in conducting the operations-in presenting a more simple and yet more perfect short, by a more perfect adaptation to the end to plan of fixtures, for this part of the business, here- Having enjoyed the opportunity of inspecting a be obtained. tofore the most difficult for novices to understand number of cocooneries during the past feeding from description, and still more difficult to execute. time, and being desirous of contributing my mite As a connecting link of the former 'Directions,' to the great work which is now exciting so much with the following communication,it is proper to say which appeared to me to unite the greatest numinterest, I submit a description of the building here, that after the general indications of the silk-ber of advantages.

worms being ready to climb and spin, such of them The building is 100 feet long by 30 feet wide, as still require more food, should have it given with in the clear, and two stories high, besides the basecare and moderation. After nearly all have mountment or cellar. The dimensions of a house, however, unless it is erected expressly for a cocoonery, ed, there will always be some slower ones remain-are of secondary importance. If 30 feet wide, ing, from their not having received enough food, or which is a very convenient size, there should be some other cause of injury. These should be remov-four ranges of shelves running lengthwise of the

ed to a place of greater heat, and well aired, which room. Each of these ranges, or rows of shelves, will hasten the maturity of all except such as may room, which will leave 18 feet to be divided into occupies a space of three feet of the width of the be too much injured to form cocoons.-ED. F. R. five aisles, or passages, each three and a half feet wide, viz.: two of the passages outside of the

For the Farmers' Register. shelves and between them and the walls, and Much as has been written on silk-culture at three between the several rows of shelves. There large, I have not observed in any of the publica- should also be three passages across the room, tions of the day, such a description of the fixtures namely, one at each end, and one in the middle, of a cocoonery, according to the most approved opposite the doors. The annexed drawing, though and convenient plan, as would enable an inexpe- not well proportioned, may convey an idea of the rienced culturist to have one constructed. It is, ground-work, or manner in which the rows of indeed, a difficult subject to treat in an intelligible shelves and passages are laid off.

b

FIG. 1. Part of the horizontal plan of the shelves, and passages.

f

i

i

i

FIG. 1. b, b, b, Part of outer wall of cocoonery. They are to be accurately ranged with each other, a, a, a, Parts of passages running lengthwise. (in the direction of the length of the shelves,) dd, e e, Cross passages.

A single row of posts serves for one row of render the whole description as intelligible as posshelves. The posts c, c, c, are of plank 8 inches sible, the reader is referred to the following drawwide by 1 inches thick; they reach from the ing, fig. 2, which represents the position of the floor to the ceiling, and are exactly 4 feet apart posts, and so much of one of the shelves as is infrom the centre of one to the centre of the other. [cluded between two of the posts.

FIG. 2. Horizontal plan, (on enlarged scale,) of the frame-work of a portion of the shelves.

cocoons are gathered with much greater facility. Instead of the old mode of picking them, one by one, out of brush and dried leaves, and separating them from the litter, a handful may be collected at once, without a particle of litter upon them. The situation, moreover, appears to be gratifying to them. They do not leave it in such large numbers as they frequently do other accommodations, to wander over the ceiling, or amongst the rafters of the building, before they can find a resting place. To enable the worms to ascend more readily, ladders of very simple construction are prepared. Take two very small laths, about half an inch square, and 3 feet long-lay them down on a work bench, at distances from each other equivalent to the spaces between the shelves, (say 13 or 14 inches,) and connect them together by a twine cord, fastened to tacks driven in the laths every three or four inches. The tacks on the upper lath are not perpendicularly over those in the lower, but over the middle of the intermediate space; by which, the twine is inclined, as in the zigzag lines (b b, &c.) of fig. 3. When the worms are

to the width of the shelf, and the distance between the posts; say 3 feet by 3 feet 10 inches, which will allow a quarter of an inch play between the posts. The vacant spaces between the hurdles and opposite to the posts, should be closed by strips of a suitable size when the worms are ready to spin; otherwise, some of them will form their cocoons in these vacancies. The frames of the hurdles are made of laths 2 inches by gths. The most expeditious, as well as the strongest, way of putting them together, is to lay the laths flut in a mitre box; and saw off the pieces into proper lengths. Then with a brace-bit, bore a hole (in horizontal direction,) at each corner of the frame, and fasten together with pins. It is best that the hole should be bored as near to the inner angle of the corner, as the length of the bit will allow; and it would add still more to the strength of the frame, to dip the pins in glue, and even to glue the joints. The network, which is made of well twisted, smooth cotton twine, is first tied to each corner of the frame, and then stretched by means of a string passed through the outer row of meshes, and drawn over tacks or small nails driven on the up-ready to climb, the ladders are suspended over per side and near the inner margin of the laths, at each end of every hurdle, near the posts, by loops distances of three or four inches from each other. a a, attached to one of the strips of the ladder. The meshes are about an inch square, tied together at the corners like a seine. This net is obtained at the north at a very moderate cost, not exceeding 8 cents the square yard. There is an inferior article which is woven, that costs about 6 cents. Either of them, however, could readily be prepared in most families.

b

a

0

FIG. 3.

a

ი

The changing of the worms renders it necessary that the number of hurdles should be greater than merely sufficient to occupy the shelves at any one time. Perhaps half as many more would constitute a full supply. In feeding, the hurdle lies on the shelf with that side underneath, and in contact with the shelf, to which the network is attached. Another fixture for saving labor, is a car which When the operation of shifting the worms and runs up and down the passages-to be filled with carrying off the litter is to be effected, a fresh hur- leaves when the worms are fed, and to receive the dle is placed in the same position, immediately litter when they are cleaned. It is made low over the one which contains the worms, and rest- enough to pass under the lowest shelves, and the ing upon it. Cut leaves are then to be sprinkled wheels are kept in place by means of strips nailed over it; and in a short time, a few hours at most, down to the floor of the room, like the rails on a worms will have crawled upon the upper hurdle, rail-road. It serves very much to facilitate the when the lower one is to be withdrawn and emp-progress of operations in a cocoonery where labor tied of its contents. By this process, great num- is not abundant; and indeed, under any circumbers of worms are changed in the course of a day, stances, it is a great convenience. without any necessity for handling or even touching them.

The materials for fitting up a cocoonery should be of the lighest wood, either poplar or any species of pine; and though not absolutely necessary, it would contribute greatly to the neat appearance of the whole work, if all the pieces were dressed, however slightly, with a plane.

But the chief merit of a cocoonery, such as 1 have attempted to describe, consists in the accommodations which are afforded to the worms for spinning. Immediately over the worms, at the bottom of the shelf above, amongst the sills and It may be thought that the plan of having dousleepers (so to say,) on which the floors of the ble rows of shelves, as in Count Dandolo's coshelves are laid, they find a place adapted to all coonery, and indeed in many in this country built their wants. In the recesses formed by the junc-after the model of his, would possess advantages tion of the laths with the planks of the shelves, I over the one now described. The wide passages have seen thousands of cocoons beautifully and which would thereby be gained, would certainly regularly arranged. According to this plan, it will be a great acquisition; but it is at least questionabe necessary to have an extra shelf fitted up in ble whether the inconvenience of having to reach the same manner, above the highest one on which over shelves six feet wide, would be at all compenthe worms are reared. The advantages of this sated by this advantage. But to say nothing of fixture for spinning, are several. It offers to the feeding, the fixtures for spinning, though they worms a quiet and secluded situation, at a time might be fitted up in one case as well as in the when they should not be subjected to interruption; other, would scarcely be available when the time while such as are backward in mounting, may be arrived for gathering the cocoons. The wide attended to, and supplied with food as ususal. The shelves however, are now generally disapproved.

They are heavy and clumsy in appearance, and inconvenient in practice.

count, deserves the more attention, as showing what may be done.

The spaces that silk worms require, do not seem The dairy stock in England which seems to to be very accurately defined. Of American wri- have the preference over all others, is the Ayrters, (who all follow the European authorities,) shire. The origin of this stock is not well ascer some speak of square feet, others of feet square; tained; but though it has some of the qualities of and others again simply mention the quantity of the improved Durham, it is a race distinct from feet, without stating whether it is linear or super-that. Great pains have been taken and great exficial measure. Each hurdle, however, of the di-penses incurred, in order to introduce this fine mensions previously described, may accommodate Ayrshire race of cows into our state, by the Masa thousand worms during their last age; and from sachusetts Agricultural Society, and by an inthis datum, an estimate may be formed of the telligent and public-spirited friend to agricultunumber that a room of any prescribed size will ral improvement in Watertown. I regret that I contain. A room for instace, 100 feet long and am not able to obtain such returns as would ena30 feet wide, with four rows of shelves, and five ble me to speak confidently of the merits or deshelves to a row-allowing for a cross passage in fects of this stock, so far as these cases go; but I the middle and one at each end-will contain 440 am safe in saying, that some slight disappointshelves, and accommodate 440,000 worms. For ment has been experienced. It is probable, from every additional tier of shelves, which however the celebrity which they had obtained abroad, tog could not conveniently exceed three more, the much was expected from them here. Extravanumber might be increased 88,000, or amount in gant statements have been made respecting their the aggregate to nearly 700,000. But foreign produce in Scotland. One of the advocates for writers allow a still greater number to a house of this stock, and a man upon whose authority great these demensions. The laboratory of Count Dan-reliance is placed, has undertaken to calculate predolo, in which he reared the worms from twenty cisely the number of quarts of milk given, and ounces of eggs, equal to more than 700,000, was the number of pounds of cheese made, from what 77 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 12 feet high. The is stated to be in money the average produce of number of shelves it contained is not specified. an Ayrshire cow. This is certainly rather a loose Experience alone can determine this point to gen- way of reaching the result. Entire reliance can. eral satisfaction; and until it is settled, silk-grow-not be placed upon it. This, another distinguish. ers should rather err on the sate side, by allowing ed Scotch farmer and dairyman admits; and says abundant space to their worms. that "those statements are far too high and not Although the most approved plan for construct-well founded."

ing a cocoonery, has been attempted to be detail- He refers to a farmer, on whose exactness he ed, including the most convenient size for the entirely relies, whom he pronounces a man of building, yet fixtures of a much more clumsy de-superior intelligence and accuracy, and who has scription will answer very well on a diminished devoted himself to dairy husbandry, and, farther, scale; and almost any house, even a barn or tobacco house, will serve for a cocoonery, provided a sufficient circulation and ventilation can be effected. But when the business is entered into extensively and systematically, the silk-grower will doubtless find it to his interest to build houses expressly for the purpose, and have them fitted up with a view to the greatest economy of time and labor, as well as to durability. "Whatever is well done, is twice done," says the old adage. But costly cocooneries, and convenient fixtures, alone, will not command success. The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. Those who devote the most unremitted attention, by night as well as by day, in season and out of season, will be most likely to succeed. T. S. PLEASANTS.

DAIRY STOCK.

From the Second Report of the Agriculture of Massachusetts.

The farmers are unanimous in their preference of the common native stock of the country, in which the Devon blood predominates, to any foreign stock with which they are acquainted. They are in general as decided in their preference of small, over large-sized cows. They are not, however, raisers of stock; and buy their cows wherever they can find them, according to their best judgment. The remarkable produce, if so it be considered, is to be attributed to extraordinary good management and keeping; and on this acVOL. VII-32

whose stock were particularly select, and "who had every inducement to keep them in the highest condition requisite for giving the largest product in milk." The farmer referred to, states, that at the best of the season the average milk from each cow is nine Scots pints (4 gailons,) and in a year, 1300 Scots pints or 650 gallons. A Scots pint is two quarts. Now, allowing these cows to be in milk 320 days, the average yield of a cow would be 8 of a quart per day. But if we understand this to be wine measure, which is the usual standard of measurement in England, and compare it with our customary admeasurement of milk in Massachusetts, which is always beer measure, we must deduct one fifth; and then the average product of an Ayrshire cow, compared with ours, is 6 qts. per day for 320 days. Such a yield is often surpassed by cows of our native stock. I have before me the case of a cow of native stock among us, who. in 268 days, yielded 2923 beer qts. of milk; and of another, that produced 3975 beer qts. of milk in ten months. 1 can produce, within my own knowledge, a list of nearly fifty cows of native stock, almost as productive as these. I do not mean to undervalue the imported stock. Far from it. I deem the introduction of the Ayrshire stock and the improved Durham short-horn, a great benefaction to the country. Their tendency to fatten, their early maturity, their beautiful proportions, highly com mend them to our good will and our interests. As yet, we have not had, by any means, a sufficiently fair trial of their dairy properties so as to deter mine fully, either for or against them; and it has

been found here, in repeated instances, as it has | deed, 150 lbs. ; but this is made upon mixed proved abroad, that a cow, from a cross of an im- stock, which affords no certain data. In the Epproved Durham with the Devon, has given a va- ping district, where there is an indiscriminate mixJuable animal for the dairy. But among the great ture of Devon, Suffolk, Leicester, Holderness, and advantages which is to result from the introduction Scotch, the calculation, in a well-managed dairy, of this improved and beautiful stock, is this: to amounts to 212 lbs.; that is, 6 lbs. per week dugive our farmers a knowledge of what can be ring 26 weeks, and 4 lbs. per week, during 14 done by skill, intelligence, care, selection, and weeks. The average product of cheese in the perseverance in the art of breeding animals for best dairies, where the whole milk and cream are any purpose; in obviating defects of form, con-used, cannot be estimated at more than 4 cwt.stitution, and habit; and in perpetuating and that is, 448 lbs. On deep grazing soils, that carry transmitting excellent and desirable properties. a heavy stock, a well-managed cow is reckoned to In the Ayrshire stock, and in the improved short-make from three hundred and sixty pounds to six horns, the most shrewd and persevering efforts hundred pounds. In Somersetshire, the average have been exerted, and the highest practical skill is 4 cwt., or 540 lbs.; in Essex not so high, and and philosophy have been taxed to carry this race in the midland counties something more than 3 to as great a degree of perfection as any thing of cwt." It will be seen, in looking back upon the the kind can be; and the success has been deci-dairy returns in some parts of this county, that sive and wonderful. Excepting in one instance, they are inferior to these, not frequently passing to which I shall hereafter refer at large, perhaps beyond 250 or 300 lbs. of new milk cheese. On there cannot be found in the whole of New Eng- the other hand, the returns of some of the dairies land, a single instance of any enlightened, de-in Cheshire show an actual amount of annual protermined, and systematic attempt to form a race duce of more than 500 lbs. to a cow, and in some of animals of particular and desirable properties. cases 627 and 632 lbs. It may be said, that this It is most important that this should be attempted is owing to the fine pasturage which is to be found in different parts of our country, with what are in Cheshire and its vicinity; to the particular care called our native stock, who have become, in va- which is taken of the cows; and the system of rious ways, so crossed and mixed up, that there is high feeding adopted. But it shows conclusively in truth no particular race among them. A large that the cows are capable of being brought to this portion of them are as ungainly, unthrifty, and productive yield; and the feed and management unproductive as can well be represented or ima-are matters which can be adopted any where. gined. Yet there are among them so many extraordinary animals-extraordinary for their pro

CHUSETTS FARMER.

From the same.

duce in milk, butter and cheese-that a few years REMARKABLE DAIRY PRODUCTS. A MASSAof careful and intelligent selection from the materials already to our hand, and a strict observance of those philosophical principles of breeding which are well ascertained and understood, would This farmer has now a dairy of 24 cows; and undoubtedly give us a breed of animals, a stock they produce a cheese per day, weighing about or race of animals, greatly superior to that which 100 lbs. Supposing that it requires a gallon of now exists among us. This has been attempted milk to produce one pound of cheese, this would in one instance by a highly intelligent breeder | give 400 quarts of milk per day, or at the rate of among us; and he is now able to show three 16 of a quart to a cow. These cows are all of generations of animals of as extraordinary charac- native stock; most of them raised by himself. ter for the creamy or butyraceous quality of their His average product of new milk cheese to a cow milk, as has ever been known; two quarts of in a season, is between 500 and 600 lbs. Last what is called the strippings, the last part drawn year the actual yield was 598 lbs. to a cow. Of off of the milk of one of these cows, having re-his 24 cows last year, two were heifers of two peatedly produced one pound of butter; and the years old, just come in. Four years since he was cream, as it came from the pans, as I have seen the owner of a cow, whose milk in the best season myself, becoming by churning converted into but-amounted by actual weight to 70 lbs. per day. ter of the finest description in less than one mi-During the time of her greatest yield, she was fed nute by the watch; and this process repeated at pleasure.

Let us now compare the amonnt of cheese made by the English dairies, with some in this county of which I have here given an account.

with four pails of cheese whey, and some rye Imeal. She was of native stock. This farmer has a heifer from her, which gives, as he supposes, 60 lbs. of milk per day. He gives an opinion, which, from his successful experience, certainly deserves An Ayrshire cow, it is said by the English au- attention; that heifers which "come in" with thorities, will yield 257 lbs. butter per annum, or their first calf at two years old, do better than about 5 lbs. per week, all the year round, besides when their coming in is delayed until three years raising the calf; or of new milk cheese, about 514 old. Their milking properties are in this way imlbs. There returns are certainly large; but they proved. Probably he is right in this matter; but rest upon a calculation of the quantity of milk, the general experience of the best farmers recomwhich the cow is supposed to yield, rather than mends that, if a heifer comes in at two years old, upon any account of an actual yield. None at she should not be allowed to have another calf, least is given. This, therefore, is not so satisfac-under at least eighteen months from this time. tory as it would be, if it were a precisely ascer- The establishment of this farmer is substantial tained result. One of the best authorities says, and independent. As far as the common comforts that in England, "a well-fed cow of a good breed of life are concerned, little more seems to be dewill produce, upon an average, 180 lbs. of butter sired. Good air, good water, plenty of bread, in the season. The common calculation is, in- I plenty of fuel, plain and substantial clothing made