years, since which spotted faces have been most sought after, chiefly, perhaps, from their having been predominant in the stock of that eminent improver of the Hereford breed, the late Mr. Benjamin Tomkins. There has, however, lately been propagated a notion, that the largest frames accompany the former color, and it has consequently become more in vogue again. How far such a notion is well founded, the production of the most valuable oxen will best determine. Mr. Kedward's herd (the whole of which were sold in the most reserved and honorable manner) amounted to 74 head, which averaged-including 21 young calves which were sold separately from the cows-about £26; the cows and heifers averaging a little more than £30. Three cows, with calves, averaged £80, and a bull calf, ten months old, £80. The company was very numerous and respectable, and the arrangement admirable. The principal part of the stock was bought, too, by county men. I am, sir, yours, &c. Hereford, February 10, 1839. EXTRACTS E. F. WELLES. FROM THE PROCEEDINGS "CHUCKATUCK AGRICULTURAL CLUB." Communicated for the Farmers' Register. OF In pursuance of adjournment the "club" met on Wednesday 9th day of January, A. D. 1839. at the Masonic Hall in Chuckatuck, at 10 o'clock same in like manner as the first, and make a like report to this society, at its regular meeting in November next. 3rd. Resolved, That as many of the members of this society as conveniently can, will cultivate the present year, any number of acres of land (but not less than a quarter of an acre) in ruta baga turnips-the land to be manured and prepared, and the seed to be sown either broadcast or in drills, at the option of each party-the crop when ripe to be judged or measured, and the quantity made, mode and manner of cultivation, and manuring all reported to this society, at its meeting in November next. The preamble and resolutions were then successively adopted by the meeting. On motion of Mr. -it was resolved, That it is the opinion of this society, that industry, enterprise and skill, are eminently essential to the attainment of great success in almost every undertaking in life-and particularly in the great business of agriculture-on the prosperity of which mainly depends the success of almost every other occupation. Therefore, Resolved further, that the members of this society will give increased attention and diligence to the improvement of their lands and stock, the developements of science, and to any and every thing that may have a tendency to advance their interest in a pecuniary, moral and social point of view. Mr.- -offered the following resolution: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, whose duty it shall be forthwith to memorialize the general assembly of Virginia on the subject of agriculture, and to ask such aid and assistance in behalf of the same, as to the wisdom of the asMr. Day, chairman of the committee to corres-sembly may seem just and due to the great and pond with breeders of improved stock, &c., and reported that the committee had discharged that duty and proceeded to read a letter from Caleb N. Bement, esq. of Albany, New York, on the the subject, which was ordered to be filed. A. M. Dr. Crawley Finney, the president, took the chair, and called the meeting to order. Mr. Harrell, offered the following preamble and resolutions. paramount (though neglected) interest of the state. This resolutoin was unanimously adopted; and Doct. John French, John Crocker, John C. Crump, Dr. Crawley Finney, and Robert Lawrence, esqs., appointed the committee to carry the same into immediate execution. The meeting then adjourned Believing that competition in agricultural, as On Thursday, the 11th day of March, its reguwell as in the other pursuits of life, is highly con-lar day, the club met again and fixed on the folducive to both improvement and profit, and with lowing premiums for the present year, to be the view to the attainment, of those two valuable awarded at the regular meeting in November objectsnext, to wit: For the best crop in the aggregate, 1st. Be it Resolved, That as many of the mem-twenty dollars; for the best pen of hogs to be bers of this society as conveniently can, will se- raised the present year, ten dollars; the best milch lect from their best lands any number of acres, cow and calf, five dollars; the best yoke of oxen, from one to ten, and cultivate the same the pre-five dollars; and for the cheapest and best consent year in corn, each party, to select his own structed manure cart, five dollars. kind of seed, and to manure and cultivate his land in any mode that he may think best, so as to make the largest crop, that the land cultivated may be capable of producing; each crop, when ripe, to be accurately measured; and the quantity made, kind of seed used, and the particular mode and manner of manuring and cultivating, and the expense of the manure, all reported to the regular meeting of this society, in November next. CRAWLEY FINNEY, Pres't. MEMORIAL TO THE LEGISLATURE. Your memorialists have been charged with the duty by the "Chuckatuck Agricultural Club" of Nansemond county, of presenting to your hono2nd. Resolved, That in order to ascertain the rable, body a petition, soliciting your attention to difference between the production of our richest the great and paramount interest of agriculture. lands when highly manured and cultivated, and In the discharge of this duty, your memorialists our poorest when similarly manured and culti-beg leave to express a decided conviction that it vated-each member of this society who shall is essential to the best interest of the state that enter the lists of competition under the above re-speedy and efficient measures be adopted to elicit solution, will also take a like number of acres of and encourage efforts to improve and fertilize the his poorest land and manure and cultivate the soil of the state. In the judgment of your memo rialists it can scarcely fail to excite astonishment, I may be raised in this way, and that good silk and that whilst nearly every other interest of the state a tolerable profit may result from it. But when has been made the subject of frequent and ex- those who preach such doctrine as the above citing discussion, of bold and energetic legislative shall have had a few years experience, they will enactments, and of large expenditures of the com- concur with the writer of these essays in saying, mon treasure, it has hitherto been well nigh im- that, though barns and sheds will do tolerably possible to attract to agriculture, the great source well, properly constructed cocooneries will do of wealth and power to all communities, that at- much better; for, though the former will yield a tention which could induce the legislature to pass small profit, the latter only can be depended upon any laws, or to appropriate any money, having for a satisfactory result at all times and under all essentially and directly in view the advancement circumstances. All will admit, that some corn of its interest. Your memorialists cannot under- can be produced from ground badly ploughed, stand the advantage or propriety of intersecting poorly tilled, and subject to depredation from catan impoverished and steril country with canals tle for want of a good fence; but surely that and rail-roads, nor can they perceive the wisdom would be a poor argument with good farmers of aiming to draw to the bosom of the common-against a higher grade of cultivation and attenwealth the abundant productions of distant, and as yet, virgin soils, to the neglect of our own agricultural resources. The soil of Virginia, once rich and bounteous in its productions, though now fearfully deteriorated, is capable, in the judgment of your memorialists, of rapid and profitable reno-writer has several times proved, that, with close vation. tion; they will know, that, though the soil will do much, it is from their care and industry that the main profit of the crop is to be derived. With silk culturists, care and attention, with proper cocooneries and fixtures, are all important. The attention the worms can be made to spin their To the minds of your memorialists all the motives cocoons in twenty-five days; whereas ordinarily arising from patriotism, love and veneration for they require forty-two days; and that of the conative soil, and of interest, urge to the adoption of coon, produced in twenty-five to twenty-eight every measure calculated to effect this great object. days, only eight pounds were required to make a Your memorialists will not presume to dictate to pound of raw silk; while it took ten pounds of your honorable body the measures to be adopted those produced in forty-two days; and further, it to accomplish the object they have in view, but required one-eighth more raw silk from the latter will venture to suggest that, inasmuch as all scien- to make a pound of finished silk that it did of the tific and practical improvements in agriculture former. These are practical facts which every contribute to the public benefit, it justly becomes one's experience will demonstrate that tries the the subject of legislative enactments, and a portion experiment. It is a curious circumstance, and we of the public treasure may justly be appropriated will try to reduce it to figures, to show the differfor its encouragement; a measure, which, if suc-ence in parallel columns: cessful, would add to the wealth and resources of the state, give increased value to all her public improvements, by adding greatly to the transportation of produce and of travel, increase her population, and add most essentially to the value of her lands, and what is of still more importance, destroy the spirit and practice of emigration, cannot be deemed an unfit subject of legislation. The power and wealth of the state directed by your honora-33 lbs. of this raw silk ble body may speedily effect improvements which the insulated efforts of individuals may in vain endeavor to accomplish. Believing in the correctness and importance of these views, your memorialists would earnestly solicit from your honorable body that attention which the subject justly claims. JOHN FRENCH, JOHN CROCKER, JOHN C. CRUMP, CRAWLEY FINNEY, ROBT. LAWRENCE, 100,000 worms, 42 days, Profit, will make 24 lbs. 100,000 worms, 28 days, pound, 416 lbs. co $165 00 coons will make 52 $260 00 100 00 Cost of labor, leaves, 67 00 65 00 Profit, 193 00 By the other system, 65.00 Difference, $128.00 $192 00 The above estimates are, it is believed, strictly correct. If they vary from the results of actual practice, it is believed to be in favor of the negligent system rather than against it. But is said Committee. they raise sila-worms and make silk in the cabins of the peasantry of France and Italy, every little family keeping them in their small cabins, in the THE COCOONERY-FIXTURES--FEEDING SILK-midst of their children &c. and hence an argu WORMS, &c. By Gideon B. Smith. From the Journal of the American Silk Society. It is a common remark that silk-worms require no particular building or fixtures, and nothing but the most ordinary attention; that they do as well in barns and open sheds as any where else; and that wet weather and damp night air do them no injury. It is readily admitted, that silk-worms ment is drawn in favor of negligence. We should scarcely deem it necessary to waste time in refuting such argument, were it not for the mistaken notion so generally prevalent, that in France and Italy the silk business is universal, has arrived at perfection, and that whatever is done there by the people at large must be right; when the fact is, that there is as much effort now making in those countries to improve the system of silk culture as there is here. There are numerous periodicals published there, devoted to the improvement of thick, and about two inches wide. Mark off the sides and ends on the upper surface with compasses, three-fourths of an inch apart, and place half-inch tacks with heads in the marks, driven the silk culture; not only to the improvement, but in existence alike in this respect. Some have to the introduction of it in those countries gene-nothing but simple board shelves, six to eight feet rally. This will no doubt surprise many of our long, supported upon cleets at each end, and made countrymen, but is not the less true. The French to draw out and in at pleasure. Others have periodicals are laboring hard to introduce it into frames of the same dimensions, with net-work France generally. They even publish diaries bottoms, and provided with sliding shelves two or of the work (such as that in the third number of three inches below to catch the ordure that falls the Journal*) to show to the people that they can from them. I have preferred the latter to simple make silk there, to teach them how to do it, and boards; but Mr. Whitmarsh, who has for many the profit of the culture. The truth is, that in the years fed worms extensively, and who at first used larger portion of the south of Europe, the silk net-work hurdles, prefers the simple boards, and business is as new as it is here; and even in those now uses them altogether. Of course there can districts where it is cultivated, the systems of cul- be but little, if any advantage in the former, or he ture are generally of the rudest character. Hence would not have abandoned them; and there must the efforts of public men there to improve the bu- be some advantage in the latter, to authorize his siness. They recommend by precept and exam-laying aside the net-work and resorting to the ple, cocooneries and fixtures constructed expressly board shelves in his extensive establishment. for the business; and lay down in the most mi- Hurdles.-The net-work hurdles may be made nute manner, rules for the management of the most cheaply in the following manner: The frames worms from day to day. It will, therefore, be are formed like the outside frames of a window well for us, as beginners and learners, to com-sash, of seasoned pine or poplar stuff, an inch mence right, and to practise the art in the best possible manner; to begin, indeed, at the highest grade to which the Europeans have arrived, and to improve even upon that. Cocooneries. In the construction of cocoone-nearly to the head. Then take a ball of doubled ries, regard should be had to convenience of form and eligibility of the site. A long low building is more convenient than one several stories high; and a high airy situation is preferable to a low one. A building intended to accommodate 1,000,000 of worms, must be eighty feet long by forty feet in width, one story high; or in that proportion. I think a better form would be one hundred feet long by thirty-two in width, which would afford the same room. A plain frame building is best. It should be weather-boarded, and instead of laths and plaister, the walls should be tightly boarded also. There should be windows every six or eight feet on each side, with shutters; and ventilators along the sides near the floor, and under each row of hurdles, and also in the ceiling, to admit of a free circulation of air when necessary; and so arranged with shutters that they may be closed at pleasure. The building should be raised three or four feet from the ground, on pillars, to insure its freedom from damp, and to admit the passage of pure air from below. This also renders it more inaccessible to rats and mice, which are very destructive to silk-worms. It will be a great advantage if the building have an upper story or half story, as it will protect the cocoonery in the lower story from the heat of the sun, and will be very useful as a store room for cocoons, and many other uses. Where there are high trees to shade the roof, they will be found of great benefit; but they should be trimmed of their branches as high as the top of the building, to guard against dampness, and to secure a free circulation of air around the building. Fire places should be provided in each side and end of the cocoonery, for the purpose of drying the atmosphere in damp weather. Or, what is still better, air furnaces may be provided in small cellars under each end of the cocoonery, for this purpose. The fixtures for a cocooney are properly constructed hurdles or shelves on which to feed the worms. There are, probably, no two cocooneries * M. Amans Carrier's-republished from Farmers' Register, (p. 89, vol, vii.)-ED. F. R. VOL. VII-37 and twisted cotton twine, tie the end to the first tack on one corner, and pass it to the other side, around the heads of two of the tacks next to the opposite corner, drawing tightly, and return to the second tack on the first, passing round the head of that and the next, and returning to the third and fourth tacks on the other side, and so on till all the tacks are occupied, and driving down the tacks so that they will confine the twine. Then turn the hurdle the other way, and fasten the end of the twine to the first tack in the corner and pass the double twine alternately over and under two of the cross threads to the other side, passing the loop over two tacks drawing them tightly and driving down the tacks; thus continuing till the whole hurdle is finished. The meshes will thus be three-quarters of an inch square. I have made them by perforating the frames with a brad-awl; and others make them by sawing the frames across at the proper distances, about a quarter of an inch deep and passing the twine through the track made by the saw. I think those made with tacks much the simplest, and as good as any other. Messrs. Jenks and Ramsburg of Frederick make them in that way. A couple of men can make twenty to thirty in a day. Others make regular netting, and stretch it over the corners of the frames, and confine it to them with cords. The size of these hurdles depends upon the fancy of those who make them. They are generally four to six feet long, and two to three feet wide. I think two and a half feet by four, the most convenient size. Standing posts.-To support the hurdles, upright posts are required from the floor to the ceil ing, just far enough apart, lengthwise, to admit the hurdles between them. If the hurdles are five feet long and two and a half wide, then the posts should be five feet apart in the clear, lengthwise, and two feet apart the other way. Cleets nailed across these posis, one foot apart, beginning one foot from the floor, serve to support the hurdles, which may be drawn out and in like a drawer. The posis may be made from three-inch joists. For small establishments, or when the room is required for other purposes after 1 the silkworms have done with it, moveable frames | to, and should be thrown away. The worms are made, by merely morticing cross and side- always come out in the morning, and should be rebraces into the posts near the top and bottom. moved to their tables and fed immediately, the They may then be moved about conveniently. leaves on which they were removed being their When net hurdles are used, it is necessary to have first meal, and will last them till towards evening, other shelves, with either board or paper bottoms, when fresh leaves should be laid over them. to slide under the net hurdles two or three inches Cutting the leaves.-Some persons direct the below them, to catch the filth that falls from the leaves to be cut into small pieces while the worms netting above. Some have them made like the are small; but I never could discover any advanframes of the hurdles, and covered with thin cottage in it, as the worms will cut them fast enongh, ton cloth; others cover them with paper. But I as Mr. Whitmarsh well remarks. A young think thin boards will be found most convenient, worm, not two hours old, will cut through the and, in the end, cheapest. The great object middle of the oldest and hardest mulberry leaf in to be gained in choosing the kind of hurdles two minutes. In feeding the worms, my rule is, is, to accommodate the greatest number of worms to give them a few leaves at a time, and to supin the least possible space, and yet to allow them ply them with fresh ones as often as they consume sufficient room, with a free circulation of air, and them-night and day. It is directed by the French also to be convenient for feeding and cleaning. and Italian writers, that a certain quantity, by The frames for the hurdles should therefore, be weight, must be given them a certain number of arranged in rows, with alleys between them, wide times each day; but I have always found that enough to afford room for the attendants to pass they do best, begin to spin their cocoons soonest, freely, with, with large baskets of leaves. The and make better and more silk, when fed as much alleys ought to be, at least, four feet wide. as they can eat, night and day, from the time they Hatching the Eggs, and Feeding the Silkworms are hatched till they begin to spin. I do not re-next claims attention. The proper season for commend large quantities of leaves to be laid hatching the eggs is, when the mulberry leaves, upon the hurdles at one time; but rather moderate in an ordinary season, have attained the size ones, and that they should be continually watchof half a dollar. Naturally, the silkworm will ed, and supplied with fresh food as often as the hatch without human aid, simultaneously with former supply is consumed, or becomes in the least the developement of the mulberry leaf; but it is wilted, even if they require feeding every hour. best to keep them back a week or two if possible, I cannot sufficiently impress upon the mind of the that the leaves may attain some size. If the eggs reader the importance of this rule. On a previhave been kept in an ice-house, it would be well ous page, I have given the results of the contrary to take them thence to a cellar, and thence to practice and that here recommended, in parallel a cool room, leaving them twenty-four hours columns, and I once more assure the reader of in each, and then to the hatching-room. A the correctness of those results. It may startle sudden transition, from the low temperature of some persons to be told that they must attend to the ice-house to that of the hatching-room, might the worms at night, and therefore it is as well to injure them. When they have been kept in a inform them that they need not do so; that they cellar, they ought to remain a day or two in will make excellent silk and a fair profit, too, by a cool room before exposure to the warm hatching-feeding well during the day; and giving them a room. If the weather be warm, the hatching- full feed on leaving them at night. But they must room will be warm enough without artificial heat; be informed that, for every two nights they omit but, if it be below 70°, it ought to be raised to that feeding the worms, one day will be added to the degree by means of a stove. The hatching-room time of feeding, and that the produce of silk will be may be any small room that can be conveniently diminished in proportion as the time is lengthened. kept warm, and should be provided with hatching- The moulting (or shedding of the skins) of the tables; these may be ordinary plain tables, of worms, takes place four times, and generally from a sufficient size to accommodate the number of five to seven days apart, depending on the manner eggs to be hatched. A table ten feet long and in which they are attended. Those fed upon the three feet wide, will accommodate a million. high pressure system, (above recommended,) The sheets of paper containing the eggs are will moult every four or five days; and those fed to be spread out on the tables, and left to hatch. upon the ordinary system will generally moult All that is to be done, is to keep the room warm, every seven to nine days. These periods of and to increase the temperature gradually, for moulting are of no other interest to the attendant, which purpose a thermometer in the room is con- than affording convenient periods for cleaning the venient. After a few days' exposure in the hatch- hurdles, which should be done as soon as the ing-room, the eggs will begin to hatch; but very worms revive. The times of moulting will be few will come out the first day, and need not to be readily seen, by the worms neglecting their food, attended to. On the second day, a large number concealing themselves under the leaves, &c., and will come out, and then mulberry leaves must be appearing to be asleep. At these times, no food laid over them, when the little worms will soon should be given them, nor should they be molestattach themselves to the leaves, and must be re-ed in any way. They generally remain dormant moved to another table, by taking hold of the stem about thirty hours. of the leaf, and bearing it to the table. The table Cleaning the hurdles.-As soon as they appear should be marked, to indicate the first day's hatch-to have revived, some large fresh leaves should ing, as the produce of each day must be kept sepa- be laid on them, and as soon as they attach themrate from the others. The same course must be pur-selves to the leaves, they may be removed to clean sued with the next day and the day following, but hurdles, by laying hold of the stems of the leaves, not longer, for the few worms that do not come as above directed. For the two first ages, this is out during the three days are not worth attending the best plan for cleaning them. However, many persons never clean them at all till the third moult- [ point, however, which he has omitted to notice. ing. It should, however be observed that, where The silk fluid, as it leaves the apertures of the much litter and filth have accumulated, the hurdles worm, requires the aid of a dry, cool and pure should be cleared of it; for if warm damp weather atmosphere to make perfect silk. Before it is occurs, it will be likely to cause fermentation, and exposed to the air it is a thin viscid fluid, and disease in the worms. without the aid of the air would remain so. Now if the air be very damp, its proper effect will be more or less prevented, and the silk will be flimsy, and of a very inferior quality; on the contrary, if it be dry, cool and pure, the silk will be of the best possible quality. When we dry the air by artificial means, it is true it will be warm; but it is better to be warm and dry, than cool and damp. But when heat is used to expel moisture, a free circulation can be kept up, which will be of great benefit. After the third and fourth moultings, the most convenient mode of changing and cleaning the hurdles is, to place a net-work hurdle immediately over the worms-so near them, that they can readily ascend upon it through the meshes, and place fresh leaves on it; the worms will soon get upon the fresh hurdle, and the lower one may be drawn out, and the filth carried off. Until after the two first moultings, the worms will occupy but a small space; they will require about double as much space after the first moult- Formation of Cocoons.-We now come to the ing as they occupied previously, and should be dis- mounting of the worms and spinning of the cocoons. tributed to it when the hurdles are cleaned. For I believe the best and cheapest contrivance for the example: the worms that occupied one hurdle or worms to spin on, is small wisps of rye straw, table fully, up to the time of the first moulting, about a foot long, tied firmly together at the lower should be distributed on to two hurdles when they end and spread out at the other. These are set revive; after the second moulting, they will re-in rows about a foot apart, across the hurdles or quire four or five; after the third, ten to fifteen; shelves, with their tops spread out and pressing and after the fourth, thirty to forty, or even more. against the bottom of the shelf above to support The cocoonery should be divided into three parts, them in their places and to keep the straws spread or, at least, the worms should be kept in three dis- apart. On a hurdle or shelf five feet long and tinct portions-say one portion in each end, and two and a half wide, there will be three wisps in one in the middle—that each day's hatchings may the rows across, and five rows, making fifteen to always be kept by themselves. When the several each hurdle. I was formerly in the habit of using day's hatchings have been kept promiscuously broom-corn straw, with the seed cleaned off, the together, the moultings are irregular, and the stem cut off close to the junction of the straw, and formation of cocoons very inconveniently so. Be- the top spread out as in the above, and always sides, the worms that are moulting are disturbed found the worms to do well with it. Mr. Whitby the feeding of those that are not, or the latter are marsh, however, has tried both, and gives the injuriously kept without food. A successful result preference to the rye straw. The worms readily can scarcely be secured without attending to this. climb into and spin their cocoons among the branThe air in the cocoonery should always be kept ches formed by the straws, and the cocoons are dry and pure, and this is one of the difficulties to be readily gathered from them. encountered, that sometimes baffles the best exer- Cocoon Frames, &c-I have never seen any tions. Happily for the silk cause in our country, of the numerous frames that have been recomwe are blessed with a climate peculiarly dry, and mended for this purpose; but from the descriptions consequently better adapted to the production of I have had of them, there appears to be several silk than any other country except the north of objections to them, viz: the trouble and expense China, and not less so than that. But we do often of preparing them, and the labor of gathering the have times of damp, drizzly weather, and we must cocoons from them. The frames that seems to then resort to the use of fire. Mr. Whitmarsh's obtain most favor are those made by tacking laths cocoonery is supplied with hot air furnaces under edgewise across the bottom of the shelves, two each end, from which he can, at any time, let hot inches apart, and then preparing small ladders and dry air into the room, and thus expel the damp of twine leading from the shelf below to the laths. air. I am well convinced that this is a very far It is said the worms readily climb these ladders, better plan than stoves or fire-places. But what- and spin their cocoons in the angles formed by the ever mode of drying be used, it must be applied laths and the bottom of the shelf. It must be obwhenever the air is damp, at all times during the vious, however, that a great deal of labor will be feeding of the worms, but more particularly when required to prepare them. I should suppose each they are spinning their cocoons, or beginning to spin. frame would cost as much as all the cocoons it I have never seen this part of the art of silk ma- would contain would be worth. It is needless to king treated with sufficient force in any European be more particular with this part of the subject, work. Writers generally refer to it, as a desirable as I have found that every body who has fed silk condition of the atmosphere, but seem to attach lit-worms, has had sufficient genius to suggest an tle importance to it. Mr. Whitmarsh, in his late apparatus of some kind for them to spin on; and it excellent little treatise notices it, and enforces is very rare that we find two persons who use the necessity of a dry atmosphere, with great judg- exactly the same; and this fact leads to the infement and propriety; as also does Mr. Ruffin, in rence that the worms are not very particular in the Farmers' Register. I am glad to receive the this respect. countenance which the concurrence in my opinions The time of spinning will be ascertained by the of such gentlemen affords. A writer in the last appearance of the worms. They will become number of this Journal, (Dr. Emerson,) also somewhat transparent, of a slight amber color, enforces its necessity by explaining clearly and cease eating, hold up their heads, apparently lookphilosophically the reason of it, and I will nowing about for some object above them, and occaonly refer the reader to his remarks. There is one sionally leaving fibres of silk on the leaves. |