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Tile Progress of Helen tide Bee Cnltnre.
tn making my (lehut to the readers of the
Southern World in this department, I have
duly to regret that the limited notice given
mb prior to tho publication of this issue, did
hot enable me to speak as freely upon the
subject as I might otherwise have been dis
posed to do. I will, therefore, invite your
attention to a brief retrospective of the sub
ject, and in subsequent issues, will endeavor
to introduce more interesting and practical
details.
The subject of bee-keeping, the object of
our theme, bos claimed the attention of
many of our most learned men of ancient
and of modern times, wiio looked upon it
as a science worthy of their study und their
philosophy. Gratwell, Schirach, and Huber
the elder, were among those of antiquity
who devoted their wisdom to the advance
ment of the knowledge of the habits and
character of these insects, and to the latter
especially, as every school boy knows, we are
indebted for much that is of inestimable
value in the studies of the naturalist. Al
though he became blind at the early age of
fifteen, his works gave an impulse to this
branch of rural industry in Europe, which
caused the management of bees in common
hives to be Crought to a high degree of per
fection. Lombard, Iladonan, Desormes and
others, in tho first part of the present cen
tury spread abroad this acquired knowledge
and added to it the results of their own in
genious inventions, observations and experi
ments.
Debeanvoy, in 1844, invented bis movable
frame hive, bnt it wus found to be too incon
venient for general use. Its merits were
contradicted and its inventor ridiculed by
all until Mr. Bostain, a clergyman near
Germany, published u work in which he
gave proper credit to the movable frame
hives, aud Mr. Sagot offered to the publican
improved frame hive of his own construc
tion. In spite of uil opposition, this new
system woiked itself into the favor of many
apiarian societies, nnd through them the
movable frame hive began to be widely used
with tlie recommendation of such learned
men as M. M. Balsamo Crivelli, Visconti di
Hal ice to, Angelo Dubini and Mnjor von
Krushku, at the head of the bee culture of
Italy, and to the last named of whom wc ure
indebted for the principle of the honey ex
tractor.
The improvements, inventions and discov
eries made in Germany, in tiie last twenty
years, are almost beyond numbering, and up
to 1808 four hundred and twelve publications
had been issued upon this subject. Notwith
standing the advances.made by the countries
of Europe in theoretical bee culture, none
have excelled in the practical knowledge of
the science the bee-keepers of our own grand
commonwealth. We have among us at our
own fire-sides, to aid us by their knowledge,
experience and inventions, such men us L.
L. liungstroth, Clias. Dadant, M. Quinby, A.
J. Cook and others, who know in bee culture
but few who are their peers. The theories
of Dzierson, the experiments of Bcrlepsch,
and the precepts and examples of many of
modern days have passed into our language
and been given to us for our guidance and
amelioration. What a vast difference to
day, even in our own land, from wlmt was
considered ]>erfcction in bee-keeping less
than half a century ago, when to “lot bees do
as they have a mind to” was tho orthodox
philosophy of practice, aud ho who would
experiment must suffer for his temerity.
A uew field of enterprise opened up and
bee-keepers and hivo makers issued numer
ous patents, but none seemed to advance
beyond a certain point until about 1850, Mr.
Langstroth introduced his own ingeniously
constructed movable frames and their meth
od of successful manipulation to the public
mind. Perfection seemed almost attained ;
the interior of the bee hive need no longer
remain a labyrinth of mysteries, aud the as
sertions of the naturalist could be easily
verified at every man’s door. The golden-
banded bees were imported from Italy, in
the light of the new science, and the moth-
worm, the great bug-bear of inexperience,
need no longer be feared as the destroyer.
Under such favorable auspices as these, with
numerous bee journals, modern conveni
ences and appliances, and gentle, industri
ous Italians, can It he supposed that bee
culture could be other than a pleasant and
profitable vocation, when properly and in
telligently pursued 7
You may search out a knowledge of the
material, and stumble over the things which
impedes your progress, but if you adhere to
THE SOUTHERN WORLD, OCTOBER 16, 188&
the fogy notions of your ancestry and flatter
yourself with the delusive hopes of abun
dant success, you will find a mountain of
despair at almost every stride; while on the
contrary, all obstacles fade with the fleetness
of a Shadow amid tlie progress and improve
ments of an enlightened age.
Bees in themselves have the same essen
tial habits that were given to them when
they first winged their flight in the Garden
of Eden, as permanent and as unvarying as
the attraction of gravitation, or the natural
laws of our solar system. They act alike
under like circumstances, are incapable of
education and learn nothing. It is by tak
ing advantage of these unchangeable habits,
that we can control their actions and make
them subservient to our purposes at our own
good pleasure, just os we take advantage of
the Immutable laws of the universe and
appropriate them to our own conveniences
for scientific investigation, domestic manu-
foctoriesoud foreign commerce. Review the
annals of bee culture for the past few years,
and you will find yourself astonished beyond
measure, at the advancement it has made as
a science, at the reputation it has achieved
as a remunerative employment, and at its
present magnitude and importance us alead-
ing industry among domestic pursuits.
Cuas. R. Mitchell, Apiarist.
Uuwkinsville, Qa.
The Cultivation of HI Ik In the South.
At last the South is waking up to, and
realizing the advantages she possesses for the
cultivation of a fibre hitherto neglected, by
the cultivation of which untold wealth may
have been hers. True it is, that in Georgia
and the Carolinas, silk worms were raised
extensively before the Revolutionary war,
and in tfiesc States the questioifwas at one
time raised whether cotton or silk should be
the staple product, the inclination being in
favor of silk aud the issue being decided by
the more momentuous one of the war be
tween the Colonies and the mother country.
In an epoch so fraught with separation,
want and blood-shed, luxuries were not to
be thought of, and attention was given to
corn rather than silk.
Several decades later silk culture was again
introduced into the United States, but it
would seem that the Northern and Western
States, at least a few of them, gave attention
to the subject, while comparatively little
attention was bestowed upon it in the South.
In a small town in Connecticut whose popu
lation numbered only 2,278 inhabitants, the
sum of $20,000 was realized annually from
the silk crop. For several years Massachu
setts also furnished her quota of cocoons,
und a great number were reared in Ohio; in
1842, 3,000 pounds of reeled silk were reared
in Ohio, and many thousand yards of silken
fabrics manufactured.
Legislative aid was extended at that period,
which gave impetus to the industry. In
Ohio in the year 1841, premiums were paid
to tho value of $2,081.7(1; in Pennsylvania,
$4,418.80. In 1842 in the first named State,
the amount paid was $6,099.01. One seller
dis|>oscd of 300 pounds of reeled silk for
$1,000. Lack of food plants proved a great
drawback at that time. This want was over
come by the introduction of Morut Multi-
caulis, the traditional food of the silk-worms.
At no time has the failure to establish the
industry in this country been owing to un
favorable climatic influences. Natural
causes were all in favor of the culture of the
worms, but a home market for the cocoons
was an actual nececssity for the establish
ment of the industry as a permanent and
natural one. Plantations of the ilullieaulit
were planted and companies formed to carry
on the business of rearing the silk-worms,
but another difficulty presented itself. There
were no steam filatures put in operation,
and only hand reels were used, anefj in a
comparatively new country whose resources
were undeveloped, and labor in consequence
very high, hand reeling was too expensive
to prove profitable, aud the industry aban
doned. Now, however, these difllculties are
not encountered, and the would-be-culturlst
may make haste to raise yearly a crop of
cocoons. In nearly all parts of our country,
and especially in the South, the best varieties
of mulberry abound and are easily attain
able, and there are three companies reeling
and other parties buying up cocoons and ship
ping them to France. Thus a home market
is established for all cocoons raised, which is
most certainly a great inducement for all
who wish to engage in the pursuit. One
thing ruinous to the project is the fabulous
figures given by many writers, some articles
reading that cocoons command a price from
$3 per pound and upwards. These mistakes,
however, may as often, perhaps oftener,
prove the fault of the mueh abused printer,
as has often happened with the writer’s arti
cles. The prices, however, for good silk
cocoons are always sufficiently good to in
duce people to undertake the culture of
them. Any one and every one who wishes
to do so, and who can command the food,
can rear the cocoons, and add year by year
to their incomes. The writer will answer
questions as to the best time to purchase
the eggs, rear the worms and so forth, upon
receipt of stamped addressed envelope.
Miss M. A. E. Fabwkll.
Indianola, Texas.
H1I.K EVLTUBE.
China is said to be the native country of
the silk-worm. Silk culture began in that
empire under the supervision of the emperor
Hoang-ti, 1703 B. C. 8i-ling-chi, his wife,
had an apartment appropriated for the rear
ing of silk-worms, which she nurtured with
much care and interest. She is said to have
discovered the means of raising them domes
tically, also the manner of reeling the silk
and of employing it in the manufacture of
fabrics. Thus from the earliest history, we
find silk culture encouraged and sustained
by the nobility, aud an easy, pleasant and
profitable employment established, suitable
to all ranks, all ages and all conditions.
This industry, which proved so great a bless
ing to the poor, constituted for ages the na
tional wealth of the empire.
Up to the middle of the sixth century, it
was not known beyond the precincts of
China that silk was produced by a worm.
It was supposed by some to be made from
fleeces growing upou trees, or from bark or
flowers, by others that it was the production
of a species of spider or beetle.
What little things will sometimes make
the destiny of a man or a nation is here ex
emplified. Two obscure Nestorian monks,
exiled by the government of Byzantium,
penetrated into the country of the Seres,—
silk growers. They noted the handsome
dress of the Chinese, their manufactories of
silken fabrics and the millions of insects
converting the leaves of the mulberry into
silk. Knowing the solicitude of the Euro
peans on this subject, they went to Constan
tinople and revealed to the emperor Justin
ian a national secret, preserved for so many
centuries with an unvaried vigilance une-
qualcd in the annals of man. “Silk was
produced by insects whose eggs might be
conveyed to his dominions. ” By promising
handsome rewards, the monks were induced
to return to China. Eluding the vigilance
of a jealous people, they obtained the eggs,
secreted them in the hollow of their canes,
and thus in 552 Europe posessed a funda
mental principle of national wealth.
Dr. Larden says, “The insects thus pro
duced were the progenitors of all the gener
ations of silk-worms which have since been
reared in Europe and Asia," und Dr. Clark
adds Africa and America.
The colonial settlers of Georgia began silk
culture under the administration of Gen.
Oglethorpe. Trees and silk-worm eggs were
sent over by the colonial Trustees, and a na
tive of l’icdmont was engaged to instruct
the people in rearing the worm and in reeling
the silk.
In 1735 Georgia exported her first raw silk,
which was woven and presented to the Queen
of England. A public filature was estab
lished in Savannah in 1751. The silk busi
ness was profitable and continued on the
increase until 1758, when tlie filature and
store-houso and eight thousand pounds of
cocoons were consumed by fire. The people
were greatly discouraged by their losses and
ere long the cultivation of cotton claimed
their attention.
The last account we have of any silk being
sold in Savannah for exportation, was in
1790 and brought twenty-six shillings per
pound.
Dr. Elliot says, “ raw silk exported from
Georgia sells at London from two to three
shillings a pound more than that from any
other part of the world." Also, “ that he
had been informed by producers, that it was
more profitable than any other ordinary bus
iness. ” .
What Georgia hat done and more, can be
accomplished and sustained by her enter
prising people of to-day. There are several
filatures in the United States, and a number
of manufactories of silk goods in successful
operation, anxious and with ready cash to
purchase the silk crop at remunerative pri
ces. 12,000,000 dollars worth of raw silk has
been imported annually to supply these
mills. This is unnecessary. Silk can be
raised successfully anywhere where the mul
berry will grow. Silk culture is interesting
and profitable, and requires so little capital
that the most humble may engage in the
pursuit.
We have the climate suited to the growth
of the mulberry and to the rearing of the
silk-worm* If the farmers would but study
their own interest there would be mulberry
groves planted and cocooneries established
in every rural home thoroughout our South
ern land. This done, it would not be long
before the silk crop would equal in value
the entire cotton crop of the South. I do,
without hesitancy, recommend silk culture
to the women and children of our sunny
clime. It is a healthy, pleasant and profita
ble employment when judiciously managed,
and offers remunerative occupation to the
many idle hands unfit for manual labor or
the heavy duties of a household.
I would be glad if all the children who re
ceived stamp eggs from me, would write me
of their success or failure, giving full name,
post-office, county and state.
Now is the time to secure eggs for an early
start in the spring. 1 can furnish eggs in
any quantity at the lowest market prices
and warrant them. I have experimented in
silk culture for some time and am prepared
to answer all questions in regard to this in
dustry. All letters must enclose a stamp for
a reply. Mbs. J. B. Mitchell.
llau/kintville, Qa.
1NTENHIVE FARMING.
[At the session of the State Agricultural
Society at Marietta, Hon. F. C. Furman, of
Milledgeville, delivered a stirring addresson
intensive farming. He subsequently re
peated it before the Agricultural Club of.
Putnam county. ' The MSS of the entire ad
dress was furnished us too late for our last,
issue, and we are forced to omit a portion of.'
it now for lack of space.—Ed. Southern:
Wobld.]
Mr. Furman intimated in the commence
ment of iiis address that he intended to give-
the Convention a common-sense talk upon at
practical, vital subject. He vividly con
trasted the condition of the country less than
a century ago when primeval nature held
undisturbed, undisputed sway, and the pres
ent with bare, bleak hills and the tangled
wilderness of the briar-patch. In language
poetic and sparkling, he drew a magnificent
word-painting of then and now. The great
evil of our present system of agriculture was
patent and palpable, ana the great question
was what is the remedy: our lands arc grow
ing poorer—what is the cause 7 Over pro
duction was the cause. This springs from
two causes, 1. The chemical or scientific. 2.
The mechanical. Every crop draws from the
soil certain properties of its fertility.
Your land is, as it were, your bauk, in
which nature has made a deposit for you of
a certain amount of fertility, organic and
inorganic, mineral and vegetable. Now, if
you keep drawing from your bank without
making any new deposits, experience teaches
you that after a while, sooner or later, your
deposit will be exhausted, and then you
know that your drafts will be dishonored and
returned unpaid. J ust so with your land;
you plant crop after crop on it, draw draft
after draft upon its natural resources, and
expect them to lust forever. Is this common-
sense 7 Oh, but, says some one, nature will'
reproduce what the crops take away. This
is a fatal mistake. Nature can do much, but
she cannot reproduce elementary inorganic
matter. Your plants need phosphoric acid,
lime, potash, magnesia, soda and other inor
ganic elements for thoir successful growth,
and nature cannot reproduce these when
they arc withdrawn. Nitrogen and liuiuus,
or organic matter, may be restored by natu
ral processes—not so with the inorganic.
These have resulted from the leaching and
weathering of the soil for centuries, and
when exhausted it will take centuries more
to replace them, with a strong chance that
even time will not act effectually for their
restoration.
Wbat plan then suggests itself to the intel
ligent farmer as a remedy against this evil 7
He must plant crops, and crops will exhaust
his soil. Methinks I hear an answer to the
question. Oh, says some one, if I were only
a good chemist I could analyze my land and
find out in what elements It was lacking and
then by replacing these, all difficulty will be
obviated. Experience and experiment have
demonstrated that this plan won’t do. In
the first place, it is too expensive, and in the
second place, it too uncertain, and in all his
operations it is essential that the farmer
avoid unnecessary and unusual expense, and
that his work be done with certainty and
accuracy.
You can’t analyze you land, but you can
your crops, and here is the solution of this
branch of the problem. Ascertain carefully
and accurately what elements it requires to
make a given crop, and in what proportion
of each, then moke your manure for that
crop so that you will return to the soil