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4 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