use, would add very considerably to individual benefit, and of course to the public prosperity.

All which is respectfully submitted,

For the Committee,

G. B. PERRY.

GEORGE HOOD'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee on Mulberry Trees:

GENTLEMEN-Among the premiums offered by the Essex Agricultural Society, I find some for the cultivation of mulberry trees, silk, &c. I have a plantation of several thousand mulberry trees, of different varieties at my farm on Water Hill, in this town, to which I invite the attention of your Committee. With a view to render what little aid I can in calling public attention to the production of silk, I offer my plantation for the premiums.

No. 1. For the best plantation of mulberry trees, for which no premium has been awarded, at least one hundred trees of three years growth or more, the same being in a thriving condition,

$15 00 For the second best, 10 00 2. For the best nursery of mulberry trees, at least 500 trees, not exceeding two years growth, 10 00 For the second best, 5 00 For the first two, Nos. 1 and 2, I have many more than the required number of trees, of suitable age and condition.

For Nos. 3 and 4, I shall, if successful in my experiments, endeavor to lay before the Society "a statement in writing of the facts relating thereto."

Yours, very respectfully,

GEORGE HOOD.

TEMPLE CUTLER'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee on Mulberry Trees:

GENTLEMEN-I offer for premium a nursery of one sixth of an acre, containing about 2000 multicaulis mulberry trees, now of two seasons growth. These trees were planted in June 1840, in single bud cuttings, on a very poor soil, without manure. Being planted late, very few of them attained to more than 6 or 8 inches high. So small were they, that I did not offer them for premium last year, being in a separate lot from those I did offer. I left part of them standing in the field through the winter without covering of any kind. My object was to ascertain their ability to bear the rigor of winter in this climate. Every tree, and every branch, was as sound in the spring as those taken up in the fall and put in the cellar, or, as our common fruit

trees.

Many of these trees, together with the remainder of the same lot from the cellar, were transplanted last May to a better piece of ground, but which had no manure last year, and half a cord only of compost manure was strewed in furrows 3 feet apart into which the trees were set, the roots covered 2 or 3 inches deep. The whole labor on this nursery was one day plough`ing, transplanting and manuring, and half a day ploughing between the rows and hoeing twice, including all pulling out of weeds. Every tree is alive and flourishing, averaging about 4 feet, none being less than 22, nor more than 5 feet high. I herewith exhibit several leaves from these trees, without having taken pains to select the largest.

I wish those who condemn the mulberry orchards of our County as not worth preserving, to examine for themselves the one now presented, which, after having been stripped of its foliage to feed two successive crops of worms in the fore part of the season, of 10,000 at

each crop, I think they would feel satisfied that at least 20,000 more might have been fed from the same, if eggs could have been procured.

My main object, gentlemen, in making this experiment, was to test the comparative hardiness of the multicaulis and the white mulberry. I had a large number of seedlings of the latter kind in the same enclosure; these were mostly killed by the frosts of the winter. Now the question remains, which of the two should we call the hardy mulberry tree? In the remarks I was kindly permitted to make to the Committee, the last year, I expressed a decided preference in favor of the multicaulis for making silk. I would now only refer those who may have any remaining doubts, and those, if any there be, who may have been led to be cautious as to adopting the views I so confidently entertained, or those who may have supposed these views may have emanated from an over-heated zeal, to examine the history and progress of the silk culture the past season throughout the United States, and see if they can find any thing in the thousand instances of complete success recorded, to create a doubt of the superiority of the tree in question.

TEMPLE CUTLER.

We hereby certify that we have this day examined the above mentioned nursery of Mr. Cutler, and residing near by, have seen his management of the trees, both this year and last, and are satisfied the above statement is correct. OLIVER WHIPPLE, Jr. TRISTRAM APPLETON.

Hamilton, Sept. 28th, 1841.

ON SILK MANUFACTURED.

The Committee report that there were but two specimens of manufactured silk presented. One by Mrs. M. P. S. Parker, of Bradford, consisting of a half pound

of sewing silk and twist manufactured from cocoons raised by herself, and a small specimen of thread made of the floss taken from the cocoons. The other by Miss S. C. Hodges, of Newburyport, consisting of sewing silk put up in skeins and dyed with different colors; and also, a work bag made of silk of her manufacture.

The Committee regard these specimens as possessing much merit, being in their opinion fully equal and they think rather superior to any that they have been called to examine. They feel sorry that the quantity is not sufficient to justify them in recommending the high premiums of the Society to be awarded, but do recommend that a gratuity of $5 be given to Mrs. Parker, and $3 to Miss Hodges.

For specimens of sewing silk, some of which was colored, they recommend to Miss Priscilla P. Atwood, of Bradford, a gratuity of $2.

For the Committee,

G. B. PERRY.

MEHETABEL P. S. PARKER'S STATEMENT.

To the Committee on Silk Manufactured :

GENTLEMEN-I present for your inspection a half pound of sewing silk and twist, which I made from cocoons raised this year. It was reeled on the common clock reel and twisted on the high wheel. Also, a specimen of thread made from the floss of the cocoons carded, then spun from the end of the roll on the high wheel. In cleansing it I put some in a thin bag, and some loose in the kettle with white bar soap and water, and boiled it about an hour. That which was left loose is much the clearest. I cannot make a certain estimate as I had to devote part of the time to my family. It would probably have taken two weeks if I had nothing to interrupt me.

of the time it took me,

MEHETABEL P. S. PARKER.

Bradford, Sept. 29, 1841.

ON BEES AND HONEY.

To this Committee were submitted two entries made, one by Charles S. Tenney, and the other by George Spofford, both of Georgetown, of bees and honey raised by them in rooms in the roof of their houses.

Your Committee visited both of these places, examined the rooms, the hives and the various fixtures, and are gratified to report that the experiment of disposing of bees in this manner seems to have been made with skill and attended with good success, and they are of the opinion if a few persons in the various towns and villages would adopt this plan it would be the means of greatly increasing the amount of honey produced in the county, and thus add something to the general prosperity and personal gratification of the community. We say a few persons in each town, because we apprehend for various reasons that a large number of such establishments could not be sustained, unless there be a resort to some means of increasing the resources from which these industrious and saving creatures gather their nectar.

For the purpose of encouraging a commendable effort, and with the confidence that the gentlemen will, with cheerfulness, exhibit their establishments, and give all necessary information to those who wish to adopt that way of raising honey, your Committee recommend a gratuity of $4 to each.

And they would take liberty to suggest to the officers of the Society the expediency of appointing a Committee, who should be requested to procure information respecting the amount of honey raised within the county, and to what extent this amount might with profit be increased, and whether any enactments of the State Legislature could be made which would encourage a general attention to the subject, who should be requested to report at the next annual meeting.

For the Committee,

G. B. PERRY.