The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-12-28
THE FARMER
From tho American Farmer.

may not be done gathering corn TO scieCt
their seed years. 1t has long been the judi
cious practice OF many farmers within my
knowledge, to select their seed corn from
the best bearing stalks. Many other farm
ers consider this practice as idle, and some
sneer at it; but they only betray their own
want Of observation; every attentive saroeh-
er is we'll aware Of the advantage OF select
ing the best sceds-and how many farmers
are constantly in quest OF the pest variety
of wheat.--Now, of all the grams we know
of. corn mixes its kinds with the greatest ta-
ciiity. The natural effect Of this is, that the
varieties Of corn are almost infnite-and
hence the need for selecting your seed corn
j, vastly greater and more palpably mani
fest, than for selecting any other seed grain.
Those who sneer at farmer for select
irg his seed corn, must be under the impress.
sion, that the corn in the field is all precise
" the same kind, and that one stalks bear
ing three ears, another two, and a third but
one, is the mere effect of accident. But this
cannot be the fact. In passing through
poor part of my field the other day, l was
struck with stalk, and upon examination
found FIVE good ears on it, l looked to the
next hill-there we're two stalks--one had
one ear, the other none. examined many
hills round-I found most Of the stalks with
one good ear, several with two and one with
three: but this single stalk, though not lar
ger. had more cars on it than any hill near
i, where there was either one or two or
three stalks in the hill. Now, sir this could
not be the effect Of accident; it must be the
effect of breed. do not believe that you
can find corn field in which there are not
twenty different kinds of corn, mixed in
endless shades and degrees.-What field
then is here every where open to select
choice from. You plant from stalk that
has borne you three ears, it will be most
likely to bring you such bearing stalks, not
from accident, but because 1t is natural for
like to begct like, and for seed to produce
its own kind heard a farmer say, the first
year he thus selected his seed corn, ne pro-
duced an increase Of twenty per cent, or 20
bushels in every hundred Of his crop. The
second year the increase from the second
selection was not so manifest, nor so great;
but his crops still improved: and when he
went into his field to gather his seed, after
three years previous careful selection, he as
serted to me, that he found more stalks
bearing three years than he could find OF
stalks bearing two ears the first season he be-
CORNUCoPIE.
SILK.
An elderly farmer from Connecticut, told
US the other day, that he had about hve hun
dred mulberry trees then growing on his
own farm--that he fed one hundred thou
sand worms. which produced about fifty
pounds of silk annually. The whole bus-
ness, of feeding the worms, &c. j. perform
ed by his daughters. But very little labor
Is required, and he thinks that in the course
Of few years, after his trees come to matu-
rity,--he shall, by increasing the number OF
his worms in proportion to the quantity OF
feed supplied, produce yearly about three
hundred hounds Of the raw material. Thus
giving his girls an opportunity Of adding to
the common stock Of domestic comfort, and
Of providing a livelihood for themselves
We wish him success; and the heart of ev-
cry friend to the increasing prosperity OF
our domestic manufactures, will throb gen.
erous response.-kasonic Mirror.
1o ersract Grease Snots from Silks and
eoloured Muslins.-Scrape French chalk,
or fine clay, put it on the grease spot, and
hold il near the fire or put warm iron upon
it. The grease will melt and the clay alb
soro it, in consequence of the great affinity
Of clay for oleagenous substances. After the
grease is absorbed, brush off the clay: the
colour will not be in the least affected by the
process.
Longepky Of Misunderstanding heart
The point disputed day or two since, Mr.
Editor, as to what animal attained the great
est age, I have been induced to examine
some works on the subject, and as far as my
researches have extended. can discover
none of the brute creation whose days mum
Der so many as the "half reasoning ele
phant" The following I believe to be tn,
greatest number Of years to which any o
them ever attain. The Cricket, 10 years
Spider, sometimes, but seldom mole than
year. Scorpion. l. River cray-fsh, 20
Crab, 100 to $50. Crocodile. 100 Tortoise
100. Hen, 10. Peacock, "a. Lark, l8
Sparrow-tawk, 40. Goose, so. Swan an,
Eagle, 100. Parrot, no. Rabbit, 9. Goat
TO- Sheep, 10. Hog, 20. Dog, 90 to %
Cat. 1s. Squirrel, Wolf and Bear, 90
Fox, IS. Lion, so. Cow, 90. Bull, 3o-
OK, 19. Deer. 20. Horse, IS to 80. Ass
IS to 30. Camel, so to so. Elephant Isl
to o2oo.-N Y. Enquirer.
The 3tDine Pedlar--"Doyou want to bu
any twine!" inquired respectable lookin
female, apparently advanced in years, o
the morning of one of our warmest "do
davs" "Take seat" said the merchan,