The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-11
NATIONAL INSTITUTE.
Liter from Dr. j. Johnson, Of Charlsston, South Caro-
lima, on the silk plant.

Liter from Dr. j. Johnson, Of Charlsston, South Caro-
lima, on the silk plant.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. 4, IS45.
DEAR SIR: 1 read with pleasure in Mr.. Skin
ncr's July number of the Agricultural Journal, a
letter Of d. Smith McCaulsy to you, from the con-
sulae at Tripo relative TO the vegetable silk cul-
tivated in that country, Of which he also sent the
seeds aud drawing Of the plant | have now the
pleasure OF presenting specimen of the plunt with
its flowers and fruit, produced by cultivation on the
Agricultural Farm near Charleston, South Carolina.
In March, 1874, ! received a letter from the Rev.
MIR J. ID. Adger, missionary in Smyrna, Asia Mi
nor, from the Presbyterian church in the United
States, and with 1t were various seeds, which dis
trlbuted among gentlemen most likely to take an
interest IN their propagation. Among them were
the seeds OF this plant, marked "ascepias," but, il
remember rightly, not Designating the species no
mention was made of its uses value. Some OF
these seeds placed IN the hands of Mr.. Joseph
O'Hear, superintendent Of the Agricultural Farm,
and requested his and attention TO them. When
your letter appeared in print, Mr.. OHcar not only
had the plant itself in flower, but on il were some
cocoons, or seed-pods perfectly matured He called
on me with them, and said that the plant did not
flower the year before, but that the stem and root
had survived the winter in open exposure, and
commenced bearing early in the summer; that he
had lost the paper with its name, and could not
have identified it, but for the excellent drawing of
the plant in SINNERS Journal. The paper, with
sowed the seed, 10 designate it, and was lost in the
exposure to the weather. He told me also that
eight or ten additional stems had sprung up from
the roots, most Of which had matured their fruit, or
pods. When | saw the plants, the season was late
and the Towering over, but obtained few flowers
with the other important parts Of the plant, which
] now enclose for the examination Of yourself and
friends r...
When first mstured and fresh, these follicles, or
pods, resembled the cocooons ofsilk-worms much
as vegetable substance can be expected to resem-
bic an animal production. The plants being too
much crowded, Mr. O'Hesr intends transplantins
the STEMS and placing them about eight feet apart;
the seeds he will distribute among the members Of
the agricultural society.
| have no doubt that the plant has been described
and named by European botanists; but I have not
met with any satisfactory description of it, Il GER
taiDly is not among the numerous species found in
the United States. As 1t may interest others, give
the best botanical description that could obtain,
which, conjoined with MIR SINNERS plate will give
pretty correct idea Of the plant. 1t is species Of
swallow wort, one Of which is well known the
trinket plant. In Turton's Lnneus, it is Chased
pcnandria dgynia, and think comes nearest to his
ascispas ianaria of any other. The stem is simple
round naked, and about 5 feet high. The leaves
linear, chabnelcd, in pairs and crowded near the
top. The flowers in small umbels, axiliary, on
long peduncles, yellow, nodding, petals very small
the horn not above the crown. The foIlicles ovate
little pointed, ventose thin, white, and spnous
The seeds numerous black, oblong, and envcloped
in white silky wool, somewhat stronger in its
fibre than the shining floss Of other species.
Mr.. Adger also sent us the seeds of most de-
liehtful species of musk melon, called the Cnssaba
melon, from district in which it is chiefly culti-
waited, and sent TO the Smyrna market. Cassaba In
at the western extremity Of Asia Minor, about mid
way between Constantinople and Smyrna, not far
from the site Of ancient Troy. | have seen these
melons highly commended by English tourists Of
tnste, thereby confirming Mr.. Adger's preference.
In Charleston they decidedly preferred in fla
vor to all others. The melons from which the
seeds were taken, which now send you, were the
produce of DIR. Thomas Legare's plantation on
James island, near Charleston, and carefully cult
waited by him. They succeed best on good garden
mould, damp, but not wet, and containing a little
lime. They should not be located other melons,
gourds, cucumbers, &C., which may impair their
favor, and vitiate the seed for future crop.
remain, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOS. JOHNSON.
To FRAscIs MARKoE, jr., esq