The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24

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same common sense rules are APP
piled 10 the propagation ana cul-
ture Of the oyster a 10 the other
charges Of human care and sagacl
tv. Something of the hidden mys-
tery Of oyster life has become known
through patient observation OF Its
habits. 1t is known, if not subject
To amorous emotions. at any rate 10
exhibit some Of their consequences,
and annually 10 cast upon the wa
tiers innumerable seeds Of a possible
progeny. We say possible proge-
oy. because the seed or spat
are set adrift 10 find an abiding
place where happy chance may at
tach them. They may float away
in'o the deep waters OF the ocean
and be forever lost, either III It's
boundlesS water or IN the greedy
maws Of its countless tenants: or
fortunately cling to some friendly
rock or kindly cluster of shells, or
add to the family groups Of kindred
tribes already spread upon the bot
tom Of the bays and creeks.
With the recognition OF this fact
of the mode and time Of reproduce
ton. the first step III artificial cul-
ture is taken. In the waters of
North Carolina the spat is emitted
in the late Spring and early sum-
mer months. 1t drives with the
tide helpless enough, but with a
certain instructive lookout for a
fit resting place. This must be
some clean substance, free from
mud or slime, and may be stone, or
shell. or glass, or wood ; but 1t
must be clean. And if strictly ar
%tificial culture were necessary with
US. those essentials must be regard
ed. But we find, so far as inquiry
with us has gone. that there is no
difficulty anywhere upon our North
Carolina coast in procuring any de-
sired quantity of seed that is,
young oysters of suitable size for
transplanting. A gentleman of
Newbern writes us, that off the
wharf at Morehead City millions of
young oysters may be gathered,
which, being removed and trans
planted elsewhere, in the course of
two or three years become fine, fat
and marketable. 1t is we'll in this
connection to state to those who de-
pend for increase upon their W
beds, that the oyster is not mature
for the production of spat until it
is four years old, and in the plant
ing of beds it will be necessary to
adopt the "four field" system.
using the beds successfully, and re-
planting each one as it is exhausted.
An oyster market nan from Myrtle
Grove Sound, below Wilmington,
who has paid some attention to the
subje ct tells Us that four acres is
as much as any one man can pro-
perlv attend. He is himself firmly
convinced Of tie practicability and
profit Of oyster culture, because he
has proved the superior quality of
those transplanted, for which there
is always an active demand at good
prices.
AS We have remarked, the time
is rapidly coming when we will be
called upon to meet demands upon
us from abroad demands forced bv
the practical extinction of the oys-
ter IN its natural state in European
waters, compellinga resort to Ame-
rican supplies. The great store
house of the Chesapeake and its
waters is drawn upon as heavily as
natural sources can bear, and Nir-
ginia must continue the oyster war
begun years ago for the protection
Of her rights and interests !: not
only that, but must 60 further and
engage in the work Of propagation
and culture. The waters Of North
Carolina will soon become the thea
tire Of these predatory incursions,
and unless protected, will be swept