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18 THE POLYNESIAN. Jul for cocooneries and reeling houses required in less favorable climates. The agent ar rived from the United States in the spring of 1839, and found the plantation in a flourish ing condition, and well stocked with trees. He brought with him the best varieties of the American worms, including the mammoth white, and yellow, and the pea-nut, also a line lot of the Morus Multicaulis. These wore planted immediately, throve well, and were so highly esteemed, that cuttings of but two buds each, were sold to others about engag ing in the same enterprise, fur from one to two dollars the slip. The leaf grew beauti fully, thick and heavy, and to a great length, sometimes measuring fourteen inches. It only advantage by way of food appeared to be its size and rapidity of growth. Tho worms fed with equal desire upon all the other varieties. It was then concluded to let the black mulberry run out, and to plant the latter in its place. After the first year it was discovered that if tho mulberry was al lowed to grow beyond a certain size, it with ered and became valueless ast food. This was remedied by cutting it down yearly. (The month of January, when vegetation had mostly ceased growing being the best time). Young and vigorous shoots then shot up, in two or three months suitable for t'ocd. A sufficient quantity of trees being now planted and doing well, it was determined to com mence feeding the worms in numbers. The i Canton, white and yellow varieties were first tried, but they formed but small cocoons, of ; exceedingly fine fibre, w hich formed a beau-! tiful silk, but a large proportion of it was; wasted in floss; so much so that it required, many thousands more to form a pound of silk than the American variety, and it was found impossible to make them profitable, j The American eggs were then exposed. So one had doubted but they would hatch with i the greatest readiness; but though in good order, they hatched but a few at a time, from four or five to as many hundred a day, and none on some days. It was thought that the eggs from these would become acclima ted, and this irregularity cease; but it was worse than before. Some of the egffs hatch ed in ten days from the time they were laid, while others would not in as many months. Every experiment by way of artificial heat, freezing, wearing them next to the person, etc. was tried, but equally in vain. It was discovered that they needed a winter, and many were packed up in bottles, and sent upon the neighboring mountains to remain several months. Their height being but lour i or five thousand feet, did not produce the re- ' quisite temperature, and from their being im-j perfectly packed, most of them decayed Those that hatched formed beautiful fine co-; coons with but little floss, averaging about, four thousand to the pound of raw silk. The j experiment was now tried of crossing the American breed with the Chinese, and with the greatest success Two varieties of co coons were produced, inclining more to the American than the Chinese, one of a deep1 orange color; the other of a delieate stiaw color. These answered admiiably, requir-' ing from five t seven thousand to the pound of raw silk. They reeied with the greati st ease so much so llt.it native w. ineu u it !i ! but few das instiucti n could turn off from 1 one half to three fourths of a pound daily, j Their eggs hatched again in from fifteen to twenty days, and came to maturity m Iwenty four, and have continued to do so for up wards of a year, without degenerating in quality. It was attempted to cross this breed again with the pure American, but the worms resulting therefrom wero found to have so much of the characteristics of the American, as to be of little use. It was now thought (the spring of 18 10,) that every difficulty was overcome, and a profitable business would soon make amends for previous delays and losses. Hut the pro prietors after expending most of their funds in thus getting under way were doomed to disappointment. A drought set in, such as had not been known before since the mis sionaries first resided upon the islands, 20 years since. The trees which had been so flourishing withered under its influencV, and at the same time a species of aphides, or wood louse, much like the chiton shell in ap pearance, attached itself to them, speedily covering every limb and leaf upon them. What juices were left by the drought were soon exhausted by those parasites, and the trees became lifeless and leafless. The crops of worms which had commenced feed ing by hundreds of thousands, were obliged to be thrown away, and thus a season's la bor was lost, w hile a heavy expense was in curred. In additioti to this, a species of spi der, of a plump, many colored body, of the size of a chesnut, added their ravages to the other destroyers, by attaching themselves by millions to the young trees, by means of a firm, hard web, through which it was quite difficult to make one's way. How far these latter are the result of the drought, it is im possible to say, but it is not at all improba ble, if a favorable season should set in that they will be destroyed. The strong trade winds also did damage by whipping the leaves, and during the winter season, when a " kona " or southerly gale blew, the fields and vegetation generally were as much af fected as if they had been touched w ith frost. Leaves, fiowe s and blossoms wilted and fell from Ihcir parent stalks, crusted apparently with a coating of salt. However, these cas ualties which affected mulberry trees to so disastrous in extent, extended their ravages to most other plants, and though the lice or sliders did not a fleet the sugar cane yet the drought diminished the crop at least one half. This last spring, the proprietors, unable to bear any further expenses in proscuting a business against so many obstacles, deter mined to put most of the laud to sugar, from which a more moderate but more certain in come is to be derived than from the culture of silk, while a portion of the soil still remains stocked with the Morus Multicaulis, which can easily be propagated should the season warrant it. , Another plantation adjoining this, has been obliged to adopt the same course. The failure of these, after every prospect of success, both from the climate and rapid growth of the trees, is the result of the following causes: 4 st, A far too great expenditure of capital, resulting from too sanguine hopes, and a want of proper economy in pursuing the busi ness. 2nd, Money and time lost in securing the necessary experience and knowledge re quired for prosecuting a new and untried business. 3rd, The unexpected ravages of drought and insects. Let no one judge from this that tho culture of silk will never become an important busi ness at these islands. It is evident to auv business is as good as any other, and prom ises favorable results. In addition to this, for the encouragements of those who are in terested in its culture, we are able to state, the cocoons of which arc at least 25 per cent, better than the crossbreeds, can bc hatched as regularly as any other, provided they receive the benefit of a winter. This experiment has been re peatedly tried on the mountains of JNIaui, and I have no doubt but that Mauna Waia leale on Kauai is of sufficient bight for that purpose. The market value of the Kauai silk in the United States is not yet known. A small quantity was shipped home during the last year, from which as yet nothing has been heard. THE POLYNESIAN Honolulu, Saturday, July 10, 1811. In nothing do wo more keenly feel our isolated situation, than in the deprivation of the numerous intellectual advantages w hich the old countries ulTord. The sight of the elegantly bound volume, with its mental treasures, the pride of its country's literature, which occasionally strays to this part of the globe, a speaking record of its author's fame, occasions a painful sense of our own deficiencies, and a desire on our own part to lay our pen to rest forev er more. Turn wc to a paper, and we read a tempting array of sights to gratify at once and instruct, or we see names of the choice intellects of the age, who hold listening thousands rapt in admiring silence, as they discourse of the wonders of nature, or the perfections of art, and pour forth their vivid eloquence in behalf of the noble attributes of man, or utter in tones of solemn warning, their sense of his crimes. There mind gathers around mind, and combined intellect and worth sway the nation, even as the strong breeze bows the graceful willow. Here, we live in solitude, apart from the world. A few times yearly, a glimmer of the events passing in other . countries, like a ray of light shot from a gem, comes over our sight. But until civilization shall have extended her empire throughout the bounds of the Pacific, connecting her nu merous progeny by the arms of her migh ty engines, which annihilate space and time, we must be content with this. But can we do nothing for ourselves? Commerce is ) early bringing to us the young and intelligent of other countries, filled with high hopes, and bright antici pations. And must they, need they, all be bound down to the petty cares of trade, ment among us then let us employ then For want of energy, the Institute been suffered to languish, until its mee ing are scarce known among the thine that arc. Let it be renovated, its libraH circulated, an interest awakened in i cabinet, and a feeling of laudable ambi tion aroused, not only to add to, but t understand the treasures from the aninia mineral, and vegetable kingdoms that ma! be gathered there. Weekly lecture! should be delivered,' to draw its member! to its ball, and above all, we think thai well regulated debates npon subjects o) common interest would be extremely con! ducive to the well being of the institutioi All ol us rind no iuck oi umc to attend ti the gains of trade, or the coarser pica: tires of the sensual man. Cannot a ft hours weekly be devpted in unison the intellectual? Something we ncef and must have, else the spirit of the a spirit of knowledge and improvement? will leave us blind and bewildered in til back ground, straining our eyes towunii that we cannot understand, or withdraw ing them blinded by its glare. Iseekimr no hiulicr trood 1 1 m 1 1 tin. mnmn. one that the pi eent examples w ill teueh oth- ' i . ' i ,', t 1 .. , . .latum ot wealth knowing no prospect ers to avoid the lust mentioned cause, the., n 1 1 second is already secured, and for the third, I ,H & counters their souls nui it is a casualty perhups only local, or tempo- I .rmv,1,n as lIl-r increaseSpirit of rarv, and not name to recur n ten 1 know now of one plantation, that has been but two years in operation, of not more than a third of the extent of the first named one, that is now in a full course of successful operation, and unless some unforeseen accident shall occur, will reah.e the most sanguine hopes of silk growers. Its success is owing to avoiding the expenses into which the others unnecessarily run, but mostly to its site. The soil is exceedingly rich, of easy culture, well watered, and protected from strong winds ; insects have never touched the trees, which grow with the greatest luxuri ousncss and rapidity. The owner is now able to put three to four reels in operation daily, winding off the best of silk. From this fact it is evident that when suitable loca tions are selected, cdtris paribus, the silk high thoughts and noble sentiments, for bid ! It is in vain to denv that tlm in (In. once of society here on the intellectual man, is deteriorating, aud that it requires an elfort, great and continued for the mind to exert itself, and live amid purer and loftier thoughts, than the scenes about us generate. We have not the resources of wealth, time, and treasuries of learning that are common to our mother lands, but must struggle with cold and selfish com petition for the bread we eat. Ambition stirs us not ; she requires a wider, broad er field for her action. If we act, it must be from a deep and fervent love of the good and beautiful, reason and truth We have the elements of social improve- Thc Fourth of July, the anniversary of the Independence of the United States ol North America, coming on Sunday, succeeding day was celebrated in it stead, and with almost as much noise,an(i ouitc as much enjoyment as it would Imvi been at home. Drums and trumpets, fife and horns, fiddles and triangles, noisi boys, the popping off of muskets, and such other extempore sounds as could N got up for the occasion, all lent their ai long before early dawn, to arouse oui worthy citizens to the fact that " the da we celebrate " had arrived. At sunrise! noon, and sunset, salutes of twenty-sii guns each, were fired from one o! the wharves, while American enskrni waved from all parts of the town. A twelve o'clock, Gov. Kekuanaoa, in a vers handsome manner, caused the guns of the Fort, one for each slate, to add their doff toned thunder in honor of the great am glorious day a compliment highly grati fying to the feelings of the American ren idents, the more so from being quite un expected ; but in acts of national courio-j sy, the gallant and gentlemanly Governor seldom allows himself to be outdone Many of the stores were closed, and the natives very generally availed ihemsiM of the occasion as an holiday for tlim selves. Parties scattered themselves own the country, and through the town, ti. gaged in social pleasures, bringing 10 mind by suitable toasts and sentiments the happy institutions, and inestimable privileges of their mother land. The ladies, not to be outdone by their lords, in patriotism, assembled together at a dinner-party by themselves, nnd at which no gentleman was allowed to make his appearance. We are happv to learn that they enjoyed themselves highly,1 we arc no advocate for this disunion01 forces. A party without the presence of ladies, loses its greatest charm, and on another anniversary we should go lor a joint celebration. , Perhaps there was lit lie more in this meeting than wc dream of in our philosophy, and it is but a pre' hide to a Declaration of their Independ ence, commencing thus, " Whereas all womeiMnre born free and equal, and vast ly supWior to men. we " etc. Be ,nat 05 it may, ladies and gentlemen met together