squashes came to hand in tolerable quantities: some have been brought from New York, but they are far inferior to those grown by our marketers: many of them are striped, some three-colored, transversely, evidently a mixture of the seed. We are happy to perceive that our market gardeners are very particular in this respect, and pay much regard to keeping their seed genuine, or procuring such as are so.

Of fruits, particularly fine kinds, the market does not seem to be remarkably well stocked. Old apples, with the exception of a few russets, are all gone; some new ones have been received from New York, but rather inferior. Pears are not yet plentiful-few except the little muscats, as they are called, having yet come in. Cherries have not been abundant, the early frosts and the late rains having contributed largely to the destruction of the fruit. No strawberries are now to be found

except the Wood. Currants and gooseberries are tolerably plenty. Raspberries scarce. Blueberries come to hand in tolerable abundance at this season. Few watermelons are to be had a small lot, among which were some muskmelons, arrived last week, but in bad order. Pine-apples are very scarce. Cucumbers just begin to come in from the open garden; the supply hitherto has been from frames. Of cranberries there are yet some remaining on hand: but the numerous_new fruits which are to be had causes rather a dull sale at this season. Lemons are very scarce; there having been no arrivals lately; we believe our quotations are as low as they can be bought. Yours, M. T., Boston, July 23d, 1836.

ART. V. Obituary Notice.

Farther Details respecting the Death of Mr. Douglas. [See Vol. I, p. 239.]-The following particulars of this most terrific occurrence are taken from that excellent publication, the Mirror, for March 26, 1836. The editor acknowledges having copied it from Ke Kumu Hawaii, a mission newspaper, published at Honolulu, Oahu, which was kindly lent to him by a subscriber to the Mirror. This newspaper is printed at the mission Press of Oahu, and in the native language of the Sandwich Islands, except the paper relating to Mr. Douglas, which is in English. It appears that the lamentable event occurred on July 12, 1834, six months sooner than, according to a notice in the Magazine of Natural History (vol. viii. p. 410), was supposed to be the case.

"The document whence these particulars have been extracted is dated Hilo, Hawaii (the principal of the Sandwich Islands), July 15, 1834, and is addressed to Richard Charltan, Esq., his Britannic Majesty's consul there.

"Intelligence of this distressing event reached Hilo on the morning of July 14, when a native came up, and, with an expression of countenance which indicated but too faithfully that he was the bearer of sad tidings, inquired for a Mr. Goodrich. On seeing him, he stated that the body of Mr. Douglas had been found on the mountains in a pit excavated for the purpose of taking wild cattle; and that he was supposed to have been killed by the bullock which was in the pit when Mr. Douglas fell in. Never were the feelings of the writers of this letter so shocked; nor could they credit the report till it was painfully confirmed,

as they proceeded to the beach, whither the body of Mr. Douglas had been conveyed in a canoe by the native who brought the news of his death. Upon further inquiry, this person related, in substance, as follows:-That on the evening of the 13th instant, the natives who brought the body down from the mountain came to his house at Laupahoihoi, about twenty-five or thirty miles distant from Hilo, and employed him to bring it to this place in his canoe. The particulars which he learned from them were as follows:-Mr. Douglas left Kohala Point during the previous week, in company with an Englishman as a guide, and proceeded to cross Moncna Kea on the north side. On the 12th instant Mr. Douglas dismissed his guide, who cautioned him, on parting, to be very careful lest he should fall into some of the pits for taking wild cattle; describing them as being near the places to which the animals resorted to drink. Soon after Mr. Douglas had dismissed his guide, he went back a short distance to get a bundle which he had forgotten; and, as he was retracing his steps, in some fatal moment, he fell into one of the pits, into which a bullock had previously fallen. He was found dead in the pit by these same natives, who, ignorant, at the time, of his passing, were in pursuit of bullocks, and, on coming up to the pit, found a small hole in one end of the covering of it. At first they conjectured that a calf had fallen in, but, on further examination, discovered traces of a man's steps, and soon afterwards saw his feet in the pit, his body being covered with dirt and rubbish. They went immediately in pursuit of the guide, who returned, shot the bullock in the pit, took out the body, and hired the natives, at the price of four bullocks (which were killed immediately), to convey the body to the seashore. He himself accompanied them, and procured the native to convey the body to Hilo, promising to follow immediately, and bring with him the compass, the watch (which was somewhat broken, but still going), some money found in Mr. Douglas's pockets, and a little dog, a faithful companion of the departed traveller. Thus far the report of the native who brought the body in his canoe, and who professed to relate the facts as he learned them from the natives who came down from the mountain.

"What an affecting spectacle was presented, on removing the bullock's hide, in which the body had been conveyed! It appeared to be in the same state as when taken from the pit. The face was covered with dirt, the hair filled with blood and dirt, and the coat, pantaloons, and shirt were considerably torn: the hat was missing. On washing the body, it was found to be in a shocking state: there were ten or twelve gashes on the head, a long one over the left eye; another, rather deep, just above the left temple; a deep one behind the right ear; the left cheek-bone appeared to be broken, and also the ribs on the left side; the abdomen was much bruised, as were also the lower parts of the legs.

"After laying out the body, the first thought was to bury it within Mr. Goodrich's premises; but, when a spot had been selected and cleared, doubts were suggested, by a person who had assisted, and who had been much engaged in taking wild cattle, whether the wounds on the head could have been inflicted by a bullock. The matter did not scem clear: many parts of the story were dark and confused; and the following questions arose among the persons present:-How was it that Mr. Douglas was alone, without any guide, whether foreigner or native? Where was John, Mr. Diell's colored man, who left Honolulu with Mr. Diell, and who, on missing a passage with him from Lahaina, embarked with Mr. Douglas, as had been ascertained from the captain of the vessel in which Mr. Douglas sailed from Lahaina to Kohala Point, and there left the vessel, with Mr. Douglas, on the morning of

the 19th instant, in order to accompany him across the mountain to Hilo? How was it that Mr. Douglas should fall into a pit when retracing his steps, after he had once passed it in safety? And, if a bullock had already fallen into the pit, how was it that he did not see the hole necessarily made in the covering? It was, therefore, thought due to the friends of Mr. Douglas, and to the public, whom he had so zealously and usefully served, that an examination should be made of his body by medical men. The only way to have this effected was by preserving the body, and either sending it to Oahu, or keeping it until it could be examined at Hilo. The former plan seemed most desirable. Accordingly, the contents of the abdomen were removed, the body filled with salt, and placed in a coffin, which was filled up with salt; and the whole was enclosed in a box filied with brine. After the body was laid in the coffin, the members of the mission family and several foreigners assembled to pay their tribute of respect to the mortal remains of the deceased: prayers were offered up, and a brief address was made. These services being concluded, the body was removed to a cool native house, where it was enclosed in the box.

"As neither the guides nor any natives had arrived by the 16th inst., two foreigners were despatched to the place where the body was received on the sea-shore, with directions to search out the natives who discovered the body, to go with them to the pit, and, after making as full inquiries as possible, to report at Hilo immediately. So far as could be ascertained, the guide was an Englishman, a convict from Botany Bay, who left a vessel at the Sandwich Islands some years previously: he had a wife and one child with him, to which circumstance was attributed his delay. In the meantime, it was feared that the captain could not convey the remains of Mr. Douglas to Honolulu, as his vessel was filled with wood, canoes, food, &c.

"In the afternoon, however, Edward Gurney, the English guide, arrived. He stated that, on the 12th instant, about ten minutes before six o'clock in the morning, Mr. Douglas arrived at his house on the mountain, and wished him to point out the road to Hilo, and to accompany him a short distance. Mr. Douglas was then alone, but said that his man had given out the day before; referring, probably, to John, Mr. Diell's colored man. Having taken breakfast, Edward accompanied Mr. Douglas about three quarters of a mile; and, after directing him in the path, and warning him of the traps, proceeded about half a mile further with him. Mr. Douglas then dismissed the guide, after expressing his anxiety to reach Hilo by evening, thinking that he could find out the way himself. Just before Edward left him, he warned him particularly of three bullock-traps, about two miles and a half ahead; two of them directly on the road, the other on one side.

"Edward now returned home to skin some bullocks which he had previously killed. About eleven o'clock, two natives came in pursuit of him, saying that the European was dead, and that they had found him in the pit in which the bullock was. They stated that, as they were coming up to this pit, one of them, observing some of the clothing on the side, exclaimed “Lole!" and, in a moment afterwards, discovered Mr. Douglas within the pit, trampled under the feet of the bullock. Edward accordingly ran to the house for a musket and ball. On reaching the pit, he found Mr. Douglas lying upon his right side, and the bullock standing upon his body. He shot the animal, descended into the pit, drew the carcass to the other end of it, and got out the body of the poor traveller. His cane was with him, but the bundle and dog were missing. Edward, knowing that he had a bundle, asked for it. After a few moments' search, a loud barking was heard at a short distance ahead, on the road leading to Hilo; and, on reaching

the spot, the dog was found with the bundle. On further examination, it appeared that Mr. Douglas had stopped for a moment and looked into an empty pit, and also into that wherein the bullock was taken; that, after passing on up the hill some fifteen fathoms, he laid down his bundle, and returned to the fatal pit; and that, while looking in, by making a misstep, or by some other means, he fell into the power of the infuriated animal, who speedily executed the work of death.

"The body was covered in part with stones; which circumstance is thought to have prevented its being entirely crushed. After removing it, Edward took charge of the dog and bundle, and of Mr. Douglas's chronometer, his pocket compass, keys and money, found upon him; and, having hired the natives to carry the body to the shore, (a distance of about twenty-seven miles), accompanied them, and came thence to Hilo. The letter adds: This narrative clears up many of the difficulties which rested upon the whole matter; and, perhaps, it will afford a pretty satisfactory account of the manner in which Mr. Douglas met his awful death. The writers then propose to the consul to send the body to Hilolu, should the captain consent to convey it; if he should not, the corpse was to be interred. We are not aware which course was adopted. The black man mentioned in the letter probably lost his way, and perished in the mountains, as he has not since been heard of.”— (Gard. Mag.)

ART. VI. Meteorological Notice.

FOR JUNE.

THE month of June was almost unprecedented for its degree of cold, cloudy, and wet weather. During the previous part of this month the thermometer ranged scarcely up to the temperate point. North and easterly winds were prevalent, with misty weather and drizzling rains. After this a few days of bright sunshine succeeded, which, however, lasted only a short time; cloudy weather, with easterly winds, set in, and, with but little intermission, lasted until the end of the month.

THERMOMETER.-Mean temperature, 57° 40'-highest, 85°; lowest, 33° above zero.

WINDS.-N. nine days-N. E. nine-E. four-S. E. one—S. fiveW. two days.

Force of the Wind.-Brisk, eighteen days-light, twelve days. Character of the Weather.-FINE, fourteen days-FAIR, two days— CLOUDY, fourteen days.

Rainy, days.

THE

AMERICAN

GARDENER'S MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER, 1836.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

ART. I. On the Use of the Osage Orange (Maclura aurantiaca), as Food for Silk-worms. By T. S. P., Beaverdam, Va.

SOME months ago, the Farmer's Register contained a translation of an interesting article by M. Bonafons, giving the result of an experiment on feeding the silk-worm on the leaves of the Maclura. Although the authority of that gentleman may be regarded as decisive on any matter connected with the culture of silk, yet, as many substitutes for the mulberry have been successively used and discarded, it was reasonable to suppose the maclura might share the same fate. On trial, however, I find it to answer all the purposes for which M. Bonafons recommended it; and as the silk business is becoming an important branch of the industry of the United States, I am induced to detail, in corroboration thereof, the result of my own experiment.

In the month of May I had a few thousand eggs to hatch; and, during the three first ages, the worms were fed exclusively on the leaves of the maclura. At the commencement of the fourth age they were divided into several parcels, with a view of giving to each a separate kind of food. About one third were continued on the same-the native mulberry was given to an equal number—a portion of the balance was fed on the maclura and Chinese mulberry indiscriminately-and the remainder on the Chinese mulberry alone. During the process, I could not perceive that the worms manifested any partiality between the leaves of the maclura and those of the Chinese mulberry,-if they evinced any, it was certainly not in favor of the latter. But they greatly preferred either to the leaves of the red mulberry,