SF 
 
 -NRLF 
 
1 T 
 
MANUAL, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 DIRECTIONS FOR SOWING, TRANSPLANTING AND 
 
 RAISING 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MULBERRY TREE; 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 PROPER 
 
 THE SAME BY 
 
 AS ALSO, 
 
 FOR THE < 
 
 f of 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED, 
 
 CALCULATIONS SHEWING THE PRODUCE 
 
 AJVD PROBABLE EXPENSE 
 
 OF CULTIVATION OF FROM ONE TO TEN ACRES, 
 
 AS TBSTBD BV AOTWAI, BBSWI.TS. 
 
 BY EDWARD P. ROBERTS, 
 
 KDITOR FARMER AND GARDENER. 
 NOT FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR OTHERS. 
 
 NTED BY SA DS * NEILSON, 
 
 jy. E. corner of Baltimore and Charles-streets. 
 
 1885. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In the compilation of this Manual, the au- 
 thor has spared no time which he could snatch 
 from his daily avocations, in reading various 
 authors and essays on the interesting subject 
 of the culture of silk, and he takes occasion 
 here to say, that, for the facts, directions, and 
 instructions, which may be found in it, he 
 is indebted to articles in the Encyclopedia 
 Jlmericana; Lardner^s Cyclopaedia; the Ed- 
 inburgh Encyclopedia; Kenrictfs Orchard- 
 ist, the observations on the silk worm by 
 William B. Buchanan, Esq., published in 
 1828, the treatise on the culture of silk, pub- 
 lished by Gideon B. Smith, Esq., in 1830; 
 the essays on American silk, published in 1830, 
 by John D^Homergue^and Peter S. Dupon- 
 ceau, Esqs. ; Cobb's Silk Manual, published 
 in 1831 ; Nicholson's Farmer's Assistant ; # 
 brief treatise of the culture of Silk, published 
 in Boston, in 1 831 ; The Trade and Naviga- 
 tion of Great Britain, considered, by Joshua 
 Gee, published in 1760; the letter from James 
 Mease, transmitting a treatise on the rearing 
 of silk worms, by Mr. De Hazzi, of Munich; 
 and the manual of the secretary of the treasury 
 on the same subject ; both of which last works 
 were printed by Congress, in 1828; the vari- 
 ous articles respectively in those excellent 
 periodical journals, Fessendeti^s Silk Manual 
 and Practical Farmer ; The Silk Cullurist ; 
 " The Silk Worm ;" essays in the Farmer's 
 Register, and various other periodicals. 
 From all of these works, he has derived the 
 most valuable information; but from the two 
 compilations printed by Congress, and the 
 treatise by Gideon B. Smith, Esq., he has re- 
 ceived the most light with respect to the cul- 
 ture of the Mulberry, and he feels that he 
 should not obey the dictates of his own feel- 
 
 ings did he not particularly acknowledge the 
 historical facts he derived from the excellent 
 and scarce work by Joshua Gee, Esq., as 
 connected with the early silk culture in A- 
 merica. To the treatise communicated to 
 Congress by Dr. Mease, and the letter of the 
 Secretary of the treasury based thereon, he 
 owes not only the arrangement, but in most 
 instances the language also, in which the 
 instructive part of his work is dressed ; nor 
 should he pass over noticing the immense ser- 
 vice he has derived from personal interviews 
 with his intelligent fellow townsman, Gideon 
 B. Smith, Esq., and he feels it due to candor 
 to observe, that wherever he has- had to recon- 
 cile the clashing of opinions, he has turned to 
 his sensible and judicious little work, as a 
 common mediator, and never without receiv- 
 ing the most able assistance. The work of. 
 Count Dandolo which forms the superstruc- 
 ture of the two congressional documents, pre- 
 viously noticed, is so full upon every head 
 connected with the subject, that after reading 
 every thing within his command, the editor's 
 only difficulty seemed to be to separate what 
 might be termed the purely scientific and phi- 
 losophical parts, from those of a more practical 
 character, with a view of presenting to the 
 agricultural community, a Manual, wherein all 
 might derive the necessary information to car- 
 ry on the silk culture in its every branch and 
 department, from the sowing of the Mulberry 
 seed to the reeling of the silk. How far he 
 has succeeded he will not pretend to say, but 
 shall leave that to others to determine being 
 content, himself, in the declaration that he 
 labored with a singleness of intention, to pro- 
 mote what he considers a great and growing 
 interest of his country. 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 OP THE 
 
 OP 
 
 SILK 
 
REPRESENTATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DIFFERENT AGES OF THE SILK WORM. 
 
 You're spinning for my lady, worm, 
 
 Silk garments for the fair ; 
 
 You're spinning rainbows for a form 
 
 More beautiful than air; 
 
 When air is bright with sunbeams, 
 
 And morning mists arise 
 
 From woody vales and mountain streams, 
 
 To blue autumnal skies. 
 
 MONTGOMERY, 
 
 NON SJBI SED AMIS. 
 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 
 
 1. The egg, or the development and birth of the caterpillar. 
 
 2. The silk worms during the first age, till their first moulting. 
 
 3. Rearing of the worms in the second age. 
 
 4. The worms in their third age. 
 
 5. The rearing of the silk worm in the fourth age. 
 
 6. Of the rearing of the silk worms during the fifth age, until the completion of the cocoon. 
 
 7. A species of silk worm, of a dark grey colour, with singular marks. 
 
 8. The cocoons. 
 
 9. Two open cocoons, or cocoons with their grubs. The upper one contains only the shell of a 
 
 developed chrysalis; but in the lower is seen the immature chrysalis, with the skin of the late 
 moth. 
 
 10. A cocoon from which the butterfly is near emerging. 
 
 11. A cocoon from which the butterfly has already escaped. 
 
 12. Two butterflies in the act of coupling. 
 
 13. The female moths laying eggs. 
 
 14. Raw silk of a yellow or white colour. 
 
 15. Represents the excremental substance of the silk worm, in its first and last age. 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCH, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CULTURE AND MANUFACTURE OF SILK. 
 
 IN the third number of the present volume 
 of the Farmer and Gardener, the editor an- 
 nounced his intention of compiling a Silk 
 Manual. Since that time he has devoted 
 much of his leisure moments in reading such of 
 the various authors who have written upon the 
 subject, which were accessible to him, and 
 gleaning from them such things as appeared to 
 him to be necessary to be. known by persons 
 desirious of entering into the silk culture ; 
 and in the course of his readings, so many 
 circumstances of deep interest were developed 
 to him, that he thought it was due to the sub- 
 ject that the Manual should be preceded by 
 a brief historical sketch of the silk worm, the 
 origin of the silk manufacture, its introduc- 
 tion into Europe, and of its more recent in- 
 troduction into America. But as his limits are 
 circumscribed what he may say on the occa- 
 sion, must be considered more in the light of 
 an abstract, than of a historical view. 
 
 The deep and absorbing interest, which per- 
 vades every section of our country, at the pre- 
 sent moment, and the spirit of inquiry, which 
 is every where abroad, upon the subject of the 
 Mulberry and silk culture, seemed to require 
 that the public curiosity should be gratified, 
 and its wants met in a way to direct that in- 
 quiry into profitable results. Than America, 
 stretching as it does from the Atlantic, across 
 an almost boundless territory, to the Rocky 
 Mountains, there is, perhaps, no country in the 
 world more happily adapted, by the advan- 
 tages of climate and soil, to the culture of the 
 Mulberry, which is " native born" with us, 
 the nurturing and feeding of the worm, or for 
 the making and manufacturing of the silk. With 
 those natural advantages, possessed by us in 
 so pre-eminent a degree, when the enterprise 
 and genius of our people are considered, it be- 
 comes a matter of surprise that a business of- 
 
 fering so many inducements of pleasure and 
 profit, should have remained so long unim- 
 proved, and especially too, when so much 
 pains were taken by the government of the 
 mother country, to direct the attention of the 
 colonists to it from the period of its earliest 
 settlement, to just before the war of the revo- 
 lution. But that surprise must cease to oper- 
 ate, intensely, when the desire inherent in our 
 nature, of prefering present to prospective 
 gains is considered, and also, how natuial it 
 was for our forefathers to prefer the cul- 
 tivation of tobacco, a production which afford- 
 ed them an annual return, to that of the Mul- 
 berry and silk, whose avails to any considera- 
 ble extent, in the then state and knowledge of 
 the business, could not be looked for, for seve- 
 ral years. Thus situated, and desirous of rea- 
 lizing, at the end of each revolving year, the 
 fruits of their labor, they adhered to the culti- 
 vation of the " bitter weed," and their children 
 followed in their footsteps, until it became al- 
 most as cherished in their affections as house- 
 hold gods, and formed the chief staple of seve- 
 ral of the colonies. But it has thus happened 
 that adherence to its culture has so exhausted 
 the soil of its fertility, that many of its owners 
 have been driven to the necessity of departing 
 from the haunts of their childhood;, or of en- 
 tering into other systems of husbandry. In 
 this state of things, the editor desires to be an 
 humble co-adjutorin directing public attention 
 once more to the silk culture, in the hope that 
 he may, in part, be instrumental in placing the 
 means within the acquisition of all, of improv- 
 ing the soil on which they dwell, and thus re- 
 lieve them from the painful alternative of go- 
 ing in search of strange lands. Influenced by 
 such considerations, he was induced to under- 
 take the present task, and with * this hasty 
 outline of his object and intentions, he will 
 
10 
 
 proceed in the discharge of the duties which 
 have thus devolved upon him. In giving the 
 history of the silk culture, it is not his purpose 
 to enter upon the natural history of the worm 
 itself: however interesting that might be to 
 naturalists and men of science, the honest yeo- 
 manry of the country entertain no great curiosi- 
 ty in the premises. rn ~ iU ~ ~ :i : ~ ~ " * 
 perfect indifference 
 
 To them it is a matter of 
 how many antennae and 
 
 pectinated fillets the worm may possess, suffi- 
 cient it is for all purposes of profit, that it. is 
 known to fabricate a beautiful thread of finely 
 attenuated texture. He will, however, do 
 what is infinitely better endeavor to teach 
 them, in a plain and unostentatious way, all 
 things necessary to be known to enable them 
 to lay hold of the business with a certain 
 prospect of large profits. With these pre- 
 fatory remarks, he will venture on that part 
 of his plan connected with the oiigin, rise, and 
 progress, of the silk business. 
 
 The silk worm, or catterpillar, is called 
 lombyx from the Greek word signifying sound. 
 There were two kinds amongst the Greeks, 
 the one a hairy catlerpillar, the other the silk 
 worm proper, as known at the present day. 
 The real silk web was first known, as far as 
 history gives an account, in ancient Serica, a 
 part of the Chinese Empire, beyond the 35th 
 degree. Forests of Mulberry trees there grew 
 and the worms colonising themselves among 
 them for centuries, fed upon their rich foliage 
 
 of his subjects. The Empress, as became her, 
 together with the women of her household, 
 gathered the silk worms from the trees, pla- 
 ced them in the imperial apartments, caused 
 them to be supplied abundantly with leaves 
 from the Mulberry forests, and kept clean. 
 The result of this experiment was, that it was 
 soon found the c jcoons raised within the impe- 
 rial apartments, were infinitely superior in 
 quality, and more numerous and richer in silk 
 than those raised in the open air, where they 
 were exposed to the injurious effects of the 
 changes of the temperature of the air, and 
 where they were, also, exposed to the depre- 
 dations of their natural enemies, serpents, ants 
 and spiders. 
 
 Similar exertions for the domestic culture 
 as we are told, were made by the succeeding 
 Empresses, so that it became the principal 
 occupation of the Empresses, and the apart- 
 ments of the imperial palace were given up to 
 it. From the highest rank of females, it came 
 at last to be exercised by the whole fair sex, 
 and ultimately gained such favor, that it turn- 
 ed to be the principal source of the wealth of 
 China, and the fair sovereigns of the Empire, 
 did not content themselves with the rearing of 
 the worms, but attended also, to the card- 
 ing and weaving of their finely spun webs. 
 The original promotress of the art in China, 
 the Empress Si-Leng-Chi, taught her women 
 
 undisturbed by man, who, if he had so design- 
 ed it, might have gathered the precious thread 
 and provided himself with clothing, without 
 much labor. The worms were permitted, 
 however, to remain long untouched and the 
 beautiful article of their fabrication continued 
 for centuries alike unprofitable and neglect- 
 ed. 
 
 In the reign of the Emperor Houng-Ti, a 
 new era commenced in the culture of Silk. 
 The worms were then, for the first time, shel- 
 tered and carefully attended to. The history 
 of China, as our author says, mentions, that 
 700 years before Abraham, and 2,700 years 
 before the Christian era, Houng-Ti, "the Em- 
 peror of the earth," who reigned for more 
 than a hundred years, taught the Chinese to 
 construct houses, carts, ships, mills and other 
 useful things of a similar kind, and persuaded, 
 moreover, his first and legitimate consort, Si- 
 Leng-Chi, to attend to the silk worms, and to 
 try several experiments, in order to increase 
 their utility ; wishing as he said, and as a good 
 monarch Raturally would, that his wife, the 
 Empress, might also contribute to the welfare 
 
 not only to convert the new material into 
 clothing stuffs, but to embroider them with 
 representations of flowers and animals. 
 
 In order to encourage the rearing of the 
 worms, and the weaving and manufacturing 
 of silk, the Emperor, the learned classes, the 
 princes, courtiers and Mandarins, and in short, 
 all who were sufficiently affluent dressed in 
 satin or damask. Subsequently, silk became 
 an article of exportation, and found its way 
 into all the other countries of Asia, and ulti- 
 mately to Europe. The caravans were seen 
 going from the coasts of China to those of 
 Syria, usually occupying as much as two hun- 
 dred and forty-three days on the journey. 
 The Phoenecians finally found their way to the 
 East of Europe. 
 
 The Greeks, it is affirmed by writers, de- 
 rived their first knowledge of silk from the 
 military expeditions of Alexander into Persia 
 and India, and Jlrislotle called the attention of 
 his country to it as early as three hundred and 
 fifty years before Christ. 
 
 When this fabric was first introduced among 
 the Romans, owing to itsv-high price, the 
 chains only were of silk, and the filling either 
 
11 
 
 of linen or cotton, and may therefore be call- 
 ed half silk stuffs; but a general outcry soon 
 arose, even against the half silk stuffs, under 
 the pretence that they were too expensive 
 and too womanish. Even as late as the reign 
 of the Emperor Tiberius, seventeen years af- 
 ter Christ, it was ordered ''that no silk dress 
 should henceforth disgrace a Roman city" In 
 the reign of Marcus Aurelius, in the year 173, 
 such attire was only worn by the ladies of the 
 highest rank. The Syrian voluptuary, He- 
 liogabulus, it is stated, was the first who wore 
 a dress wholly composed of silk, in the year 
 218; but in the year of our Lord 270, Jlure- 
 lianus denied to his wife, Severa, such a dress, 
 colored with purple. "Let us not," said he, 
 "exchange gold for spider's web, and indeed, 
 at that epoch, silk was of the same value with 
 gold, being exchanged weight for weight. 
 
 The Persians enjoyed for centuries the 
 monopoly of the trade in silk ; but after their 
 subjugation by Alexander, three hundred 
 years before the birth of Christ, Greece and 
 Rome became participants of the trafic ; and 
 such was the anxiety of the Romans to trade 
 with a people who were competent to the 
 production cf so beautiful an article, that the 
 Emperor ^Marcus Jlntonius sent ambassadors 
 to China to negotiate a more direct commer- 
 cial intercourse, and a second embassay was 
 despatched with the same view in the year 
 272, the results of which were more favora- 
 ble. The price of silk remained, however, 
 so high, and it rose so much in the estimation 
 of the Romans, that Justinian made anothei 
 attempt soon after he ascended the throne to 
 obtain a more certain as well as an increased 
 supply. Julian also, subsequently made 
 similar effort but failed. The preachers o 
 the doctrines of JVes/or, who were exiled by 
 the government of Byzantium, fled to India 
 Their patriarch, who resided in Persia, sen 
 missions, and established convents and bishop 
 ricks in every direction. And it is related o 
 two of his monks, who had been employed as 
 missionaries in some of the Christian churchei 
 which were instituted indifferent parts of In 
 dia, having penetrated into the country of th< 
 Seres, had observed the labors of the silk 
 worms, and become acquainted with the art o 
 working their production into a variety o 
 elegant fabrics. Aware of the solicitude o 
 the Europeans on this subject, they repairet 
 to Constantinople, and imparted to the Empe 
 ror Justinian the secret which had hithert( 
 been so well preserved by the Seres, that sil! 
 was produced by a species of worms, th 
 
 eggs of which might be transported with 
 afety, and propagated in the dominions. By 
 ic promise of a great reward, says the ac- 
 ount, they were induced to return and brought 
 way a quantity of the silk worm's eggs in 
 le hollow of a cane, and conveyed them safely 
 o Constantinople about the year 555. These 
 vere hatched in the proper season by the 
 varmth of a manure heap, the worms fed 
 vith the leaves of the Mulberry tree, and 
 lieir race propagated under the direction of 
 be monks. The insects thus happily produced 
 rom this caneful of eggs, were, it is affirmed, 
 he progenitors of all the silk worms of Eu- 
 ope and the western part of Asia. Vastnum- 
 ers of these insects were soon thereafter 
 eared in different parts of Greece, and par- 
 icularly in the Peloponnesus. The monks 
 laving also made themselves masters of the 
 art of manufacturing silk, the business was 
 conducted under the auspicies of the Emperor, 
 and for his exclusive benefit; but the imperial 
 monopoly could not long continue, and man- 
 kind, gradually, became possessed of the pre- 
 vious insects, after the death of Justinian, in 
 he year 565. The people of the Peninsula, 
 and of the cities of Athens, and Thebes, en- 
 oyed the profit of the culture and manufac- 
 ure of silk for upwards of 400 years, and the 
 Venetians during the continuance of their 
 commercial glory, distributed the products of 
 iheir industry over the western parts of Eu- 
 rope. Things remained thus until Roger, the 
 Norman, King of Sicily, after his return from 
 the second crusade, in the year 1146, invaded 
 Greece and captured a great number of silk 
 weavers, who were carried off and settled in 
 Palermo, the capital city of the conqueror. 
 
 By order of the King, the Grecian prison- 
 ers taught his Sicilian subjects to raise and 
 feed silk worms, and to weave the various va- 
 rieties of the silk stuffs, and so well did they 
 profit by their instructions, that in twenty 
 years, the silk manufactures of Sicily elicited 
 the warmest commendations from most of the 
 historians of the age. 
 
 The Saracens had before this time engaged 
 in the manufacture of silk. Lisbon and Al- 
 meira and the island of Majorca, were famous 
 for their silk fabrics. Louis XI of France and 
 his son Charles VIII made attempts to intro- 
 duce the manufacture, but the honor of success 
 belongs to Henry IV. 
 
 As early as the year 1455, mention is made 
 of a company of silk women in England, and 
 the business had become so important in 1504, 
 as to receive a prohibitory statute in its favor. 
 
In 1561, queen Elizabeth, or as she was more 
 familiarly termed, the good queen Bess, re- 
 ceived a present of a pair of black silk stock- 
 ings, with which it is stated she was so well 
 pleased that she never afterwards wore any 
 of another material. 
 
 In 1608, James I, who had several times 
 recommended the manufacture from the throne, 
 addressed a long letter upon the subject, writ- 
 ten with his own hand, to the Lord Lieuten- 
 ants of every county in the kingdom, to whom 
 Mulberry seeds and plants were sent for dis- 
 tribution, together with a book of instructions ; 
 but notwithstanding his earnest wishes on the 
 subject, it was not until the latter part of his 
 reign that he had the pleasure of seeing the 
 business permanently established. Since then 
 to the present, the manufacture of silk has 
 been carried on extensively in England ; but 
 owing to the humidity of the climate, she nev- 
 er has been, and never can become, extensive- 
 ly or profitably engaged in the culture of the 
 Mulberry and the management of the worms, 
 and of necessity is compelled to seek the raw 
 material in France and other silk raising 
 countries. The ultimate success of the silk 
 manufacture in England, arose chiefly from 
 an act of religious persecution in France in 
 1685, when by the revocation of the edict of 
 Nantes, all the Protestants were driven from 
 France, and settled in England, where they 
 commenced the silk business. The introduc- 
 tion oF'the silk throwing mill by Sir Thomas 
 Lombe, of Derby, in the year 1719, greatly 
 promoted the manufacture by the increased 
 rapidity imparted to the process of preparing 
 the raw material. 
 
 Having thus incidentally named Sir Thom- 
 as Lomhe, it may not be uninteresting to men- 
 tion a fact connected with the family, which 
 will go far to shew the difficulties with which 
 the introduction of this business was first in- 
 troduced into England, and how jealous were 
 the Italians of permitting all knowledge con- 
 nected with the manufacture of silk from es- 
 caping from their country. There were three 
 brothers, Thomas, Henry, and John Lombe, 
 the first who was sheriff of London on the oc- 
 casioa of the coronation of George the II., in 
 1727, was knighted. About this time, the Ital- 
 ians had introduced great improvement in the 
 art of throwing silk, and rendered it impossible 
 for the Lombes, who were engaged in the silk 
 throwing business at London, to bring their 
 goods into the market upon any thing like terms 
 of equality with the Italian. The younger 
 brother was a lad at the time, and by the laws> 
 
 of the Italians it was made death for any one 
 to discover any thing connected with the silk 
 manufacture: with this addition, the forfeiture of 
 their goods, and their person and name to be 
 painted on the outside of the' prison walls, 
 hanging to the gallows by one foot, with an 
 inscription to remain as a perpetual mark of in- 
 famy. These severe and degrading penalties 
 would, one would think, have been a barrier 
 to the curiosity of almost any one; but it 
 had no dreads for young Lombe. He proceed- 
 ed to Italy, and after various ineffectual at- 
 tempts to procure drawings and an insight in- 
 to the business, he at last ingratiated himself 
 into the good opinion of a priest, who confess- 
 ed the family to whom the silk factory belong- 
 ed ; through his interest he obtained employ- 
 ment in the mill as a fillatoe-boy to superin- 
 tend a spinning engine. Whilst others slept 
 he was awake and diligently employed in his 
 arduous and dangerous undertaking. He had 
 possessed himself of a dark lantern, tinder 
 box, wax-candles and a case of mathematical 
 instruments. In the day time, these were se- 
 creted in the hole under the stairs where he 
 used to sleep, and no person ever indicated 
 the least curiosity to ascertain the extent of 
 the possessions of young Lombe, who had so 
 far disguised himself as to present the appear- 
 ance of a most wretched being. By this 
 means he obtained drawings of every part of 
 the machinery, and through means of his 
 friend the priest, he conveyed them to Eng- 
 land in piece meal, in bales of silk. These 
 originals are still preserved in the Derby mills. 
 After Lombe had completed his drawings he 
 waited until an English ship was on the point of 
 sailing for England, when he left the works. and 
 hastened on board. His absence excited sus- 
 picion, and an Italian brig was despatched in 
 pursuit ; but the English vessel, being the bet- 
 ter sailer of the two, escaped. 
 
 There are other mills more recently erect- 
 ed at Derby on similar principles, which 
 greatly surpass those of the Messrs. Lombe, 
 in grandeur and efficiency, but the old mill 
 continues to be regarded as the chief object 
 of interest, being the first established of the 
 kind, and associated with so romantic an in- 
 cident in the life of one of its first proprie- 
 tors. 
 
 This brings us to that part of the history of 
 the culture which relates more immediately 
 to our own country. 
 
 The culture of silk in America first com- 
 menced in the state of Virginia, the attention 
 of the settlers being called to it by the British 
 
13 
 
 government, in the 20th year of the reign of 
 James I. Having unsuccessfully attempted to 
 introduce it into his own kingdom, in Europe, 
 he was the more desirous of doing so in his 
 transatlantic possessions, in order that his 
 manufacturers at home might draw their sup- 
 plies of the raw material from his colonies in 
 America. With the view of furthering his 
 object, which had now become quite a favo- 
 rite with him, silk worm eggs, Mulberry trees, 
 and printed directions were early sent to Vir- 
 ginia, to encourage the silk culture, and as the 
 king had "understood that the soil naturally 
 yieldeth stores of excellent. Mulberries," he 
 gave special instructions to the Earl of South- 
 ampton, to urge the cultivation of silk in the 
 colonies in preference to tobacco, " which 
 brings with it many disorders and inconve- 
 niences." In accordance to which, the Earl 
 wrote a letter on the subject to the governor, 
 and council of Virginia, in which he desired 
 them to compel the colonists to plant Mul- 
 berry trees. In 1 623, the colonial assembly 
 directed that they should be planted; and in 
 1656, the culture of silk is described as the 
 most profitable commodity for the country, 
 and a penalty of three pounds of tobacco is 
 imposed upon every planter who should fail 
 to plant at least ten Mulberry trees for every 
 hundred acres of land in his possession. A 
 premium also of 4000 pounds of tobacco was 
 at the same time given to a person as an in- 
 ducement to remain in the country, and pro- 
 secute the trade in silk; and the following 
 year, a premium was offered of 10,000 pounds 
 of tobacco to any one who should export 
 200 worth of the raw material of silk, and 
 5000 pounds of the same article to any one 
 who should produce 1000 pounds of wound 
 silk in one year. The act coercing the plant- 
 ing of a given number of trees was repealed in 
 1656, and renewed two years thereafter; but 
 the system of bounties and penalties was con- 
 tinued until 1666, when, owing to the success 
 of the culture they were deemed unnecessary ; 
 but in 1 6 1 9 it was again renew ed ; and subse- 
 quently entirely ceased. 
 
 While Sir William Berkeley was in Eng- 
 land, on the occasion of his reappointment as 
 governor, in conversation with the King, his 
 majesty strongly recommended the culture of 
 silk, and as an inducement to the colonists to 
 attend to his advice, mentioned " that he had 
 formerly worn some of the silk of Virginia, 
 which he found not inferior to that raised in 
 other countries." 
 
 The encouragement given by the colonial 
 
 Legislature, had the desired effect, a spirit of 
 generous enterprise and emulation was infus- 
 ed into the minds of the agriculturists of the old 
 dominion, Mulberry trees were generally 
 planted and the raising of silk worms 
 was made a part of the business of many of 
 the farmers. Indeed, so zealously did the 
 larger planters and farmers enter into it, that 
 many were found to come forward and claim 
 the premium offered by the Legislature; and 
 among these was a Major Walker, a member 
 of that body, who produced satisfactory testi- 
 mony of having 70,000 trees growing in the 
 year 1664. The eastern part of the state 
 abounds with the White Mulberry trees at 
 present, thus offering the inhabitants the 
 means of promptly taking up the silk culture, 
 as a part of their system of husdandry. 
 
 In that excellent and scarce work, entitled 
 " The trade and navigation of Great Britain 
 and Ireland, by Joshua Gee," published in 
 1760, there are numerous evidences of the 
 deep and pervading interest which was then, 
 and had been long felt by the government of 
 England, to introduce the culture of silk into 
 their colonies. One of these relates to the in- 
 terest taken by James I., and as it is a little 
 different, rather in form, however, than sub- 
 stance, to the version already given, we will 
 transcribe it. 
 
 "King James the first concerned himself 
 much in trade ; yet in imitation of Henry IV. 
 of France, (who was wonderful assidious in 
 promoting all sorts of manufactures, and 
 among the rest, that of planting Mulberry 
 trees, and raising silk,) made some essays to- 
 wards such a design here, and he and his 
 courtiers seemed to be very fond of the under- 
 taking, and letters were writ to Virginia to 
 promote that manufacture. Some small pro- 
 gress was made there and letters passed be- 
 tween the planters and gentlemen here; but 
 as soon as they thought they had engaged the 
 planters to begin upon it, instead of promoting 
 it heartily, and sending some able and skilful 
 persons to direct the undertaking, they threw 
 all upon the planters, and that noble design 
 came to nothing, whereas that of France suc- 
 ceeded to the immense profit of that king- 
 dom." p 3. 6th ed. 
 
 If any proof were wanting of the adaptation 
 of our country, in climate and soil for the silk 
 culture, it is to be found in the pages of this 
 work, the edition of which now before us is 
 75 years old. In page 20, in a chapter on 
 " Trade between England and Carolina," Mr. 
 Gee remarks: 
 
14 
 
 u Carolina lies in as happy a climate as any 
 in the world, from 32 to 36 degrees of north- 
 ern latitude, the soil is generally fertile ; the 
 rice it produces is said to be the best in the 
 world ; and no country affords better silk than 
 has been brought from thence." 
 
 Again, in p. 22, he remarks : 
 
 " As Carolina is likely to become the pro- 
 perty of the crown, the rich grounds that lie 
 under the Apulachean hills, and through Vir- 
 ginia, etc. are inviting places for raising silk." 
 
 And in p. 104, &c. we have the fol- 
 lowing strong proof of the great interest felt by 
 the government of Great Britain, not only for 
 the culture of silk in this country , but of the 
 then existing favorable opinion as to the prac- 
 ticability of it. Mr. Gee says: 
 
 " If care was taken to cultivate and improve 
 the raising of silk in our plantations, Carolina, 
 Virginia, ^Maryland, and Pennsylvania. 
 would produce the best of silk, and as fit for 
 organzine as any in the world; for these 
 countries produce vast numbers of white and 
 other Mulberry trees, which grow wild and 
 spring up almost every where in great abun- 
 dance, which looks as if nature had called us 
 thither to propagate that manufacture ; and if 
 put on foot, would in time be of as great ad- 
 vantage to this nation as any employment in 
 the plantations ; for as I have already observ- 
 ed, the manufacture of silk is a most profitable 
 undertaking, where the land and air is proper 
 for raising it." 
 
 " The vast riches of China, by this manu 
 facture is sufficient to demonstrate the great 
 advantages thereof; and the extraordinary 
 treasure the Duke of Savoy draws into his 
 country by silk, which is made in that little 
 principality of Piedmont, as I have already 
 observed, is also another instance ; we may 
 judge, if he draws above two hundred thou- 
 sand pounds a year from England, what his 
 profits are which he draws from Holland, and 
 other places where the manufacture is carried 
 
 on to a very great degree." 
 
 * **"# * * # # 
 
 "Very great things may be expected by 
 our encouraging and promoting the manufac- 
 ture of silk in our colonies. * * * * No 
 part of the world better [suited to the silk 
 worm] than is our colonies ; no silk cleaner 
 more glossy, of a better body, nor fitter to an- 
 swer the use of the fine thrown silk we have 
 from Italy, than the small quantity of silk tha 
 has been imported from thence." [The Ameri- 
 can colonies.] *******> 
 
 " We are told by a gentleman of good in- 
 
 telligence, the whole charge of making a 
 a pound of silk in China, does not stand in 
 above five shillings, and almost any person, 
 man, woman, or child, may work at it, and 
 a man or woman, with a child to assist in di- 
 recting the thread of the silk, may with a pro- 
 per machine reel from tlie cocoon or silk bag, 
 one pound in a day." 
 
 * * * * " Now I should think the la- 
 bor of slaves employed in this work, would 
 produce above twice as much as those that are 
 employed in planting either sugar or tobac- 
 co." 
 
 These are the opinions of an eminent Eng- 
 ish political economist, who wrote three quar- 
 ;ers of a century ago, and they go to establish 
 two points very clearly, that the silk culture 
 was esteemed, even at that early day, very 
 lighly by the most judicious thinking men, 
 and that the peculiar advantages possessed by 
 our country for the culture, was then well un- 
 derstood, and duly appreciated by the first in- 
 telligences of the age. 
 
 As early as 1732, upon the settlememt of 
 Georgia, the culture of silk was also contem- 
 plated as a principal object of attention, and 
 lands were granted to settlers upon the ex- 
 press condition, that they planted one hundred 
 White Mulberry trees on every ten acres 
 when cleared. Trees, seed, and the eggs of 
 the silk worms, were sent over by the coloni- 
 al trustees, and an Episcopal clergyman, and a 
 native of Piedmont, were engaged to instruct 
 the people in the art of rearing the worms and 
 winding the silk. And in order to preserve 
 the spirit of the silk culture, and to keep the 
 views of government present before the people, 
 the public seal had on one side of it a repre- 
 sentation of silk worms in their various stages, 
 with this appropriate motto, "non sibi sed 
 
 aims'" NOT FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR OTH- 
 ERS. By the manuscript proceedings of those 
 colonial trustees, it appears that the first silk 
 received from Georgia, was in the year 1735, 
 when 81bs. of raw silk were exported from 
 Savannah to England, where it was made in- 
 to a piece and presented to the Queen. The 
 exportations from Georgia increased until the 
 year 1756. During the intervening periods 
 large quantities of silk were at times ex ported 
 to England. The exportation of raw silk in 
 1759 amounted to upwards of 10,000 pounds, 
 and brought two or three shillings per pound 
 more than that of any other country. It is 
 stated that the last parcel brought for sale to 
 Savannah was in the year 1790. 
 
 Attention to the Mulberry and silk culture 
 
15 
 
 appears to have been paid at a very early pe- 1 The worms were fed upon the native Mulberry 
 
 until the White Mulberry could be reared, and 
 it is remarked that they thrived well and yield- 
 ed good silk. While this association was in 
 existence, many garments were made of silk 
 reared by its members ; but the war of the 
 revolution put a stop chiefly to their patriotic 
 
 nod in South Carolina by the ladies, with 
 whom it was a fashionable occupation, and 
 who were in the habit of sending their raw 
 silk to England. As far back as 1755, Mrs. 
 Pinckney, a lady distinguished alike by her 
 patriotism, and excellently improved mind, 
 took with her to England a quantity of supe- 
 rior silk, sufficient to make three complete 
 dresses. One of these was presented to the 
 Princess dowager of Wales, another to Lord 
 Chesterfield, and the third being retained by 
 her, was a few years since in possession of 
 one of her daughters in Charleston. Even at 
 this early period, these American productions 
 were allowed by competent judges to be equal 
 to any ever imported into England. The dress in 
 possession of the daughter of Mrs. Pinckney, 
 Mrs. Horry, in Charleston, South Carolina, 
 was in 1809, still in a good state of preserva- 
 tion, and remarkable for its beauty, firmness 
 and strength. Though the quantity of raw 
 silk exported from this country was always 
 small, yet its quality according to the certifi- 
 cate of Sir Thomas Lombe, the eminent silk 
 manufacturer, was excellent, having as much 
 strength and beauty as the silk of Italy. 
 
 In Georgia, at New Bordeaux, a French 
 settlement about 70 miles above Augusta, the 
 people supplied much of the high country 
 with sewing silk during the war of the revo- 
 lution. 
 
 In the year 1770, we see it stated by the 
 editor of the Genesee Farmer, that a filature 
 was established in Philadelphia, and premi- 
 ums announced, and that in the following year, 
 1771, about 2,300 Ibs. of silk were brought 
 there to reel. The ladies in particular gave 
 great attention to the subject. As early as 
 1770, Mrs. Susanna Wright, at Columbia, 
 Lancaster county, made a piece of manlua, 60 
 yards in length from her own cocoons ; and 
 that, to give eclat to these colonial designs, 
 the Queen of Great Britain gave her patron- 
 age by appearing in a court dress made from 
 American silk. Grace Fisher, a minister 
 among friends, made considerable silk stuff: 
 a piece of which was presented by governor 
 Dickinson to the celebrated Catharine Ma- 
 cauley. It is also stated that many ladies be- 
 fore the revolution wore silk dresses of their 
 own fabrication. 
 
 In the year 1771, the culture of the silk 
 worm commenced with considerable spirit in 
 the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 
 and a society was formed for that purpose. 
 
 labors, and suspended, in a great measure, the 
 culture of silk. Some few of the more per- 
 severing of the members of the society, still 
 continued the culture on a small scale, pro- 
 ducing from year to year a sufficiency of sew- 
 ing silk for domestic use. In 1790 Nathan- 
 iel Aspinwall, of Connecticut, made a patri- 
 otic effort to revive the Mulberry culture 
 in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, 
 and planted, and caused to be planted, thou- 
 sands of trees in those states, for which good 
 service, his memory deserves to be embalmed 
 in the grateful recollections of his countrymen. 
 Among those gentlemen who took an active 
 part in starting the culture in Pennsylvania 
 and New Jersey, in 1771, Doctor Franklin 
 and Dr. Cadwallader Evans stood conspicu- 
 ous, as they did in all other good works with- 
 in the range of their influence. 
 
 During the last few years a spirit has been 
 revived in the state of Pennsylvania to engage 
 in the silk culture, and particularly in the 
 neighborhood of Philadelphia, where several 
 large establishments are projected and being 
 projected. One of the great obstructions in 
 the advance of the silk culture in this country, 
 from the earliest attempts to establish it, has 
 been the want of a market for the sale of the 
 raw silk, either in cocoons, or when reeled ; 
 and another is, the idea which prevails of the 
 immense difficulty of reeling it to advantage ; 
 but both of these have ceased to operate ; 
 markets in the eastern cities, offering fair re- 
 munerating prices, are already established for 
 any quantity of raw silk in any state in which 
 it may be offered, and the simplicity of the 
 newly invented reel of Mr. Gay has brought 
 the art down to the level of almost any capa- 
 city. For ourself we have ever looked upon 
 the difficulty of reeling as being much more 
 imaginary than real, and the success of the 
 lady of whom we spoke a few weeks 
 back, who, with an old thread reel, managed 
 to disengage the web from the cocoons and to 
 make as excellent sewing silk as we ever be- 
 held, shews that we were correct. We have 
 been taught, from our youth up, that no diffi- 
 culties are insurmountable when opposed by 
 willing hearts and industrious hands, and we 
 
have scarcely ever seen an instance in which 
 the truth of the position was not fully estab- 
 lished. 
 
 At Economy, Pennsylvania, near Pitts- 
 burgh, the culture in all its branches, from 
 the feeding of the worm to the manufacture oJ 
 the silk is extensively carried on by those 
 worthy gentlemen and public spirited men, 
 the Messrs. Rapp, and we have seen specimens 
 of the silk wove there, which were no less 
 beautiful to the eye than elastic in quality. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Ripka of Philadelphia has a 
 flourishing plantation containing ten acres of 
 Mulberry trees on the Point-no-Point road, 
 and intends entering into the silk culture on a 
 large scale; and a Mr. Upton, also of Phila- 
 delphia, has been engaged in the silk manu- 
 facture, but to what extent we are unable to 
 say. 
 
 In Maryland the culture of the Mulberry 
 and silk worm has for many years been con- 
 ducted on a small scale by individuals. We 
 have seen many specimens of fine sewing silk, 
 and have been informed that several ladies in 
 the lower part of this state on the Western 
 Shore, as well as others on the Eastern, have 
 succeeded in fabricating very pretty speci- 
 mens of silk cloth. Among those in our own 
 city who have taken a lead in this business, 
 we should not omit to mention the names of 
 Mrs. Kesiah Norris, Mrs. Flax, Mr. Wm. 
 B. Buchanan, Mr. Gideon B. Smith and Mr. 
 J. Y. Tompkins. The three latter individuals 
 have largely contributed by their intelligent 
 and praiseworthy labors, not only to keep 
 alive the spirit of enterprise, but have thrown 
 much light upon the subject. Mrs. Norris 
 too, deserves especial notice, being of late 
 years, perhaps the first one to engage in it in 
 this quarter ; and had she not been cut off in 
 the midst of her usefulness, we have no doubt 
 she would long ere this have brought the manu- 
 facture to perfection. Some years before her 
 death she and her husband had settled upon a 
 small estate near Baltimore, and commenced a 
 plantation of the Mulberry, with the view of 
 carrying on the business, and just as those 
 trees were beginning to yield food for her 
 worms, she was stricken to the earth. It does 
 not appear that any one else in Maryland, so 
 far as our researches have gone, ever under- 
 took it as a branch of husbandry, and this is 
 the more to be wondered at, as no state in the 
 Union is more happily situated for conducting 
 it to advantage. Her climate and soil are both 
 peculiarly adapted to the culture of the Mul- 
 berry ; she has a great proportion of light, 
 
 sandy, gravelly and dry .lands, which years of 
 exhausting culture have rendered almost use- 
 less for other agricultural purposes, that could 
 be profitably occupied in this culture. These 
 circumstances would seem to point out with 
 unerring certainty the policy of entering into 
 the silk culture, not only to Maryland, but to 
 every other state in the Union similarly situa- 
 ted, and without intending or wishing to be un- 
 derstood as being invidious, we might mention 
 as kindred states, New Jersey, Delaware, 
 Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South 
 Carolina, as well as parts of Georgia. 
 
 In Connecticut, attention to the culture of 
 silk commenced about the year 1760, by the 
 introduction of the White Mulberry tree and 
 eggs of the silk worms, into the county of 
 Windham and town of Mansfield, from Long 
 Island, New York, by that patriotic citizen 
 and enterprising agriculturist to whom we 
 have before alluded, Mr. N. Aspinwall, who 
 had there planted a large nursery. He also 
 planted an extensive nursery of the trees 
 in New Haven, and was active in obtaining 
 of the Legislature of the state of Connecticut, 
 an act granting a bounty for planting of the 
 trees. The premium was liberal, being ten 
 shillings for every hundred trees which should 
 be planted, and preserved in thrifty condition 
 for three years, and three pence per ounce for 
 all raw silk which the owners of trees should 
 produce from cocoons of their own raising 
 within the state. After the necessity of a 
 bounty upon trees had ceased, one was 
 granted on raw silk manufactured within the 
 state. An old statute continues in force, which 
 requires skeins of sewing silk to consist of 
 twenty threads each two yards long. 
 
 It may not be amiss here to mention as an 
 act of justice, that in England the most intense 
 anxiety existed to further the culture of silk 
 n this country, nor was this praiseworthy so- 
 icitation confined to the King or his ministers; 
 ndividual associations fully participated. The 
 satriotic society in London for the promotion 
 of arts, #c. paid several hundred pounds ster- 
 ing between the years 1755 and 1772, for 
 Dremiums for planting Mulberry trees, and for 
 cocoons and raw silk made, to various per- 
 sons in Georgia, South Carolina and Connec- 
 ticut. 
 
 After the war of the revolution, the business 
 of the silk culture was renewed and gradually 
 xtended; and it is recorded that in the year 
 1789, 200 Ibs. of raw silk were made in the 
 town of Mansfield, in Windham county, Con- 
 necticut. In 1810, the value of the sewing 
 
17 
 
 silk, made in the three counties of New Lon- 
 don, Windham, and Tolland, was estimated 
 by the U. S. Marshal, at $28,503, but the 
 value of the domestic fabrics made from the 
 refuse silk, and worn in these counties is not 
 taken into the account; and it is affirmed that 
 they may be fairly estimated at half of that 
 sum. In 1885, it is stated that the silk culture 
 had increased so much in Windham county as 
 to be double what it was in 1 8 1 0. In the let- 
 ter of the Hon. Ambrose Spencer of Albany, 
 of New York, to S. M. Hopkins, Esquire, of 
 Geneva, of the same state, dated the 7th 
 April, 1835, he introduced the following as 
 facts, on the authority of the Burlington Free 
 Press : that raw silk was produced in the town 
 of Mansfield, Connecticut, to the amount of 
 over $6O,OOO in 1834; and that the 
 county of Windham produces five tons of silk 
 annually, valued at $5<MMMIO, and that if 
 reeled would be worth double that sum. This 
 statement the judge fully believes is substan- 
 tially true. Whether the other counties en- 
 gaged in its culture in Connecticut have been 
 blessed with an equal ratio of increase, we have 
 no present means of ascertaining; but from 
 the general reputation for sagacity and thrift 
 of the people., we rest assured that there has 
 been no standing still in the prosecution of a 
 business offering so many inducements of 
 pleasure, interest and profit. In 1828, the 
 Hon. Zalmon Storrs stated in answer to a cir- 
 cular addressed to him by the Secretary of 
 the treasury, " that three-fourths of the fami- 
 lies in the town of Mansfield were engaged in 
 raising silk, and make annually from o to 10, 
 20, and 50 Ibs. in a family, and one or two 
 have made each 100 Ibs. in a season ; it is be- 
 lieved that there are annually made in Mans- 
 field and the vicinity from three to four tons. 
 The farmers there, considered, at the period 
 of which we are speaking, the amount receiv- 
 ed for their sewing silk as so much clear 
 gain, as the business did not interfere with the 
 regular farm work of the men, or the domes- 
 tic duties of the females, upon whom with the 
 aged and youthful members of the family, the 
 care of the worms, and the making of the 
 sewing silk chiefly devolves." 
 
 A new factory has just been erected at. 
 Hartford, called the Connecticut silk factory, 
 with a capital of upwards of 40,000 dollars; 
 the building is 120 feet long by 44 feet wide, 
 two stories high, with a basement story. This 
 factory has about 100 silk looms with ma- 
 chinery, the whole to be operated by a steam 
 engine of 8 or 10 horse power. For want of 
 3 ' 
 
 raw silk, the company has been compelled td 
 go into the manufacture of Tuscan straw, 
 gimps, fringes, tyc. articles in which but lit- 
 tle raw silk is incorporated. A circumstance 
 which shows that the demand is very far in 
 advance of the supply: and another is going 
 into operation at Concord ; the latter estab- 
 lishment has commenced the cultivation of 
 the Mulberry. 
 
 Mr. Harvey Johnson, in a letter to the edi- 
 tor of the Silkworm, states, that his father as 
 far back as 50 y^ars ago planted " 2000 trees 
 and carried on the silk business in Connecti- 
 cut for a number of years, that though it was 
 difficult to find workmen who understood dye- 
 ing, weaving or manufacturing, they made a 
 number of pieces of cloth for women and men's 
 wear, one piece of handkerchiefs, and a num- 
 ber of pairs of stockings, some knit and some 
 wove, and some pairs of gloves, and he has 
 still a pair of gloves which he believes were 
 made 35 years ago." 
 
 Societies having for their object the intro- 
 duction and extension throughout the respec- 
 tive counties, of the knowledge and practice of 
 raising Mulberry trees, of feeding and manag- 
 ing silk worms, and reeling silk from the ca- 
 coons in the most approved methods, have 
 been formed in the counties of Hartford, New 
 Haven, Middlesex and Fairfield. In Nor- 
 wich a company has been formed, who have 
 planted 1,000 trees, and fed the last season 
 1 20,000 worms. 
 
 The Legislature with a most laudable de- 
 sire to promote the interests of the state, have 
 passed a law giving a bounty of one dollar for 
 every hundred Mulberry trees properly plant- 
 ed and cultivated until they are five years old, 
 and also fifty cents for every pound of silk reel- 
 ed in the present improved mode ; and still fur- 
 ther to extend its fostering care to this pecu- 
 liar branch of industry, in chartering the Ex- 
 change Bank, they rendered it obligatory upon 
 that institution to furnish every county i-n the 
 state, applying therefor, with 8 Ibs. of Mul- 
 berry seed, and also wish eggs of the silk 
 worm not exceeding 100,000; one reel for 
 the purpose of reeling the silk, as also a per- 
 son capable of teaching the art and mystery of 
 raising the Mulberry, and reeling the silk, 
 which service is to be continued for five 
 years. 
 
 The edhorof the Silk Culturistsaysthathe 
 has in his possession several samples of beau- 
 tiful changable silk made in Berlin, Connec- 
 ticut, in 1791, by Mrs. Elishama Brandr.gee, 
 taken from dresses now in the family of Mr. 
 
18 
 
 Brandegee, one of her sons, who says he 
 helped to pick the leaves to feed the worms, 
 and|that the silk was reeled by his mother and 
 wove in that town. The fabric is even and 
 the surface is smooth and lustrous, the colors 
 bright and fast. The sample of one dress is 
 wove of red and black, and was intended for 
 a present to the lady of General Washington, 
 but for some cause not remembered was never 
 presented to her. 
 
 In all the other New England states, with 
 the exception of Maine, perhaps, more or less 
 attention has been given to the silk culture. 
 In Massachusetts great attention has been 
 paid to it within the last few years, and the art 
 of manufacturing the article has, perhaps, 
 been brought to greater perfection there than 
 in any other part of our country. Mr. Cobb, 
 of Dedham, in the vicinity of Boston, began the 
 cultivation of the Mulberry tree in 1826, and 
 since that time, notwithstanding the nature of 
 the soil, which is not the most favorable, has, 
 extended his operations so much as to be able 
 to bring his manufactured silk to the Boston 
 market to the amount of about one hundred 
 dollars per week." Mr. Cobb's factory has 
 lately been merged in a new company, with a 
 capital of $100,000, called the New England 
 Silk Company, whose sole object is the manu- 
 facture of silk under the superintendence of 
 Mr. Cobb. Another company has been form- 
 ed with a capital of $200,000, and have al- 
 ready commenced the erection of a factory 
 for the manufacture of silk at Northampton, 
 and it is their intention to supply themselves 
 with food for the worms from a plantation of 
 their own Mulberry trees. In the county of 
 Essex, it is stated that some years since, in 
 consequence of the recommendation of the 
 agricultural society, several farmers planted 
 the Mulberry tree very extensively, and that 
 there are at this time growing there, in full 
 vigor, upwards of 100,000 trees, which would 
 yield silk amply sufficient to supply that coun- 
 ty with silk, besides being a supply for expor- 
 tation. 
 
 Capt A. Holcomb, of Sterling, Mass., has 
 a fine orchard of Mulberry trees now 10 years 
 old, upon which he fed his silk worms the 
 present season. 
 
 The Legislature of Massachusetts, in a 
 just spirit of enlightened patriotism, has passed 
 a law granting a bounty of 50 cents for every 
 pound of silk reeled or thrown from cocoons 
 raised in that state. This act is to continue 
 in force for two years, and will doubtless 
 tend to stimulate the farmers of that state to 
 
 enter into the culture of silk with all becom- 
 ing zeal, as this bounty will at least cover the 
 expense of reeling, and thus enhance the profit 
 to the grower. Having alluded to the profit 
 of the culture in the state of Massachusetts, 
 we shall mention a fact which we find in the 
 Silk Worm, a most excellent and well con- 
 ducted monthly publication, edited by S. Bly- 
 denbwgh,, of Albany, New York. It is there 
 given as being comprised in the " Instruc- 
 tions" upon the silk culture, issued by the 
 
 Hamilton county agricultural society of Ohio, 
 last year. 
 
 " Four acres of ground planted in Mulber- 
 ry trees, near Boston, afforded enough food, 
 in one season, for the support of as many silk 
 worms as produced four hundred and twenty 
 pounds of silk, worth three dollars and fifty 
 cents per pound, amounting to $1,470. All 
 the labor was performed by four girls, whose 
 attention was required but a small portion of 
 the year." This fact contains one of the 
 most powerful arguments in favor of the cul- 
 ture which we have yet seen. We find four 
 girls farmers' daughters, or helps, as hired 
 persons are called to the eastward, success- 
 fully attending to four acres of Mulberry 
 trees, gathering the leaves, feeding the worms 
 and performing all the labor incident to the 
 business, and what is the result? Why at 
 the depressed price of $3 50 per pound they 
 made silk enough to bring $1,400, or $350 
 to each hand : now if the present price which 
 prevails in Massachusetts, $4 per pound from 
 the purchaser, and fifty cents from the state, 
 had then prevailed, each of those females 
 would have averaged $472 25, or the whole 
 have made, in the aggregate, $1,890, and in- 
 dependent of the state bounty, the J20 Ibs. of 
 silk would have brought $1,680, or $420 to 
 each of the females engaged in the feeding of 
 the worms. And as on an average 3,000 
 worms, completing their cocoons, will make a 
 pound of silk, there were but 1,260,000 
 worms fed on these four acres, whereas that 
 quantity of land is competent to produce 
 leaves enough to support 2,160,000 worms; 
 thus it is evident, that the produce here re- 
 corded is far from being a large one, for had 
 the orchard been planted to the extent of the 
 capacity of the ground, 720 Ibs. of silk might 
 just as readily have been raised as the 420 
 Ibs. 
 
 In this state, several laboratories, or as 
 the silk worm houses are familiarly called, 
 cocooneries, have been established, and more 
 are contemplated. Amongst the most important 
 
19 
 
 of these, we would mention those of Mr. 
 Whitmarsh, Dr. Seeger and Dr. Stebbins. i 
 That of the first named gentleman is calcula- 
 ted to accommodate nearly jive millions of 
 worms, but at present his number does not ex- 
 ceed eight hundred thousand. The capacity 
 of Dr. Seeger's is but for 16,000, and that of 
 Dr. Stebbins for 20,000: but the companies 
 to which we have before reverted will have 
 still more extensive ones, as their means of 
 supporting worms may be developed. The 
 number of large establishments, is, however, no 
 criterion to judge of the magnitude of the 
 silk business in this state ; for almost every 
 farm-house is or soon will be, a greater or 
 lesser laboratory, each farmer making the silk 
 culture a branch of his system of husbandry, 
 which is mainly attended to by the women 
 and children, who are thus made the most 
 productive portions of each establishment. 
 
 In the state of New York no large results 
 have as yet taken place, though for several 
 years an active spirit of inquiry has been very 
 laudably kept alive by the enterprising agricul- 
 turists; and during the late war the culture 
 was carried on to some extent by Mr. Samuel 
 Chidsey, Cayuga county, who manufactured 
 during that period sewing silk to the amount 
 of $600 per annum; and this gentleman also in- 
 troduced the culture of the Mulberry into the 
 town of Scipio, on its first settlement. The 
 success which have attended the exertions of 
 their neighbors, has, however, a wakened a feel- 
 ing of emulation, and associations have already 
 been formed, and are forming, for the purpose 
 of extensively carrying on the business. A com- 
 pany is already in operation at Poughkeepsie, 
 at the head of which is the Hon. Mr. Tall- 
 madge, U. S. Senator, and a society has be"en 
 established in the. city of New York with 
 similar objects. The silk business has been 
 recommended to be introduced into the Peni- 
 tentiary, so that the state will soon bepome 
 interested in its success, and although we 
 doubt the propriety of bringing the labor of 
 convicts into competition with that of the 
 honest husbandmen of the country, in so beau- 
 tiful and delicate a business, we have no doubt 
 that good may grow out of what we view in 
 the light of a wretchedly short-sighted expedi- 
 ent. 
 
 In Rhode Island, the business is becoming 
 popular, and a company is already in exist- 
 ence at Providence, who have a plantation of 
 30,000 trees, from four to five years old, from 
 six to eight feet high. Of the productiveness 
 of the trees of this plantation, we have seen 
 
 some very sanguine calculations, such as that 
 each tree, for the next five years would aver- 
 age half a pound of silk, making in the ag- 
 gregate 1 5,000 Ibs. of silk: this, in our belief 
 is greatly beyond what those trees would 
 produce even at 20 years old, and at present 
 by at least in the proportion of 2 to 1. The 
 highest estimate of the quantity of foliage 
 produced by trees of the age of the above, is 
 30 Ibs. which would only support 600 worms 
 during the feeding season, and as it takes 3,000 
 cocoons to make a pound of silk, it would 
 take 2| of these trees to make a ^ pound, 
 so that 6,000 pounds is much nearer the 
 amount of their probable yield than 15,000, 
 as assumed in the statement whence we take 
 this. 
 
 In Vermont and New Hampshire many far- 
 mers' wives and daughters have fed worms 
 for several years as matter of curiosity more 
 than of profit ; but within the last few years 
 they are beginning to turn their attention to it 
 as a lucrative business, having the past spring 
 been engaged in arranging 4heir orchards, 
 and although less favourably circumstanced 
 as to climate than the other New England 
 tates, there is no question that the enterprise 
 of the people of these states, will, at least, 
 succeed in maktog it a profitable branch of 
 their system of agriculture. 
 
 In Maine, as far as we can learn, little or 
 nothing has been done , but it is not to be pre- 
 sumed that a hardy, industrious and intelligent 
 population like that of Maine, will sit with 
 folded arms and see the palm of victory borne 
 in triumph by their neighbors, without at 
 least placing themselves in a position to con- 
 tend for the rich prize. 
 
 In Kentucky and Ohio, many individuals 
 have been for some years engaged in hatch- 
 ing small numbers of eggs, and feeding the 
 worms, In the latter state a very efficient 
 society has been formed with a view of col- 
 lecting and disseminating information. In In- 
 diana, where the Agricultural Societies are 
 invested with chartered rights, and where 
 from the very nature of the enactments which 
 give them being, they must exercise a health- 
 ful influence, the business of the Mulberry 
 and silk culture is especially taken up by the 
 General State Board, as a matter of primary 
 concern, and we have no doubt the happiest 
 effects will spring from their praiseworthy 
 exertions. In Illinois, while inhabited by 
 the French, silk is said to have been raised by 
 that notable people; but to what extent we 
 have no present means of ascertaining ; nor 
 
are we able to trace the period when the cul- 
 ture was arrested. Many of the trees, how- 
 ever, we are told, remain, and it would be an 
 easy matter to multiply these, and commence 
 anew this profitable branch of business. No 
 one who knows the enterprising character of 
 the people of the west can presume, that they 
 will leave so good a chance of emolument un- 
 improved, when they have so many facilities 
 within their possession for entering into the 
 culture under most favorable auspices. 
 
 We have thus briefly sketched the princi- 
 pal facts as they have been placed within our 
 reach, and without pretending to have given 
 any thing like a full view, we merely claim 
 for what we have written, the desire of fideli- 
 ty, which has never been absent from our 
 mind for a solitary instant. 
 
 In closing this branch of our labors, we 
 must be indulged in a few remarks expres- 
 sive of our hopes, that a feeling and an inter- 
 est has already been aroused, which will not 
 slumber until the triumph shall be complete. 
 We are doubly solicitous on this head, be- 
 cause we see in the success of the silk cul- 
 ture, the surest means that philanthropy could 
 desire, for sustaining the thousands and tens of 
 thousands of poor women and children, whose 
 support is now stinted and precarious ; be- 
 cause we see in it too, a radical cure for an 
 
 evil which is sweeping the inhabitants from 
 the old settlements with a force which almost 
 threatens depopulation to many neighbor- 
 hoods; and lastly, because, it will afford the 
 pecuniary ability of improving the other por- 
 tions of each estate on which its culture may 
 be introduced. To several of the old states, 
 it offers the only available resource for politi- 
 cal safety, the only guaranty against those 
 encroachments which never fail to follow in 
 that train of evils that befal the weak in the 
 vicinity of the pmoerful. There is no truth 
 more firmly enforced by history, than that 
 peace and independence, is only to be expected 
 where the ability to repel and punish aggres- 
 sion is enjoyed. It should, therefore, be the 
 policy of small powers living in close vicinage 
 with large ones, to keep a careful prospective 
 eye about them, in order that their more po- 
 tent neighbors may not be provoked by their 
 weakness to contemplate their subjugation ; 
 for the history of the ancient Republics con- 
 firms the melancholy truth, that power, in the 
 view of nations, is but another word for right; 
 that the ties of consanguinity and the claims 
 of common origin, offer no barriers to that 
 unchastened ambition and unbounded desire 
 of conquest, which is indulged in by most 
 states, towards their weaker neighbors. 
 
MULBERRY CULTURE. 
 
 AT the beginning of the culture of silk in 
 Europe, the Black Mulberry, Morus Nigra, was 
 principally used; but upon mature experience 
 it was found that the Morus Jllba, the white 
 Italian Mulberry, was better adapted to the cul- 
 ture. This however must be considered rela- 
 tively only, and as alluding exclusively to a com- 
 parison between these two particular varieties, 
 and it must be considered too, as having relation 
 to a period long before the Morus Multicaulis, 
 the broad silky leaved, new variety, of the Chi- 
 nese or many stalked Mulberry, was introduced 
 either into Europe or America, that being on- 
 ly within the last ten or twelve years known 
 in either country. It may, therefore, perhaps, be 
 proper to express our opinion of it, and this we 
 shall do with perfect integrity of purpose. Like 
 most of the exotic trees of China origin, which 
 have been introduced into America within 
 the last few years, sufficient time has not yet 
 elapsed to test whether it will become accli- 
 mated or not. The last severe winter, however, 
 would go very far to settle the question, if the 
 fate of all the trees planted in our country were 
 known, for it may be fairly affirmed, that no 
 winter, within the recollection of living witness- 
 es, has ever been more intensely cold than it was ; 
 nor were there ever one better calculated to test 
 the ability of foreign trees to withstand frosts. 
 What effect it had upon the Morus Multicaulis, 
 then, becomes a matter of deep moment, of pro- 
 found and absorbing interest. It it known that 
 the whole tribe of Mulberries are tenacious of 
 life, and will, where but the least chance is giv- 
 en them, support vitality ; sometimes, indeed, in 
 despite of the harshest and most neglectful treat- 
 ment, they willlive on lo shew to those by whom 
 they have been thus rudely treated, how uncon- 
 querable are their powers of preserving exist- 
 ence. And so far as our experience goes, and 
 as we have been able to derive any information 
 upon the subject, the Morus Multicaulis does not 
 form an exception to the general rule. In most 
 of the eastern states, where this beautiful tree 
 has been introduced, it suffered greatly from 
 the frosts of last winter; generally being killed 
 down to the ground. Dr. Stebbins, the intelli- 
 gent Secretary of Hampshire County Agricultu- 
 ral Society,ofMassachusetts,in theaccount of his 
 inspection of several establishments where it was 
 
 grosvn, states, " that he had examined a standard 
 tree of the Morus Muliicaulis, which was set in 
 an exposed situation, and has withstood the se- 
 verity of the three last winters, as uninjured as 
 an elm or oak, or any of the most hardy for- 
 est trees. It has attained about its greatest 
 height, 8 feet, and is in full life to the extremity 
 of the topmost shoot. The grass that has grown 
 about the roots, therefore, has not been much 
 disturbed by hoeing, and in consequence acquir- 
 ed hard wosd, the very result wanted by the cul- 
 tivator of the Chinese Mulberry. In the New 
 England Farmer, Vol. Xfl, page 393, in an arti- 
 cle by Mr. William Kenrick,it is observed: "this 
 Mulberry braves the most rigorous winters of 
 France, not having suffered in the least even du- 
 ring the severe winter of 1829 30. I have ta- 
 ken particular pains to ascertain how they have 
 fared in the extreme north of that country, and 
 have very lately been informed by letter from M. 
 Eyries, a gentleman from Havre, that they have 
 supported well, during ten years the most rigor- 
 ous winters of the north of France." Again he 
 says : 
 
 " Very late in the spring of 1833, more than a 
 hundred young trees of the Morus Multicaulis 
 were set out on the place of S. V. Wilder, Esq. 
 in Boston, Worcester county, Mass. The soil 
 springy, the exposition cold and sloping to the 
 north ; Mr. Joseph Breck, a distinguished bota- 
 nist, having especial charge of these plants, has 
 lately very critically examined them. Thus un- 
 favorably situated and unprotected, they have 
 borne the last winter, 1833 34, without injury, 
 except only the top of the twigs. Mr. Breck is 
 persuaded that they are even hardier than the 
 common White Mulberry, since some hundred of 
 the latter which stood very near were killed half 
 way down to the ground by the same winter. 
 
 Another correspondent of the same Journal, 
 who writes under the signature of R. advances 
 the opinion, and "cites facts to maintain his be- 
 lief, that the Chinese Mulberry is more hardy 
 than many of our orchard, or even forest trees, 
 but may be killed when young, if planted in a 
 rich moist soil." 
 
 In North Carolina, we learn from an esteem- 
 ed friend and valuable correspondent, Mr. Sid- 
 ney Weller, that his trees "endured the severe 
 frosts very well. The only injury is, that the 
 
top ends of some brandies have been killed." 
 In the lower part of Virginia, where some of the 
 JVforu* Multicaulis have been introduced, we 
 have understood they were killed to the ground. 
 In the vicinity of Baltimore they shared a 
 similar fate. But it is a fact worthy of being 
 borne in mind of being well considered, that, 
 in every instance where they were killed to the 
 ground, the Morus Multicaulis snooted forth 
 with the earliest vegetation of the spring, and 
 grew most vigorously. We passed through a 
 nursery of two thousand of them in the early 
 part of September, that had been killed to the 
 ground last winter, which were then about 8 feet 
 high, bearing a most luxuriant crop of the most 
 beautiful, broad) and silky leaves, from the earth 
 to the very verge of their topmost shoots, and 
 presenting at a short distance the appearance of 
 a dense and inseparable body of the most attrac- 
 tive foliage we ever beheld. We have been the 
 more minute in our notice of this variety of the 
 Mulberry, because of the deep interest which 
 has been awakened, in every part of the country, 
 to the importance of the silk culture, and of the 
 character for superiority, over every other of the 
 same family, as food for worms, so universally 
 conceded to it by every one. To those who 
 may enter into the business extensively, where 
 labor is a primary object, the leaf of this tree, 
 does, most certainly, possess an advantage of im- 
 mense value ; having no coarse fibres, the worm 
 consumes the whole of it, leaving no offal what- 
 ever, whereas the leaves of the White Mulber- 
 ry have at least one-third, in stems and gross fi- 
 bres, that cannot be consumed ; which is, of itself, 
 equal to one-third the labor in the gathering ol 
 the leaves and feeding the worms an object o! 
 great moment, as we have before remarked, with 
 those extensively engaged in the culture : but it is 
 said that wortns fed upon the leaves of the Mo- 
 rus Multicaulis afford a better silk than those 
 fed on the leaves of the Morus Alba, the White 
 Italian; that it ia more elastic and of richer 
 texture ; if these be facts, and we do not pretent 
 to gainsay them, they are strong : and indeed, when 
 taken in connection with the saving- in food 
 insurmountable arguments in its favor. We hav 
 however seen Italian silk made from worms fe 
 from the White Italian Mulberry, incomparablj 
 superior to any China silk we ever beheld; in 
 saying this, we would not wish to be under 
 stood as in the least desiring to undervalue th 
 intrinsic excellence of the Morus Multicaulis 
 for our opinion is most decidedly in its favor. I 
 it can be made to accommodate itself to our se 
 vere frosts, there can be no two opinions enter 
 tained as to its superiority ; and that it may b 
 so accommodated, we are equally sanguine. Th 
 nursery of which we have just been speaking a 
 containing two thousand trees, which were frost 
 ed to the earth last winter, is situated in a ric 
 
 sandy-loam bottom, too moist r we think, for 
 the more delicate exotics, and this we believe, 
 is one great reason why the ravages of the frost 
 were so universal with this interesting Chinese 
 stranger. And if \ve are right in our conjecture,a 
 remedy is of easy application : nothing more be- 
 ing necessary than the transplantation of all Mul- 
 berry orchards upon hi'l sides,well protected from- 
 the bleak winds of winter, either by woods or 
 board fences and we need scarcely remark, that 
 the soil should be dry, sandy, stony, or gravelly 
 of this, however, we shall speak more fully in ano- 
 ther place. While we aie upon this particular 
 branch of our subject, we would suggest that all 
 ifficulties with respect to the cultivation of the 
 Morus Multicaulis might be obviated by plant- 
 ng a portion of each orchard with the White 
 la/ian Mulberry. Thus would each culturist 
 ie ensured in a supply of leaves from the latter 
 under any adverse circumstances which might 
 >ccur. The probability is, from all past experi- 
 nce, and particularly during the last winter, that 
 he roots of the Morus Multicaulis will survive 
 any destruction of its branches from cold, and 
 as it springs up freely in the spring, it would on- 
 y be necessary to secure a supply of leaves un- 
 il the new shoots would be sufficiently matured 
 o be deprived of their foliage, without endan- 
 gering the roots. This could be readily effected 
 through hedges of the Morus Alba. By such an 
 arrangement, all apprehension of evil conse 
 qnences from the destruction of the former would 
 be obviated. If the Morus Multicauhs were 
 not killed, the early, as well as subsequent feed- 
 ing could be carried on from it ; if killed, the Mo- 
 rus Alba would come into supply its place un- 
 til the new vegetation of the Chinese justified 
 food being gatherered from it, so that, in either 
 event, the supply of leaves would be secured. 
 We might here be content; but in order that 
 every possible light may be thrown upon this 
 part of the question, one, indeed, involving so ma- 
 ny considerations of moment to the future pros- 
 perity of the culture, we copy the following ar- 
 ticle entire from Kendrick's Orchardist edition 
 1833, page 2*6 to 291. 
 
 MORUS MULTICAUI.IS. 
 
 A tree of ornament from China A fruit tree 
 a new and most valuable species of Mulberry, 
 for the nourishment of the silk worm, which is 
 represented, as possessing such decided superiori- 
 ty over all others, as to be speedily substituted 
 for them in every region of the globe. 
 
 This tree has not yet to my knowledge borne 
 fruit in America. It was even unknown in Eu- 
 rope as a fruit tree, till in 1830, for the first time, 
 it produced its fruit in France. The fruit, ac- 
 cording to M. Audibert, was produced in great a- 
 bundance ; it was long, black, and of sufficiently 
 beautiful appearance ; its taste very good, having 
 a taste intermediate between the red and black 
 
mulberry. The tree is very vigorous and upright ' 
 in its growth. The leaves, in a light, friable, 
 rich, and humid soil, are large and cordiform, but 
 in a dry and arid soil, they are of less size, elipti- 
 cal, and without the heart-shaped indentation ; 
 their breadth is stated to be six inches, and their 
 length eight; but in rich soils they are sometimes 
 eight inches in breadth, and ten in length, or 
 even more. They are curled or convex on their 
 surface, of a deep shining green, and eminently 
 beautiful. 
 
 Some account of this plant so lately introduced 
 to Frajxce and to Europe, is contained in the Silk 
 Culturist, No. 2, a valuable work published by 
 Dr. Felix Pascalis, of N. Y. It is contained in a 
 letter to the author from Havre, and is as follows. 
 " Samuel Perrottet, a member of the Linnrcan 
 Society of Paris, employed by Government as a 
 travelling Botanist, returned to this port after a 
 voyage of thirty-four months. He brought with 
 him eighty-four boxes of various dimensions, 
 containing one hundred and fifty-eight species ol 
 living plants, to the number of five hundred and 
 thirty-four individuals. All these productions 
 had been procured in the seas of Asia, or gather- 
 ed on the coast, or in the lands of Cayenne. From 
 the commencement of the present century, there 
 had never before been so vast an importation 
 one so extensive in number, for rare genera, spe- 
 cies, and families, and vegetable productions, or 
 their seeds. All of them passed under my exam- 
 ination, and they rather appeared to have come 
 out of a green house than from a ship. 
 
 " In this immense collection was the Morus 
 Multicaulis, thus called by Perrottet ; for the firs 
 lime ascertained to be the real Chinese Mulberry 
 Morus Jllba Sinensis, of which every silk grow 
 er and culturist should endeavor to multiply the 
 species. It has been deposited in the Royal Gar 
 den. Monsieur Perrottet says that it grows will 
 many shoots from the roots, with tender stems 
 and large foliage, of a much more nourishing na 
 ture than the European mulberry. 
 
 " Chinese inhabitants assured him, that to thi 
 tree, the disciples of Confucius are indebted fo 
 the prosperity and solidity of their empire. 
 
 "The Morus Multicaulis is already propaga 
 ting in France and probably will be substitute 
 and preferred to all the other varieties. Amonj 
 the other qualities of the plant, it is affirmed i 
 China, that a less quantity of this foliage is re 
 quired for the precious insects, than of that whici 
 we are obliged to provide for them. Monsieur P 
 has left the tree in Cayenne, where it is now 
 flourishing in dry and barren soils." 
 
 Remarks on the culture and uses of the Moru 
 Multicaulis by M. Perrottet, Agricultura 
 Botanist, and Traveller of the Marine an 
 Colonies From the ' Jlnnals of Fromont.'' 
 "The Morus Mullicaulis, which we notice 
 
 for the first time in the Jlnnales de la Societie 
 "innenne de Paris for 1824, appears to have 
 riginated in the elevated regions of China; from 
 
 hence it has been disseminated throughout the 
 ow plains near the sea shore. It is believed it is 
 ultivated in all parts of that vast empire, where 
 culture of the silk worms is an object of 
 ommercial importance. From Canton it was in- 
 roduced into Manilla and all the Islands in the 
 Asiatic Archipelago, where it was only cultivated 
 or ornamenting gardens. The Chinese are en- 
 itled to the credit of this introduction, who in 
 emigrating from their country have from motives 
 
 f industry, endeavored to multiply it, that they 
 might render it useful to them, in the new coun- 
 ry of their adoption. 
 
 "The fortunate discovery of this precious shrub 
 occurred in the garden of a Chinese cultivator at 
 Manilla, who, after having informed us of its pro- 
 jerties, and the important purpose for which it 
 was used in his own country, yielded to our so- 
 
 icitations and sold us two bushels for ten Spanish 
 piastres, assuring us that he had introduced it in- 
 to Manilla, where it had been considerably extend- 
 ed. 
 
 "In August we brought it from Manilla, the 
 capital of the Phillipine Islands, and first intro- 
 duced it into the Isle of Bourbon, from thence in- 
 to Cayenne and France. At a later period it was 
 sent from Cayenne to Martinique,and from France 
 to Guadaloupe, and also to Senegal, where it has 
 been considerably multiplied. The numerous 
 plants which are already disseminated in the di- 
 vers climates of Africa, America, and Europe, have 
 been all produced from the two individuals, which 
 we procured at Manilla. 
 
 * * * " Among the number of mulberries now 
 cultivated by the Chinese, for the education of 
 silk worms, the Morus Multicaulis appears to be 
 the most esteemed of all, not only for the facility 
 with which it is propagated and grows, but still 
 more for the essentially nutritive property which 
 the leaves possess. We have been enabled to 
 verify this important fact during the five years 
 which we passed in Senegal. * * * The charac- 
 ters which essentially distinguish this mulberry 
 from the other varieties, are those which result, 
 1st, from the remarkable property which the 
 roots possess of throwing up numerous small flexi- 
 ble stalks, without forming a principal trunk ; 2d, 
 from the remarkable development which the 
 thin, tender, and soft leaves speedily acquire, and 
 the promptitude with which they are renewed ; 
 * * * and 4th, and lastly, from the extraordinary 
 facility with which the stalks and branches strike 
 root, as cuttings, without particular care, even be- 
 fore they have acquired a ligneous consistence, 
 
 * * * "Besides the advantages which we hare 
 already named, we may still add, that they are ad- 
 mirably calculated for forming regular plantations-, 
 
it Hot being natural to grow tall or form any 
 trunk properly so called ; they can be placed very 
 near without an injurious effect; and by heading 
 down the stalks annually near the ground, a rich 
 vegetation is produced, with a complete develop- 
 ment of vigorous branches and leaves ; and final- 
 ly it is easy to multiply them by thousands from 
 the roots in the course of a year, and to form vast 
 and regular plantations of them the second. But 
 a few years then are sufficient to obtain consider- 
 able fields of them in full vigor, sufficient to sup- 
 port an immense quantity of silk worms, and that 
 with the greatest facility, as they are reproduced 
 in a manner almost indefinite. * * * Regular 
 plantations of it can be formed without difficulty, 
 by planting the shrubs at a distance of six or 
 eight feet from each other, a space sufficient for 
 the extension of the branches, to facilitate the 
 culture and for collecting the leaves. This last 
 operation is so much facilitated by the flexibili- 
 ty of the stalks, that a child is sufficient for 
 furnishing the food of a large establishment of 
 silk worms. 
 
 CLIMATE, SOIL, &c. * * * "This species 
 will be readily acclimated in Europe ; because it 
 originated in an analogous region as to climate, to 
 that which we inhabit. It appears not to suffer 
 from the excessive cold of the northern, or the in- 
 tense heat of the intertropical regions ; for the 
 plants deposited in the gardens of the govern- 
 ment at Cayenne, acquired in the space of eight 
 months a truly remarkable development, and at 
 the time of our departure from that colony, in 
 June, 1328, they were clothed with leaves of an 
 extraordinary size. Those also which we culti- 
 vated at Senegal, although situated under a dry 
 and scorching sun, and planted in an arid soil, of- 
 fered an appearance sufficiently satisfactory, but 
 they had acquired less development in all respects, 
 than those which have vegetated under the humid 
 climate of Guiana. It appears expedient then, 
 that plantations of this mulberry should be made 
 upon a humid rather than a dry soil, to obtain in 
 all respects a satisfactory result.* 
 
 * * * * " Besides, this mulberry braves the 
 most vigorous winters. We saw on our arrival 
 atHavre, in July last, in the field of M. A. Eyries, 
 plants, which had endured, in the open ground, 
 the winter of 1828, and which appeared vigorous 
 and beautiful." Thus far M. Perrottet. 
 
 On this last and other points, let us now hear 
 the testimony of M. Poiteau in the AnnaUs 
 d? Horticulture, 1830. 
 
 "By the information which we receive from all 
 quarters, it appears, that this mulberry is destined 
 to replace the common white mulberry, every- 
 where, for nourishing silk worms ; its property of 
 
 *[Thisis contrary to the present experience so 
 far as the quality of the silk is concerned. Ed. 
 Farmer and Gardener.] 
 
 continuing low and bushy, so that the leaves can 
 always be gathered without a ladder; and the 
 large size, abundance, and tenderness of the leaves 
 cannot fail to give it a decided preference. It has 
 been sufficiently ascertained, that they are eaten 
 with avidity by the silk worms, and that the silk 
 which they form is of the first quality. This 
 mulberry has not suffered in the least from the 
 rigors of the last severe winter. 
 
 "The zealous traveller, who has given to 
 France, America, and Africa, this precious plant, 
 has acquired a just claim to public gratitude, and 
 it is not only easy, but proper, to give him at this 
 time a proof of it, by affixing his name to the 
 tree which has given him celebrity, and which 
 will contribute so much to the prosperity of 
 French industry." * * * Note to the Perrottet 
 Mulberry, (Morus Multicaulis.} 
 
 M. Audibert is also decidedly of the opinion 
 that the best mode of cultivating the Morus Mul- 
 ticaulis, for the support of silk worms, is in hed- 
 ges with low stock. M. Barthere of Toulous in 
 the South of France, who has considerably ex- 
 tended their cultivation, fully coincides in the 
 same opinion ; and is confident that in grounds 
 and vineyards which could hardly give two per 
 cent, this tree will now ensure ten per cent. 
 
 This tree, according to M. Perrottet and Dr. 
 Deslongchamps, is easily propagated either by 
 layers, by cuttings, or even by cuttings of a single 
 eye, placed beneath the surface and shaded from 
 the noonday sun. 
 
 The experiments instituted at Paris by Dr. Des- 
 longchamps, have confirmed all that had been pre- 
 viously asserted respecting the quality of the silk 
 produced by this plant ; he has further stated that 
 the cocoons, made by the worms fed only on this 
 plant, are even rather heavier. 
 
 Dr. Felix Pascalis in an article in Silliman's 
 Journal of Science for July, 1830, after informing 
 us that in the preceding March he had received 
 two plants of this mulberry from France, has ad- 
 ded "After the discovery of this plant, a doubt 
 no longer exists, that two crops of silk may be 
 raised in a single season." 
 
 At Madam Parmentier's Horticultural establish- 
 ment, two crops of silk were produced in the 
 summer of 1832. The first were fed promiscu- 
 ously on the Morus Multicaulis, Morus Mba, 
 and other mulberries. The cocoons thus produc- 
 ed were about two-thirds white and the remain- 
 der of an orange color. A suitable portion of 
 these cocoons were collected for seed, having no 
 regard to color: These being subjected to the 
 hatching process, produced a second crop the 
 30th July. These last were fed exclusively on 
 the Morus Multicaulis : they passed through the 
 different stages of their larva existence in the short 
 space of 26 days. The cocoons which were ob- 
 tained from this second crop were of a much lar- 
 ger size than those of the first crop, but what is of 
 
more consequence they were of the whiteness of\ from the inconvenience of the hot season. 
 
 snow, and have a most beautiful shining appear- rL: '~ *- -"- 
 
 ance. (See New England Farmer, vol. xi. No. ii.) 
 
 At Madam Parmentier's in 1831, I witnessed the 
 
 silk worms feeding with avidity on the leaves of 
 
 the Morus MuUicaulis, and was informed that 
 
 they had left eleven other species of mulberries to 
 
 feed on this. At that place we are also informed, 
 
 the Morus MuUicaulis has withstood the rigors 
 
 of the last six winters, uninjured and unprotected. 
 
 Although being possessed of an active and pro- 
 longed vegetation, it is not to be expected that the 
 
 unripened wood of the tender tips, should always 
 
 escape. 
 
 I introduced this plant to Massachusetts in the 
 
 spring of 1831, from the Messrs. Prince of the 
 
 Linnaean Botanic Garden, Flushing ; I also receiv- 
 ed plants of the same from Madame Parmentier's 
 
 of Brooklyn, L. I. and I have also received them 
 
 from France from M. Andre Michaux, author of 
 
 the American Sylva." 
 
 Having dwelt so copiously upon the Morus 
 
 MuUicaulis, it is but fair that we should speak a 
 
 little in detail upon the Morus Alba, as that 
 
 must, for some years yet, form the great reliance 
 
 for food for the worm. 
 
 The White, Italian Mulberry, or the Morus 
 
 fllba, of Linnaeus, is a native of Asia, and was 
 introduced into Italy, by some of the survivors of 
 the last crusade. Oliver de Serres relates 
 that the French who accompanied Charles the 
 eighth, in his invasion of Italy, in 1494, being 
 struck with the abundance of the trees in that 
 country, and with the profit derived from the 
 culture of silk, caused it to be introduced into 
 France. It is mentioned as a very singular in- 
 stance of the longevity of this tree, that in 1802, 
 Faugas de Saint Fond, saw the original one, 
 around which M. Lachaux, to evince his re- 
 spect for this monument of agriculture, and pa- 
 rent of the White Mulberry trees in France, 
 had built a wall, there are several species of this 
 tree, and numerous varieties, the result of culti- 
 vation, soil, climate and the play of nature. The 
 forms of the leaves are extremely variable. Mr. 
 Jludibert an experienced cultivator in France, 
 
 The 
 
 White Italian Mulberry, moreover, not only 
 grows more rapidly but has a more abundant fo- 
 liage, and the leaves are more delicate and more 
 nutritive ; whence the silk becomes handsomer 
 and of better quality. But there is a considera- 
 ble difference in the quality of White Mulberry 
 trees Count Dandolo, the great silk rearer of 
 Italy, considers those best that grow in Lombardy, 
 under the name of Folia Giazzola, and Folia 
 Doppia, the leaf of which contains five different 
 substances: 1st, the fibrous substance; 2d, the 
 coloring matter; 3d, water; 4th, the saccharine 
 substance $ and 5th, the resinous substance. 
 The saccharine matter is the most essential part 
 in the nourishment of the silk worm. 
 
 As botanists place the White Mulberry tree in 
 the class of dioecious plants, or such as have bar- 
 ren or male flowers on one individual, and fer- 
 tile or female ones on another of the same spe- 
 cies, it is thought by some that it would be con- 
 venient to plant exclusively, male Mulberries, 
 which they say afford the advantage that, not on- 
 ly on stripping them, the berries do not embarrass 
 the operation, or cause a diminution of its pro- 
 duct; but that the worms in their last age, are 
 not exppsed to be fed on leaves afFectcd by the 
 glutinous substance of the berries, which would 
 injure their health. Moreover the male trees 
 keep for their foliage all their juices ; whence 
 their leaves are in greater quantity, and of a bet- 
 ter quality ; we, however, believe that there is 
 more fancy, more theoretical pride than well 
 grounded opinion in this, and therefore reject it, 
 resting under the firm conviction that no injury 
 whatever can result from the presence of fe- 
 males among the males of the tribe* 
 
 SOIL AND SITUATION. 
 
 The nurseries, as well as the large and small 
 Mulberry plantations, require a sunny exposure, 
 and spots well sheltered against strong cold winds. 
 Therefore, declivities, or hill sides, descending 
 towards the east or southeast and secured by 
 woods or groves, are proper; as also, all spots 
 protected by artificial plantations and buildings. 
 
 says, ll that the same tree will have leaves divi- 
 ded into several lobes, when young, and, when 
 it becomes old, they will be entire. Others have 
 the second crop of leaves differently formed 
 from the first ; some again have entire leaves 
 in the spring, and lobed leaves in the autumn. 
 Hence it is extremely difficult to assign positive 
 characters to the different varieties, particularly 
 when they shew no diversity in appearance, ex- 
 cept in the shapes of the leaves. Its superiority 
 over every other variety of the Mulberry excep 
 the Morus MuUicaulis, consists in this : It 
 cloathed with leaves fifteen or twenty days ear 
 Her than the others the silk worms, therefore 
 
 come quicker 
 4 
 
 to maturity and are preservec 
 
 The trees should never be planted in marshy 
 or low ground ; 1st, because they would be more 
 exposed than on elevated situations to the inju- 
 rious influence of cold and frosts, and 2dly, be- 
 cause worms fed from leaves gathered from trees 
 in such situations, owing to the superabundance 
 of aqueous matter in them, do not yield silk ei- 
 ther as lustrous or tenacious, and 3dly, from the 
 absence of saccharine matter, the worms are not 
 so healthful, nor do they give as rruch silk. 
 Next to the soil described, a calcareous sandy 
 clay is to be preferred. A heavy clay, or fenny, 
 marshy earth, are especially unsuitable, because 
 in such situations the bark becomes covered with 
 moss, and the trees are slow in their growth, lia- 
 ble to diseases of the heart, and to be killed by 
 
the intense cold of winter, when the plant is 
 young, and before its exterior coating and wood 
 becomes hardened. 
 
 A single remark with respect to the soil will 
 be sufficient. If it be not in good tilth, it should 
 he manured in the hole, if in standard trees, or 
 inthedrill if in hedge rows, with acompost com- 
 piised of one-eighth lime, three-eighths mould or 
 decomposed leaves from the woods, one-fourth 
 stable manure, half rotted, and the remaining 
 fourth, leached ashes, to be prepared in a heap, 
 and suffered to remain to mellow three or four 
 months, to be turned up and mixed two or three 
 times in the course of the process. If after the 
 young trees should be set out, a long continued 
 drought should occur, they should be watered 
 two or three times a week. 
 
 VARIETIES OF THE WHITE MULBERRY. 
 
 The white Mulberry is a tree not known by its 
 fruit. Two varieties bear white berries, one red 
 and another black, and trees have been known 
 to bear different kinds of fruit on the same tree. 
 
 METHOD OF SAVING SEED- 
 
 As the fruit ripens, the tree should be shaken 
 every morning, and the fruit that falls gathered 
 with that which may have fallen of itself. Put the 
 fruit into a tub and press and rub it till the ber- 
 ries are completely worked into a common mass. 
 They should then be washed in water until the 
 pulp is completely separated from the seed. Du- 
 ring the process of washing, the water must be 
 repeatedly changed, and in pouring off the dirty 
 water, the seed which swims must be suffered 
 to escape, as it is not good. When the seed is 
 thus perfectly cleansed and separated, it must be 
 spread on cloths in the shade to dry. When 
 perfectly dry, it should be put up in bottles, well 
 corked, which should be kept where they would 
 never be exposed to light, air, or dampness. The 
 White Mulberry seed are of an obtuse triangular 
 shape, and of a dull, dark yellow color, and ve- 
 ry full of oil. 
 
 MODE OF TESTING SEED. 
 
 Soak it in hot water a few hours, when the 
 seed which is really good will sink to the bottom, 
 
 the worthless will continue to float on the sur- 
 face, the latter must be thrown away as it will 
 not vegetate. 
 
 PREPARATION OF SEED BEDS TIME OF SOWING, 
 &C. 
 
 1. To sow an ounce of seed, prepare a bed 
 50 feet long and 4 feet broad. Manure it well 
 with a compost composed of one-third stable 
 manure, one-third ashes, and one-third decom- 
 posed leaves from the woods, or garden mould ; 
 dig deep, pulverise finely, and then lay the bed 
 off in drills 12 inches apart, J or \ of an inch 
 deep; sow the seed as thick as you would that of 
 onions, or parsnips; cover with rich mould, press 
 the mould down gently, but sufficiently to cause 
 
 the seed to come into contact with the earth ; and 
 should the weather be dry, water the seed bed 
 every other evening, it will assist in promoting 
 the germination of the seed and the vigorous 
 growth of the plants. 
 
 2. The best lime for sowing the seed is from 
 the 1st of April to the beginning of May; and, 
 indeed, in favourable situations, if sown as late 
 as the beginning of June, they would succeed ; 
 but if sown in the spring, the earlier the better, 
 as the plant will thereby have time to grow to 
 such a size, anH the bark become so well har- 
 dened, as to offer something like a guaranty to 
 their getting over the-first winter, which is deci- 
 dedly the most critical period with the young 
 plants. If you should determine upon sowing in 
 the spring, turn up your plant-bed deeply the 
 preceding autumn, and let it remain in a rough 
 state, to derive advantage from the fertilizing ef- 
 fects of the winter's frosts, manure in the spring, 
 dig it again, pulverize and rake fine, lay off as 
 above directed in drills, and sow your seed. 
 
 Should it not be convenient to sow in the early 
 part of the season, you may do so with perfect 
 security in the first week of August ; your bed 
 to be thorough!) perpared, by being well man- 
 ured, turned over with the spade two or three 
 times, and pulverized and raked well. Whether 
 sown in the spring, or summer, the bed must be 
 kept clean of weeds,the ground to be stirred occa- 
 sionally between the drills, receive a watering of a 
 weak solution of soot and water, diluted barn- 
 yard water, or soap suds once a week, or fortnight ; 
 and, in dry weather, twice a week in addition 
 with water, it being important to push the growth 
 of the young plants the first season. The wa- 
 tering should not be carried on after August. 
 By pursuing this nourishing and forcing course, 
 you may urge your plants so far forward as to be 
 able to transplant the stronger ones into nurse- 
 ry beds the ensuing spring after sowing the 
 seed. The fruit of the White Mulberry when 
 ripe, if put in the ground whole, in drills, will 
 vegetate immediately, and if the plants be kept 
 iveeded, and treated as directed above, will be 
 
 sufficiently advanced to stand the winter with 
 the aid of a slight covering. The first fruit of 
 this tree ripens about June. 
 
 The seed should be soaked forty-eight hours 
 in a solution of soot and hot water before sow- 
 ing, drained through a sieve, rolled in plaster and 
 then sowed. An ounce will yield from 5,000 to 
 8,000 plants. 
 
 The first winter the plant-beds must be cover- 
 ed with long stable manure, leaves or straw, to 
 be confined with imall twigs of pine or ever- 
 green. Matting will also answer as a covering. 
 This should be put on as soon as the black frosts 
 come, and kept on until the middle of the ensu- 
 ing April ; to be then removed cautiously, so as 
 
not to expose the plants too suddenly to the in- 
 jurious effects of the bleak winds, or frosts of the 
 spring. In covering the plants, care must be ta- 
 ken not to smother them. 
 
 3. The second year, if not removed before 
 the plants must be removed into the nursery 
 rows or beds, which must be prepared a.s for any 
 other crop. The ragged roots being taken off and 
 the tap root shortened, the plants must be plant- 
 ed out 1-2 inches apart in rows three feet apart, 
 the earth to be well trodden around the plant. 
 As before, the earth'must be kept open and free 
 from weeds, and be watered, as directed, in dry 
 seasons. 
 
 4. It may be laid down as a general rule, that 
 the plants when a foot and a ha'f high are (it to 
 be transplanted into the nursery. They should 
 be taken up with great care, without injuring the 
 roots and divided into classes, planting those of 
 a size together. In transplanting them, their 
 roots should be a little shortened, and all tender 
 fibres, which may have been injured by the frost, 
 should be cut off. 
 
 5. At two years old, the plants may be plant- 
 ed out into hedges, at 18 inches apart in rows 
 six feet wide. The ground should be prepared 
 as before directed, and some good rich mould 
 put into the holes,to be pressed around the plants. 
 If intended to be planted out as standard trees, 
 20 feet square apart would be a good distance; 
 but in that -use, the plants should not be trans- 
 planted until they are about an inch in diameter. 
 In either case they will require trimming and 
 topping, and if kept as hedges should be treated 
 as other hedges are. 
 
 6. In every instance before planting in hed- 
 ges, or standard trees, the ground should pre- 
 viously have had the benefit of a meliorating 
 crop, as potatoes, carrots, parsnips, &.c. so that 
 the soil may have been put into the best pos- 
 sible condition for their reception, and in setting 
 them out, the holes or hedge rows, in which they 
 may be placed, should have the advantage of 
 a good rich compost, such as we have prescribed 
 for the seed beds. 
 
 7. Standard tress should not be placed out 
 permanently until they have attained a height of 
 seven or eight feet. 
 
 8. Whether the Morus JLlba or Moras Multi- 
 caulis be planted, we believe that the hedge form 
 will be found to be the most advantageous as well 
 as convenient mode ; the same given quantity of 
 land will produce at least forty per cent, more 
 leaves planted in hedges, than in standard trees, 
 the labor of gathering leaves is fully one-third 
 less, and the vegetation is much quicker, and 
 these it will be admitted, are considerations of 
 primary moment ; besides these advantages, the 
 trimming which the hedges will annually under- 
 go, will necessarily impart a more acceptable and 
 
 delicate quality to their foliage. A few standard 
 trees should be kept on every estate, and parti- 
 cularly where situated in the interior, for the 
 purpose of keeping up regular supplies of seed, 
 and of making that of leaves doubly secure: 
 plants destined for standard trees should always 
 be selected from among the handsomest and 
 straightest plants. 
 
 MANAGEMENT OP STANDARD TREES. 
 
 When the plants are grown to the size of one 
 inch in diameter, and from 7 to 8 feet high, they 
 are fit to be planted out in the field where they 
 are permanently to remain ; make the holes suf- 
 ficiently large to admit the roots without diffi- 
 culty or crowding. The roots should be trim- 
 med, then press the earth around them as it is 
 filled in the hole. The transplantation may ei- 
 ther be done in the spring as soon as the frost 
 is out of the ground, or in autumn just after the 
 fall of the leaf. The latter period is preferred 
 by Mr. Smith, in order to let "the small fibrous 
 roots which convey nourishment to the tree have 
 time to prepare for their functions by the vegeta- 
 ting season the next spring." In planting out 
 standard trees, leave all the buds which the 
 young trees have pushed out on the top, till the 
 following spring, when none are to be left but 
 three or four branches to form the head of the 
 tree these should be so left as to form a circle 
 round the stem, and that the interior of the tree 
 may be kept open, all buds as they appear on its 
 aody should be pinched off for a few years. For 
 several years, the head of the young tree should 
 be thinned out, cutting off such branches as cross 
 others or take the lead of the rest; thus equili- 
 >rium in growth, and beauty in appearance, will 
 be effected. Every spring the young trees should 
 be dresed two or three feet around the trunk; 
 and stakes should also be placed by each at the 
 irne of planting to ensure straightness, and pre- 
 rent the ill consequences of being too muchagi- 
 ated by the wind in the early period of their 
 growth. 
 
 MANAGEMENT OF HEDGES, &.C. 
 
 Make your hedge rows, as before directed, 6 
 eet wide apart, plant the young trees 18 inches 
 apart, taking care that the two lowest buds be in 
 he direction of the line, (which should be 
 drawn straight) the plant to be cut down to 
 these two buds about half a foot above the 
 ground ; by the ensuing spring these buds will 
 have become two beautiful branches, when one 
 of them is to be pruned down to one foot and 
 always on one side of the plant; the branches of 
 the opposite side to be left untouched, but to be 
 bent in the direction of the hedge towards the 
 lopped branches, and fastened to them with wil- 
 low withs so as to form an arch. The third 
 spring the plants will have branches to form a 
 ;e, when they must be cut about two feet 
 
from the ground, leaving the branches below 
 that point untouched and entire. When plants 
 die, replace them by layers from an adjoining 
 one, as the introduction of new plants hardly 
 ever succeed. The hedge should never be per- 
 mitted to grow higher than 6 feet, so as to keep 
 it within a convenient height for gathering the 
 leaves. After the leaves have been gathered, 
 the hedge should be pruned, and particularly of 
 such branches as may have been injured or kill- 
 ed, as also each spring, in the beginning of April, 
 the dead branches must be pruned from the liv- 
 ing wood with sharp hedge shears, and it should 
 be endeavored at these prunings to give form to 
 the hedge. 
 
 OF THE MORUS MULTICAULIS. 
 
 What we have said above concerning the 
 transplantation of the Mulberry, has relation to 
 the Morus Jllba species, and we now propose to 
 give some brief directions with relation to the 
 space to be occupied by the Morus Multicaulis, 
 both in the hedge and standard tree form. 
 
 If in hedges, they should be planted 3 feet a- 
 
 part in the row, the rows to be six feet asunder. 
 
 If as standard trees, they should be planted in 
 
 rows 8 feet wide, the plants 8 feet apa< t in the 
 
 row. 
 
 This species of the Mulberry partakes more of 
 the character of the shrub than of that of the 
 tree, and, therefore, require less room when 
 planted as standard tree?, and more in hedge. 
 With the difference as to distance above de- 
 scribed, the treatment of this tree must be the 
 same as the Italian Mulberry. 
 
 Having the subject of the Morus Multicaulis 
 again before us, we feel it due alike to ourself, 
 to the public, and to Gideon B. Smith, Esq., to 
 state, that in a recent conversation witli that 
 gentleman, he gave it as his opinion, that any 
 one desiring to enter into the silk culture as a 
 business, must abandon every idea of cultivating 
 any other kind than this, as from its superior fit- 
 ness,in every respect, to the feeding of the worms, 
 it would be impossible that any one growing any 
 other kind could compete with those who fed 
 with it ; that as there are no offal from coarse fi- 
 bres, fully one-third of the labor of gathering 
 will be saved, there being in the other mulberry 
 leaves of fully that amount of coarse matter 
 which is not consumed by the worms. He says 
 further, that the leaves of the Morus Multicaulis 
 yield a finer silk, more delicate in texture anc 
 brilliant in gloss than any other kind. Than th< 
 opinion of Mr. Smith, none better need be re 
 quired, on a matter where he has'had experienc< 
 to form that opinion upon, and, therefore, we 
 should always be cautious in differing on such 
 points with him ; but when we look at the bril 
 liant results of the Italian culturists and manu 
 facturers, we are half tempted to believe tha 
 
 the Morus Jllba makes good-enough-silk, though 
 n economy of labor the Morus Multicaulis is 
 ncomparably the superior of all others. 
 
 DISTANCE OF HEDGE ftOWS. 
 
 With respect to the distance between the 
 ledge rows, we are aware that some are of the 
 opinion that they should be sufficiently wide to 
 admit a cart to pass through while the leaves are 
 )eing gathered, we object to it for these reasons, 
 irst, because the pressure from the horse and cart 
 would so beat down the intervening spaces as to 
 lave an injurious effect upon the vegetation of 
 he trees, and secondly, because the hedge rows 
 would be liable to be injured by the horse and 
 cart. We think it better that the leaves should 
 )e gathered in large baskets, to be conveyed 
 herein to the cart which should be conveniently 
 itationed for that purpose. 
 
 OF MODES OF MULTIPLYING. 
 
 The means of propagating the Mulberry are 
 various, viz: from seed which is the best, as 
 ireviously described, by grafting and budding ; 
 "rotn layers, cuttings and suckers. 
 
 GRAFTING. 
 
 It may be done on the stocks in the nursery, or 
 on the small limbs of trees. The proper season 
 for it is just before the leaves begin to open in 
 spring. The head of the stock must be cut off 
 sloping, and a slit made sloping the opposite way, 
 deep enough to receive the scion, which should 
 be cut like a wedge, with the outside thicker 
 than the inner. The rind of the scion must ex- 
 actly join the rind of the stock. The slit should 
 be opened by a wedge of hard wood; the scion 
 should then be gently put in its place and the 
 stock closed. After this the whole must be daub- 
 ed round with a mortar made of a mixture of 
 loam and fresh horse-dung, so as completely to 
 exclude the access of air; and this mortar must 
 be surrounded by tow or old cloths to prevent it 
 from being washed away. The scion should be 
 covered nearly to the top with this mortar, and it 
 should also extend two or threeinches downwards 
 round the stock. In place of this mortar, For- 
 syth recommends a plaister made of pitch, tur- 
 pentine and beeswax. 
 
 BUDDING. 
 
 Provide yourself with a sharp knife, with a fiat 
 thin haft, and some bass-matting, or corn husk 
 strings; let these be soaked and in readiness. 
 Then select a smooth part of the stock as high as 
 you intend budding : make a horizontal cut across 
 the stock as deep as the firm wood, and then 
 from the centre of it make an incision downwards 
 about an inch ; then take the haft of your knife, 
 and raise the skin on either side of the incision. 
 Then take your knife and cut your bud, which 
 is done in this way. Take your knife, place it 
 about half an inch below the bud, cut slightly in- 
 to the pith or wood, so as to go below the heart 
 
of the bud, cut upwards to the same distance I 
 beyond the bud, then cut the bud out, trim off the 
 leaves, insert your bud by raising the rind and ; 
 shoving it down so as to close both sides of theskin 
 on it, joining it closely to the upper edge or hori- 
 zontal cut. Then take your bass or corn husk , 
 string, and bind it close around every part, ex- i 
 cept over the eye or bud, which is to be carefully 
 left out and preserved, and continue it a little 
 above the horizontal cut, not binding it too tight, 
 but sufficiently so to keep the parts close, ex- 
 clude the air, sun and wet ; finish by making the 
 ligature fast. At the expiration of a month loos- 
 en the bandages. In the March following, the 
 heads of all those which have taken, must be cut 
 off just above the part where the bud was insert- 
 ed. 
 
 LAYERS. 
 
 Having dug the ground well and made it light, 
 take some of the most flexible and free growing 
 shoots, slit the shoot underneath a joint or bud, 
 up the middle, and about an inch long, or a little 
 better, according to the size and nature of tbe 
 layer, forming a sort of tongue, laying the part in 
 the earth and raising the top upright so as there- 
 by to separate the tongue of the slit from the oth- 
 er part and keep it open; peg the shoot down 
 with a two pronged stick, leaving about 6 inch- 
 es out of the ground, in an erect position, then 
 cover up with a rich mould, pressing down the 
 earth. The shoots should be layed down in Ju- 
 ly and August and may be taken up or cut off 
 the ensuing autumn, or following spring, when 
 they sho lid be planted out. 
 
 CUTTINGS. 
 
 Cuttings should be taken off with a sharp knife 
 from, shoots of the previous summer's growth. 
 They should be from 6 to 15 inches in length, 
 and should, in all cases where practicable, have a 
 portion of old wood attached to the end to be 
 put in the ground. Let them be planted in a 
 nursery bed, well manured, in rows 18 inches 
 apart, the cuttings 9 inches asunder. They 
 should betaken from the tree between the falling 
 of the leaf in the fall and the swelling of the bud 
 in the spring. In planting, they must be placed 
 two-thirds their own length in the ground, great 
 care being taken to press the ground well around 
 them. In dry weather they must be watered well, 
 say twice a week, be always kept clean of weeds 
 and have the earth stirred two or three times in 
 the course of the summer and spring. The cut- 
 tings when taken from the tree should be wrap 
 ped up in a matting, or put away in dry sand in a 
 dark cellar, and kept until the opening of spring, 
 when they should be planted out, in somewhat a 
 slanting position. If attended to and forced by 
 occasional waterings with suds or the draining^ 
 of dung, they will be fit to transplant the second 
 spring thereafter, either in hedges or orchards. 
 
 SUCKERS. 
 
 These should be separated from the parent 
 plant early in the spring, each with some roots; 
 if of sufficient size, they may immediately be 
 placed in their permanent position; if not let 
 them be put into a nursery bed, two feet apart, 
 where they are to remain until their size indi- 
 cates the propriety of the removal. They must 
 in either case be treated as seedlings or cuttings 
 with respect to being kept clean and watered. 
 
 EARLY SUPPLY OF LEAVES. 
 
 In order to provide against every possible casu- 
 alty from frosts, and to secure an early supply of 
 leaves for the worms oil their first hatching, the 
 culturist should place a hedge in some warm sit- 
 uation, say a southern exposure, well protected 
 from the northern and western winds, and in the 
 spring, early, they should have a covering of 
 plaited straw or matting to protect them from the 
 frost at night. As the worms in their first feed- 
 ing consume but little, this hedge might be lo- 
 cated on a garden border, and as it would only 
 be used for a few days, it would during the rest 
 of the season form a very pretty ornament to the 
 garden : seed might also be sown broadcast or in 
 drills, in a forcing border, or hot bed, to be in 
 readiness to meet the first calls of the worms 
 'or food. There are also other resources to 
 which the agriculturist might resort for the early 
 'ceding of his worms, whenever their hatching 
 may anticipate the leaf of the Mulberry. Let- 
 tuce, Dandelion, the White Raspberry, and the 
 dry leaves of the Mulberry, of the preceding 
 year, reduced to powder, moistened lightly with 
 water, have all been found to answer the pur- 
 pose of temporary feeding; but the use of either 
 hould only be adopted in the event of the hatch- 
 ing of the worms before the appearance of the 
 Mulberry leaves, which should be sedulously 
 guarded against, by carefully keeping the eggs 
 in such a temperature and location as will de* 
 lay the corning forth of the worms until there is 
 a regular supply of food to sustain them. 
 
 DIVISION HEDGES. 
 
 Where ground is an object, the White Mul- 
 berry might be made to perform the place of di- 
 vision fences ; if planted along the fences and 
 wattled in with the rails, in a few years they 
 would form not only a very beautiful but a per- 
 manent living-fence, as when they once fairly 
 take a start, it is impossible to eradicate them, 
 even with the aid of the grubbing hoe and the 
 pick axe; for trees which had been cut down up- 
 wards of twenty years have been known to throw 
 up young shoots every spring, thus manifesting 
 a tenacity for life which render them invaluable 
 as live-fences. It has been ascertained that if 
 the Mtilburry be protected from cattle for two or 
 three years, all further protection will be unne- 
 cessary, as the biting off of the young twigs in 
 
30 
 
 spring by cattle, is ratlicr a service than a disser- 
 vice. Hedges intended for the joint purpose of 
 fences and food, should be trimmed as before 
 prescribed, and be kept. at about 6 feet high. 
 PRUNING, 
 
 It is said by some that a judicious pruning of 
 standard Mulberry trees should take place every 
 three orfcur years; but we incline to the belief, 
 that to render it proper, at any time, the necessi- 
 ty for removing unnecessary limbs or branches 
 must exist, and of this, the cuiturist must i.eces- 
 sarily be left to judge for himself. In the spring, 
 say about the beginning of April, all dead branch- 
 es or limbs ought to be removed from the living 
 wood, care being observed to let the taking oli' 
 of th. branch or limb, be done with a sharp in- 
 strument, so as to leave a smooth surface, which 
 should be smeared over with a mixture of three- 
 fourths fresh cow-dung and one-fourth chalk, 
 moistened to a proper consistence. 
 
 It may be assumed, in addition to the pruning 
 above recommended, that always after the gath- 
 ering of the leaves of the season shall have been 
 done with, all the branches that may hare been 
 damaged in the operation, and all the dead ones, 
 ought ti> be lopped off, as well as those the vege- 
 tation of which seems too low; and those the 
 vegetation of which on the contrary is tooluxuri- 
 ent, ought to be restrained in that propensity 
 or trained in an oblique direction, which is a 
 means of restraining- atoo rapid growth: they ought 
 not to be left to grow to an excessive height, nor 
 to spread too far. The branches which obstruct 
 the development of the head, or hang too much 
 down, should be shortened; and lastly those that 
 have been thrust out of their natural direction, 
 during the gathering of the leaves, ought to be 
 set right again. As a general remark it may be 
 safe to add, that they should be treated in the 
 main as fruit trees are. 
 
 GENERAL REMARKS, 
 
 AS TO THE MODE OF MULTIPLYING. 
 
 We have given succinct directions with respect 
 to the various methods by which the Mulberry 
 may be propagated ; but, as a general rule, we 
 should prefer the growing of the tree from seed 
 to any other form, and in this opinion, we are 
 backed by the experience of that eminent Italian 
 cuiturist, Count Dandolo. He says: 
 
 "The leaf of the [seedling] tree, contains the 
 proportion of both the nutritive and silky sub- 
 stances. J have, says he, ascertained the follow- 
 ing facts: 
 
 1. That 14^ Ibs. of wild Mulberry leaves, will 
 produce a pound and a half of cocoons; while 
 20f Ibs. of the leaves of the grafted Mulberry, 
 are required to yield the same quantity. 
 
 2. That 7| Ibs. of cocoons, proceeding from 
 silk worms fed on leaves of Wild Mulberry give 
 about 14 oz. of very fine silk ; whilst generally 
 
 the same weight of silk worms, fed with the 
 leaves of the grafted Mulberry, only yield eleven 
 or twelve ounces of silk. 
 
 3. That the silk worms fed on the wild leaves, 
 are always brisker and have better appetites. 
 
 The result is, that, taking two trees of equal 
 age and vigor, the grafted tree yields 50 Ibs. of 
 leaves, and the wild tree only 30 Ibs; the 
 weight of nutritious substance will be nearly 
 equal in each." 
 
 To this authority may be added that of M. 
 Martleroy, an experienced cuiturist in France, 
 who found that silk worms fed with the leaves 
 of the seedling Mulberry tree, were more healthy, 
 vigorous, and less subject to diseases, than those 
 which are fed upon the leaves of the grafted 
 trees. 
 
 The term " wild trees" as used by Count Dan- 
 dolo, must be understood, in every instance, to 
 mean trees raised from the seed, being used in 
 contradistinction to those propagated by the oth- 
 er appliances of the trade, used in the propagation 
 of valuable plants, and in addition to these rea- 
 sons, we believe the seedling will be found to be 
 more thrifty, luxuriant in foliage,and longer lived. 
 
 Indeed, with such facilities as are possessed 
 in our country for multiplying the Mulberry tree 
 from seed, no inducement exists to a resort to 
 any of the numerous other methods of propaga- 
 tion. It may, perhaps, be said that seed of the 
 Morus Multicaulis cannot at present be obtain- 
 ed in America, arid that recourse must, of course, 
 be had to those other means of multiplying that 
 species ; that, for the time being is true ; but 
 then, we think it more than probable, that by the 
 time the spring opens, seed will have been pro- 
 cured from the European markets, and that in a 
 very few years, seed will be obtained in our own, 
 from trees already growing here. 
 
 AS TO THE TIME OF SOWING SEED. 
 
 In our variable climate, it is almost impossible 
 to fix any thing like a day for the sowing of seed 
 in the spring; for it is out of the question, to 
 calculate with any d< gree of certainty, upon any 
 considerable number of successive days of con- 
 genial temperature. Under such circumstances, 
 all we can do, is, to prescribe general rules of gov- 
 ernment; and in the furtherance of our views, 
 we would say that the seed should be sown as 
 early in the spring as the ground and weather 
 will permit. Say, in winters and springs of or- 
 dinary mildness in the more southern state$, 
 about the Is* of April in the western, from the 
 15th of April to the 1st June\n the middle 
 states from the 1st of April to the 1st of May, 
 in forward springs in backward springs, from 
 the 15th of April to the 15th of May, and in 
 the northern and eastern states, from the 1st of 
 May, forward during that month, as may be indi- 
 cated by the weather. 
 
31 
 
 AS TO SOIL. 
 
 It may not be inopportune here to make a few 
 general remarks upon the subject of soil. Al- 
 though the young trees for the first year or two, 
 would be evidently improved in their growth by 
 being placed in rich dry loamy soil, yet all expe- 
 rience proves that the plant after it shall have at- 
 tained a few years of age, grows luxuriantly in 
 every kind of soil. Mr. Smith has seen the tree in 
 every variety of soil, from the poorest to the rich- 
 est, and has been able to observe no other differ- 
 ence in its foliage than a more firm texture in 
 that which grew on poor land, than in that reared 
 on rich; and it is uniformly admitted that a dry, 
 stony or sandy soil, is preferable to a rich one. 
 
 Here a remark presents itself to our mind, 
 which we feel bound in duty to make. It is 
 known to every intelligent man, that in each 
 county of most of the old states, there are thou- 
 sands and tens of thousands of acres of worn- 
 out lands, which are either grown over with 
 scrubby oaks, or pines, or covered with that em- 
 blem of a heart-broken soil, the sedge-grass. Such 
 fields, barren and worthless as they may seem 
 in the eye of one who has been used to looking at 
 fields dressed in their brightest and rno-t luxuri- 
 ent array of verdure, may all be converted into 
 sources of wealth, by being formed into Mulberry 
 plantations or orchards; by simply manuring 
 the young plants in the drill, in case of hedges, 
 or'in the holes in the event of standard trees, 
 with rich compost or loam, or even by manuring 
 with half rotten stable or barn-yard manure ; and 
 it should be recollected, that when once started 
 in this way, the young Mulberry will require 
 scarcely any thing further from the hands of 
 the cultivator, but to keep it clean and watered, 
 as may be seen in our remarks under the 
 preceding heads. All the subsequent manuring 
 whether they be planted in hedges, or in stand- 
 ard trees, which they will require, will more than 
 repay him by their yield for all the labour he 
 may put upon them. A crop of potatoes, oc- 
 casionally, well manured between the rows, fol- 
 lowed by clover, which can be cut one year and 
 ploughed in the next, will be all that will be ne- 
 cessary to secure to the trees, permanent, vigor- 
 ous growth, and plentiful produce of foliage. 
 
 AS TO MODE OF CULTIVATION. 
 
 As we have before remarked, we prefer the 
 hedge form, and would keep no more standard 
 trees than might be necessary to secure supplies 
 of seed, to meet contingencies. 
 
 PERIOD WHEN LEAVES MAY BE FED. 
 
 The trees should not be deprived of their 
 leaves until the fourth year, and then they should 
 not be entirely stripped ; on the following year, 
 however, and the succeeding ones, they may be 
 treated as old trees, and all the leaves be taken 
 off when required for the food of worms ; an 
 acre in the hedge form, would, we believe, fur- 
 
 nish sufficient foliage, after the fourth year, to 
 support the number of worms requisite to pro- 
 duce the quantity of silk, which forms the basis of 
 the calculations to be found under the proper head. 
 It is best, however, not to be too anxious in pull- 
 ing them before the plant has received some so- 
 lidity, and been placed in a situation to withstand 
 any violent demand upon its powers of production, 
 as by judicious attention for a year or two, and a 
 proper consulting of the demands of nature, the 
 tree will receive such an impetus as will ensure 
 to it a long life and luxuriant foliage. 
 
 Some of the culturists in the eastern states, 
 are of opinion that leaves may be gathered at two 
 years old, provided those near the end of the 
 branches are left and the main stem be not 
 touched. Our opinion is, that such practice is 
 contrary to nature, and cannot be justified upon 
 any principles connected with reason or a just 
 economy of vegetable life. "Leaves," it has been 
 very happily said, "bear the same relation to trees 
 and plants, as the lungs to the bodies of men and 
 animals. A leafless tree dies soon ;" and, 
 therefore, that "not more than half of its leaves, 
 or at most two-thirds of them should be strip- 
 ped." 
 
 YIELD OF FOLIAGE PROFIT OF THE CULTURE, 
 
 fcfi. 
 
 It is impossibe to ascertain with any thing like 
 accuracy the quantity of leaves which an acre 
 of Mulberry trees will yield ; but still we can 
 approximate sufficiently near to found a calcu- 
 lation upon it. We will here array some of the 
 various authorities upon this branch of the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 1. It is stated in the Memoir submitted by 
 Mr. Bailiff Hout, of Manheim, to the Agricultu- 
 ral Society of the Grand Dutchy of Baden, that 
 a White Mulberry tree, 20 years old, planted in 
 a proper soil, produces on an average, two quin- 
 tals of foliage, (200 Ibs.,) and that seven quintals, 
 700 Ibs., are required for 40 Ibs. of cocoons. 
 
 2. It is computed by Mr. D'Homergue that 
 each tree [standard] at 6 years of age will yield 
 30 Ibs. of leaves, which he proposes should be set 
 at 6 feet square apart, properly cultivated and 
 nurtured. 
 
 3. The Editor of this Manual, assumes the 
 following, it being the best result at which his 
 mind could arrive, after the most careful exami- 
 nation of various authorities that is, that a tree, 
 as a standard, four years of age, well cultivated, 
 will yield 20 Ibs. of foliage, that at 6 years of 
 age it will yield 30 Ibs., and that if planted in 
 hedge-form, an SLTG of land will yield an 
 amount of leaves when six years of age more than 
 equal to the support of 540,000 worms, that is 
 he believes that each tree at 4 years, will yield 
 4 bis. of leaves, and at 6 years will yield 7 Ibs. 
 of leaves, and that its capacity to yield will in- 
 crease by the time the hedge shall have attained 
 
its twentieth year, 100 per cent., tint is, that the 
 acre will, after the expiration of that period, 
 yield a foliage competent to the sustenance of 
 upwards of a million of worms, and this will not 
 be doubted, when it is considered that the acre in 
 hedge-form, six feet wide apart and \\ asun- 
 der in the rows, will contain 4,840 plants as 6 
 X 1| is equal to the square of 9, and that being 
 divided into 43,560, the number of square feet in 
 an acre, gives 4,840, as : 
 9)43.560 
 
 4,840 No. plants on an acre 6 
 feet by 1 1. 
 
 Mr. Frost, of Massachusetts, fed 1,500 worms 
 on 75 Ibs. of leaves, which precisely corresponds 
 with the average of food as laid down by Count 
 Von Hazzi, of Munich. He pays :. 
 
 On an average twenty thousand worms require 
 in the 1st period 5 Ibs. of leaves 
 
 2d 
 
 3d 
 
 4th " 
 
 5th " 
 
 15 
 
 46 
 
 139 
 
 795 
 
 Ibs. 1,000 
 
 And he observes, further, that 
 
 " Until lately, twice as much would have been 
 consumed in Germany, in consequence of the 
 errors which attended the rearing of worms, their 
 feeding, the economy of the leaves," &c- 
 
 Count Dandola estimates that about 37 Ibs. 12 
 oz. will feed 1,000 worrng, but we take the larger 
 number, as we wish to make a liberal allowance 
 for wasteage and other contingences. 
 
 4. Mr. Fitch speaks of a full grown tree, 
 which yielded food for worms, which made four 
 pounds of silk, and as 3,000 is the general av- 
 erage for a pound of silk, there must have been 
 12,000 fed on this one tree. 
 
 Mr. Fitch also states, that an acre of full 
 grown trees, set one and a half rods apart, will 
 produce 40 Ibs. of silk. 
 
 4. Mr. Tufts confirms this calculation, but does 
 not state the distance at which the trees stood 
 from one another. 
 
 6. Mr. Storrs says, that a full grown tree will 
 feed 6,000 worms, which will produce one and a 
 half pounds of silk. An acre of trees will pro- 
 duce 60 Ibs. of raw silk in one season. 
 
 7. Mr. Smith states, that a full grown tree will 
 feed 5,000 worms. 
 
 8. Mr. R. Falley, now of Ohio, had 18 Ibs. of 
 silk from about 100 trees, part of which were 
 young, in Massachusetts," 
 
 9. It is stated in the Columbian Magazine, 
 that in the year 1789, nearly four pounds were 
 produced from seven trees, and one pound from 
 eight trees, eight years old, from the seed. 
 
 10. According to Count Dandolo, it is a cer- 
 tain fact, that, if silk worms are well managed 
 
 21 Ibs. of Mulberry leaves will be sufficient to 
 obtain a pound and a half of cocoons, and that in 
 
 Dalmatia he obtained a pound and a half of co- 
 coons from 15 Ibs. of leaves, which yielded a 
 pound and a half of silk, and he further affirms 
 
 hat 97J Ibs. of leaves will produce 1\ Ibs. of co- 
 coons. For the yield of the trees we take Bai- 
 
 iff Hout's estimate, 200 Ibs. of leaves to the full 
 grown tree. 
 
 11. Miss Rhodes could scarcely support ten 
 thousand worms on the leaves of twelve large 
 
 rees in England. 
 
 12. According to Lambruschini, 100 Ibs. of 
 clear leaves will feed worms which will produce 
 6 Ibs. of silk. 
 
 13. Mr. Genet, the former French. Minister to 
 this country, in his Memoirs on the subject of 
 silk states, that" A small hedge that will occupy 
 
 he twentieth part of an acre, being planted with 
 jushes not more than three years old will sup- 
 aly and accommodate 100.000 worms, the pro- 
 duce of which will be thirty pounds of raw drawn 
 silk, and if the whole acre is planted in the same 
 way, the produce will be six hundred pounds, 
 which if merely spun into sowing silk would 
 amount at the present price of American sewing 
 silk at Albany, [then] three dollars per pound, to 
 " ,800." 
 
 14. Mr. Daniel Bradley, of Marcellus, New 
 York, estimates that an acre of ground will yield 
 foliage enough for a million of worms, and that 
 some go so far as to say that it will support two 
 millions. 
 
 15. On the authority of the Hamilton County 
 (Ohio) Agricultural Society, as we have before 
 stated, it is affirmed that four young ladies in 
 Massachusetts, gathered as many leaves off of 4 
 acres in 1833, as fed worms which made them 
 420 Ibs. of silk, besides attending to the domes- 
 tic concerns of the household. 
 
 16. The late Mr. Parmentier, of New York, 
 a distinguished Nursery-man and Horticulturist, 
 stated that an acre of Mulberry trees, when full 
 grown, would yield foliage enough to feed worms 
 that would produce 490 dollars worth of silk. 
 
 REMARKS UPON THE PRECEDING. 
 
 We have prepared in a succeeding page, a ta- 
 ble, shewing the produce per acre, according to 
 the respective statements and data of the several 
 persons given under the preceding head, and in 
 order that the reader may understand the princi- 
 ples upon which our several calculations are 
 made, we will briefly explain each, as they res- 
 pectively stand in numerical order. 
 
 No. 1. Mr. Hout states that a tree 20 years 
 old will yield 200 Ibs. of foliage, and we calcu- 
 late, as 108 trees, 20 feet square apart, can stand 
 on an acre of ground, the acre will yield 21,600 
 Ibs. of leaves. Again he says, 700 Ibs. of leaves 
 will produce 40 Ibs. of cocoons, and, therefore, 
 21,600 Ibs. will produce 1234 Ibs/, then, as 
 
33 
 
 Ibs. of cocoons are equal to 1 Ib. of silk, so is 
 1234 Ibs. equal to 137 Ibs. 
 
 No. 2. This is calculated upon the same prin- 
 ciple as the first branch of the above, with this 
 difference, that the 6 feet square assumed by Mr. 
 D'Homergue, will give 1210 trees to the acre 
 the square of 6 being 36, that divided into 
 43,560, the number of square feet contained 
 therein, gives 1210 as the quotient. 
 
 No. 3. Our own calculation is based on a sim- 
 ilar principle. 
 
 No. 4. Mr. Fitch's statements do not accord 
 with each other, and we have, therefore, under- 
 taken to reconcile their discrepancies. In the 
 first place, he speaks of having seen a. full grown 
 tree that afforded food for worms, which made 
 4 Ibs. of silk : then he tells us that an acre of 
 full grown trees set a rood and a half apart, will 
 produce 40 Ibs. of silk. Now as a rood and a half 
 is 24 feet, 75 trees can beset upon an acre, and 
 unless Mr. Fitch has two measures for his full 
 grown trees, he is not consistent with himself, 
 as, 75 such full grown ones as he first describes, 
 would yield 300 Ibs. of silk, instead of 40. The 
 first tree he names must have fed 12,000 worms; 
 but if we calculate that his subsequent ones are 
 competent to feed 5,000, the most generally re- 
 ceived number, the 75 must have produced 125 
 Ibs. of silk. It struck us however as most fair 
 to take the average of the three, and we accord- 
 ingly made our calculations upon that data. 
 
 No. 5. Mr. Tufts baring avouched Mr. Fitch's 
 statement, we have made the same calculations 
 for him. 
 
 No. 6. Mr. Storrs estimates that it will take 
 4,000 worms to make a pound of silk; this is 
 much too high; 2,400,2,542, 2,700 and 3,000 
 have severally done so; but he has even set the 
 produce of an acre at greatly below what his ex- 
 travagant estimate would make it. We believe 
 we make a liberal allowance for contingencies, 
 when we assume 3,000 as the number compe- 
 tent to give a pound of silk ; we have, therefore, 
 found our average, by calculating the pound at 
 that ratio ; at Mr. Storr's 4,000, and then at his 
 60 Ibs. per acre. 
 
 No. 7. We take Mr. Smith's estimate of the 
 capacity of a full grown tree, and Mr. Bradley's 
 for the measure of that of the worms, and thus 
 arrive at the result in the table. 
 
 No. 8. We take this as we find it, though it is 
 evidently made with too much looseness to enti- 
 tle it to the least consideration, and but that we 
 wish to show both sides of the picture, we would 
 not give it. 
 
 No. 9. Here too, there is much looseness; 
 but to prevent cavil have placed the trees 20 feet 
 square apart, and thus find a result much below 
 what the data would justify. 
 
 No. 10. Count Dandolo gives data for three 
 calculations, and as his great experience in the 
 
 business, enlightened mind, and mathematical 
 exactitude in all that he does, entitle his state- 
 ments to every consideration, we have made caV 
 culations for each and taken the average, viz : 
 171, 184 and 240=5 9 5 aggregate average 198|, 
 and we are pleased to find that this is 17^ Ibs. 
 more than our own; for from the familiarity of this 
 distinguished gentleman with the business, the ut- 
 most reliance may be placed on his estimates; be- 
 cause they are the results of actual practice. 
 
 No. 11. Miss Rhodes' experiments being 
 made in England, where the worms will not labor, 
 should not be taken into the account ; for Eng- 
 land has long since abandoned the culture, hav- 
 ing given it up as utterly impracticable owing to 
 the humidity of the climate; but as our object 
 is truth, we give it for what it is worth. 
 
 No. 12. This is a high-pressure calculation, 
 which never has been, and, in our opinion, never 
 can be realized : we are, therefore, disposed to 
 think that, in the translation, the word "silk" has 
 been substituted for that of "cocoons" with 
 this changed version, it would approach much 
 nearer practicable results. 
 
 No. 13. This author is also too high, in our 
 opinion, though he has several good authorities 
 to back his calculations withal. 
 
 No. 14. This a little too sanguine also. 
 
 No. 15. This being an actual result, is of 
 course, to be taken for its actual amount, and 
 although less than an acre is capable of produc- 
 ing by nearly a hundred per cent., it is a most 
 wonderful product, all things considered. 
 
 No. 16. This, in our opinion, is much below 
 what can be realized from an acre properly cul- 
 tivated. 
 
 Recapitulation. A table shewing the probable produce per acre ac- 
 cording to the estimates and data furnished by the 16 different 
 persons enumerated therein, made upon the principles as explain- 
 ed in the preceding remarks- 
 
 I.S 
 
 
 I- 
 
 Value 
 
 
 -5 
 
 91 
 
 Names of the Parties. 
 
 lo'lj 
 
 S<5 3 - 
 
 of Silk 
 per 
 
 Amounts. 
 
 il 
 
 
 a g.25 
 
 pound. 
 
 
 i 
 
 Mr. Bailiff Hout, 
 
 137 
 
 $* 
 
 $548 
 
 2 
 
 Mr. D'Homergue, 
 
 242 
 
 4 
 
 968 
 
 S 
 
 The Editor, 
 
 180 
 
 4 
 
 720 
 
 4 
 
 Mr. Fitch, 
 
 155 
 
 4 
 
 620 
 
 5 
 
 Mr. Tufts, 
 
 155 
 
 4 
 
 620 
 
 6 
 
 Mr. Storrs, 
 
 146 
 
 4 
 
 584 
 
 7 
 
 Mr. Smith, as explained 
 
 180 
 
 4 
 
 720 
 
 8 
 
 Mr. Falley, 
 
 18 
 
 4 
 
 72 
 
 9 
 
 Columbian Magazine, 
 
 61 
 
 4 
 
 244 
 
 10 
 
 Count Dandolo, aver. 
 
 198 
 
 4 
 
 792 
 
 11 
 
 Miss Rhodes, 
 
 27 
 
 4 
 
 108 
 
 12 
 
 M. Lambruschina, 
 
 1296 
 
 4 
 
 5184 
 
 13 
 
 Mr. Genet, 
 
 666 
 
 4 
 
 2664 
 
 14 
 
 Mr. Bradley, 
 
 333 
 
 4| 13S l i 
 
 15 
 
 4 Massachusetts' ladies. 
 
 105 
 
 4 
 
 4-10 
 
 16 
 
 Mr. Parmentier, 
 
 
 
 490 
 
 I Totals. 
 
 3989 
 
 
 T6.08H 
 
 Total of all the estimates, $ 16,084 
 
 Average product per acre, $1005 
 
34 
 
 We now propose to make a few calculations, in 
 order that the reader may more fully compre- 
 hend the table just given, and those which may 
 follow. 
 
 It is computed by Mr. D'Homergue, that a tree 
 6 years old, will yield 30 Ibs. of foliage, and that 
 they may be planted 6 feet square apart, which 
 would give us 1,210 trees on an acre, there 
 being 43,560 square feet in an acre, as 
 6 
 6 
 
 Square of 6, 36 ) 43560 ( 1210 No. of trees on 
 36 an acre at 6 ft. square apart. 
 
 75 
 
 72 
 
 36 
 36 
 
 Thus then, if there be 1,210 trees on an acre, 
 yielding 30 Ibs. of leaves to the tree, they will 
 give foliage enough to support 726,000 worms, 
 and as 3,000 cocoons will yield a pound of silk, 
 so will the gross number give 243 Ibs., as for ex- 
 amples : 
 
 1210 trees on an acre, 
 
 30 Ibs. foliage to each tree, 
 
 36,300 Ibs. of leaves on an acre. 
 It has been proved by the actual experiments 
 of several silk culturists, indeed, we might say, 
 by universal experience, that 50 Ibs. of leaves 
 will support 1,000 worms during the feeding 
 season. 
 
 The question may be therefore thus stated : 
 If 50 Ibs. of leaves feed 1,000 worms, how 
 many worms will 36,300 Ibs. of leaves feed. 
 If 50100036,300 
 
 1000 
 
 5,0)36,30000,0 
 
 726,000 worms. 
 Again, if 3,000 cocoons make a pound of silk, 
 how many pounds will 726,000 make. 
 If 3,0001726,000 
 1 
 
 3,000) 726,000 
 
 Amount raised on an acre } 
 according to Mr. D'Hom- > 242 Ibs. of silk. 
 
 ergue's statement, 
 
 Gross value of an acre in 
 silk culture, 
 
 per Ib. present 
 selling price 
 
 We have no doubt, ourself, that this amount 
 might be realized, and even mere, from an acre 
 in the silk culture, properly attended to, in the 
 hedge-form, but as we do not wish to excite over 
 sanguine expectations, we have assumed data 
 even less than that justified by the actual experi- 
 ments, or rather practical business results, of 
 Count Dandolo, one of the most intelligent 
 among the Italian silk culturists. The following 
 examples will show the amounts produced by 
 that gentleman, according to his statement, as per 
 No. 10 in the table. 
 
 There being 108 trees on an acre, each bear- 
 ing 200 Ibs. of leaves, the whole will yield 21,- 
 600 Ibs. of foliage, as 
 
 108 number of trees on an acre 
 200 number of pounds per each tree 
 
 21,600 Ibs. the produce of an acre. 
 
 As Count Dandolo says, that 21 Ibs. of leaves 
 will yield 1 J Ibs cocoons, so will 21,600 Ibs. of 
 leaves give 171 Ibs. of cocoons; as 
 
 If 21 \\ 21,600 
 
 2 3 
 
 3 21) 64800 
 2) 3035 
 
 1542 Ibs. of GO'S. 
 
 As 9 Ibs. of cocoons give 1 Ib. of silk, so will 
 1542 Ibs. of cocoons yield 171 Ibs. of silk; as 
 If 9_i_i542 
 1 
 
 9) 1542 
 
 171 Ibs. of silk. 
 
 Again Count Dandolo has obtained li Ibs. 
 of cocoons from 15 Ibs. of leaves: this will give 
 us the following as the product of an acre's cul- 
 ture. 
 
 If 15 11 21,600 
 
 3 15) 64800 
 2) 4320 
 
 9) 2160 
 
 240 
 And again he says, that 97| Ibs. of leaves 
 
35 
 
 will produce 1\ Ibs. of cocoons this .gives u 
 the following result : 
 
 ' 2 
 
 ' 2 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 95 
 
 15 
 
 43200 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 216000 
 43200 
 
 195) 648000 
 2) 3323 
 
 9) 166J 
 
 184 Ibs. of silk. 
 
 Product of the several results. 
 
 171 
 
 240 
 184 
 
 3) 595 
 
 Average product of an 
 acre according to 
 Count Dandolo, 
 
 198 Ibs. of silk at 
 lb. $792. 
 
 per 
 
 Our own calculation is predicated upon the 
 statement of Mr. Smith, that a full grown tree 
 will yield foliage enough for 5,000 worms, and 
 as 108 trees at 20 feet square apart will stand on 
 an acre, so will that number of trees support 
 540,000 worms, and as 3,000 will make a pound 
 of silk, so will 540,000 make 180 Ibs., as per 
 example: 
 
 108 No. of trees on an acre, 
 
 5000 No. of worms which one full 
 
 grown tree will support, 
 
 8,000) 540,000 
 
 180 Ibs. of silk raised from an acre, 
 4 
 
 ^720 the gross value of an acre. 
 
 We will now state an account current, by 
 which the nett profit of an acre will be clearly 
 demonstrated, and we beg leave to make this ex- 
 planation, that, with a view of providing against 
 all possible contingencies, we have taxed 540,- 
 000 worms with the expense of the labor of 
 1,000,000, which will more than cover all draw- 
 backs arising from mortality among the worms, or 
 any other unforseen casualties. 
 
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 Having thus demonstrated the practicability of 
 realizing $565 80 cents, from one acre in the 
 silk culture, well attended to, on which, howe- 
 ver, an excess of labor equal to 46 per cent., o r 
 on which the cost of the labor necessary for 
 1,000,000 is charged upon 540,000 worms,we will 
 now prepare a table, shewing the nett profits on 
 from 1 to 10 acres, the same excess of labor 
 being charged, the object of which, is, to cof er 
 any contingent demands which may be made 
 upon the product of the worms, whether by 
 mortality or otherwise. 
 
s 
 
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 We will now, for the better satisfaction of 
 the reader who may desire to be thoroughly in- 
 formed with respect to actual profits, without 
 the trouble of reducing the data given to calcula- 
 tion, prepare a table, showing the exact profit 
 upon 1, 5 and 10 acres in the Mulberry culture, 
 according to the data furnished by Mr. D'Hom- 
 ergue, that of Count Dandolo, and ourself, the 
 actual cost of labor being charged. 
 
 A TABLE shewing the actual profits of the Mulberry culture upon 1, 5 and 10 acres, according to the 
 estimates of Mr. D'Homergue, Count Dandolo, and the Author of this Manual. 
 
 Estimate of trie Author 
 of this Manual. 
 
 10 acres. 
 
 O 
 
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 Calculation according to 
 Count Dandolo' s esti- 
 mate. 
 
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 Calculation according to 
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 10 acres. 
 
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 As we desire to be fully understood upon 
 this important branch of the subject, we will en- 
 ter somewhat more at large upon it. We ask 
 leave then, in the first instance, to remind the 
 reader that we have assumed the ability of an 
 acre of ground in Mulberry trees, six years old, 
 to sustain 540,000 worms. This number is ar- 
 bitrary, it may be said, and so it is, as also is 
 that of the yield of single trees ; but they are both 
 in our estimation low. We believe that if a 
 standard tree 20 years old, will yield 200 Ibs. of 
 foliage, it is a moderate calculation to say that 
 one in the hedge row at 4 years old will give 
 4 Ibs., and that at 6 it will yield 7 Ibs. Mr. 
 D'Homergue estimates that a standard tree of 
 the same nge will yield 30 Ibs., and when we 
 
37 
 
 claim less than one-fifth for it in the hedge, we 
 think we must be thought moderate. 
 
 The acre as we have before shown, in the 
 hedge-form, will contain 4840 trees, which when 
 4 years old, at 4 Ibs. of leaves to each, will pro- 
 duce 19,360 Ibs. of leaves, and feed 387,200 
 worms, as 50 pounds will support 1,000 during the 
 feeding season. 
 
 4,840 
 4 
 
 19,360 
 
 1000 
 
 5,0) 1936000,0 
 
 387,200 worms. 
 
 At 6 years old, according to our assumption, the 
 following will be the result : 
 
 4,840 trees on an acre of hedge, 
 7 Ibs. of foliage per each, 
 
 33,880 Ibs. of foliage upon an acre, 
 1000 
 
 5,0) 33,88000,0 
 
 677,600 
 
 540,000 number of assumed by us. 
 
 137,600 excess over our calculation. 
 
 It would thus appear evident, that if the trees 
 at 8 years old should yield the quantity of leaves 
 assumed by us, an acre of land will afford fo- 
 liage enough to support 137,600, or one-fourth 
 more worms than we have claimed for it, which 
 would, as 3,000 give a pound of silk, make a 
 difference in favor of an acre in silk culture, over 
 our preceding estimate, of upwards of 45 Ibs. of 
 silk, or, at the rate of $4 per lb., of $180. 
 
 It may be said, that all calculations which fix 
 the number of pounds of foliage to be produced 
 by a Mulberry tree, must necessarily be uncer- 
 tain, and equally so is the assumption that a tree 
 will yield food for any given number of worms. 
 But then in both of these forms we must be gov- 
 erned by the experience of such culturists as re- 
 liance may be placed upon. Count De Hazzi, 
 says, that " it is now exactly known, from long 
 experience, what quantity of food the worms re- 
 quire in their several ages, until they have begun 
 to spin their silk. Twenty thousand worms cor- 
 respond to one ounce of eggs of our weight, and 
 they require through all their ages a thousand 
 pounds of leaves." From 18 to 20 good Mul- 
 berry trees give, each, one quintal and a half of 
 leaves, and consequently, from 8 to 10 trees are 
 necessary for twenty thousand worms. From 
 the concurrent testimony of almost all the wri- 
 .ters, from 37 to 50 Ibs. of leaves is consumed 
 
 during the feeding season by a thousand worms, 
 and having taken the largest average, we feel 
 certain that we cannot at all events be consider- 
 ed as exaggerating profits. 
 
 TABLE OF DISTANCES. 
 
 A table showing the number of plants on an 
 
 acre at certain distances, there being 43,560 
 square feet in an acre. 
 
 Feet feet plants. 
 
 l\ by 6 4,840 
 
 l\ by 8 3,630 
 
 2 by 6 3,630 
 
 3 by 6 2,420 
 
 3 by 8 1,815 
 
 4 by 4 2,722 
 6 by 6 1,210 
 6 by 8 907 
 8 by 8 686 
 
 10 by 10 435 
 
 10 by 12 . 363 
 
 12 by 12 302 
 
 12 by 15 242 
 
 15 by 15 193 
 
 15 by 20 145 
 
 20 by 20 108 
 
 20 by 25 8T 
 
 24 by 24 75 
 
 25 by 25 69 
 25 by 30 58 
 30 by SO 40 
 30 by 40 86 
 
 TABLE OF MEASURES. 
 
 14 oz. cocoons produce about 1 oz. eggs. 
 68 eggs weigh 1 grain. 
 
 1 oz. contains 22,640 eggs.* 
 
 5 ounces, 1 13,200 u 
 
 10 ounces, 226,400 " 
 
 15 ounces, 339,600 " 
 20 ounces, 452,800 " 
 40 ounces, 905,600 " 
 SO ounces, 1,811,200 " 
 
 1,000 worms consume 50 Ibs. of leaves,f 
 9 Ibs. of cocoons will make about 1 lb. of silk, 
 3000 cocoons make about 1 lb. of silk.J 
 800 cocoons make about 1 lb. of cocoons. 
 A female moth will lay about 450 eggs. 
 
 MODE OF GATHERING LEAVES. 
 
 Count Dandolo states that much depends, in 
 regard to a long preservation of Mulberry trees 
 and hedges, on the method of gathering their 
 leaves; that it should be done with the greatest 
 care, to prevent the- trees from receiving injuries. 
 That caution is so much the more necessary, as 
 nature has not intended they should be stripped 
 
 *The general computation is that an ounce of 
 eggs will hatch 20,000 worms. 
 
 |Count Dandolo says 87 Ibs. will answer. 
 
 JThe Precise number depends upon the 
 quality of the cocoons 24,000, 2,500, 2,542 
 and 3,000, have respectively made a lb. of silk. 
 
38 
 
 violently of their foliage. It is, says he, essential 
 that all the leaves should be pulled off, for if any 
 remain on some branches, they attract the sap 
 whilst the naked branches are incompletely 
 nourished. The stripping of the leaves should 
 not be begun before the disappearance of the dew, 
 and ought to be concluded before the setting of 
 the sun. The hand should move from below 
 upwards, in order to avoid pulling off the buds. 
 
 All climbing upon trees must be avoided, and 
 the best way to gather the leaves, it is suggested, 
 would be to use a rolling ladder, which consists 
 of two parts, a wheelbarrow, the legs of which 
 are to be from seven to eight feet long, straight, 
 somewhat projecting beyond the wheel, and 
 connected by four cross sticks; and a ladder six 
 feet long, which is attached to the wheelbarrow 
 by a fourth cross stick ; with this apparatus a sin- 
 gle man is able to carry several bags of leaves. 
 The end to be placed on the ground must be 
 pointed with iron. The bags used in this appara- 
 tus must be hooped, so as to remain open, and 
 ought to have a hook to be hung on the branch- 
 es, and care must be taken that the leaves be not 
 emptied on the ground, it being particularly de- 
 sirable to keep them clear of dust: when con- 
 veyed to the wheelbarrow they should be kept 
 sheltered from the sun. Leaves covered with 
 a taugh viscous matter, the honey dew, as it is 
 called, are injurious to the worms; they must 
 be used only in case of necessity, and not then 
 until they are thoroughly washed and dried. 
 
 If the hedge-form be adopted, as it should be, 
 all the trouble and expense of the rolling ladders, 
 will be rendered wholly unnecessary. But even 
 in that event, lightly constructed wheelbarrows, 
 with deep beds, might very advantageously be 
 substituted for the cart, as a means of transporting 
 the leaves from the Mulberry groves to the labora- 
 tory. 
 
 SUPPLY OF LEAVES. 
 
 Care must always be taken to keep a good sup- 
 ply of leaves pulled and stored away in some cool 
 place, and therefore it is particularly desirable to 
 have a spacious airy cellar under the laboratory 
 where you may deposit three or four days supply 
 of leaves, so as to be prepared against rainy-spells, 
 as it will not do to feed the worms with wet haves 
 A brick or stone pavement would be best. 
 Should it so turn out, from long continued rains, 
 that your supply of dry leaves are exhausted, you 
 must dry those which you may gather wet, be- 
 fore you altempt to feed the worms with them 
 This can be done by putting the leaves on clean 
 cloths on the floor and turning them repeatedly, so 
 as to let the water escape by evaporation and o 
 therwise. But such an occurrence may be always 
 avoided by a judicious exercise of judgment, anc 
 vigilant watching of the signs, of the weather, by 
 prudently having a supply in store. Dusty leaves 
 must not be fed to the worms. 
 
 TIME WHEN THE LEAVES ARE PIT FOR FEEDING. 
 
 It is important that the silk culturist should 
 enow when the leaves will be fit for feeding, in 
 order that he may make the hatching of the eggs 
 of his silk worms to correspond therewith. We 
 will, therefore, remark that generally, the leaves of 
 both the Morus Multicaulis and the Mfirus 
 Alba would be sufficiently forward to be pulled 
 n Maryland about the middle of May, to the 
 vestward a few days later, to the eastward two 
 ,veeks later; and in Virginia (Eastern,) and the 
 states further south, from 15 to 25 days earlier. 
 
 THE LABORATORY OR COCOONERY, &C. 
 
 Having thus fully spoken of the Mulberry tree, 
 and given all the necessary instructions relative 
 to its culture, from the sowing of the seed, until 
 he trees are sufficiently matured to justify the 
 itripping of the foliage for feeding the worms, it 
 would seem proper that we should say something 
 about the construction of a laboratory, or co- 
 coonery, for the accommodation of the worms, 
 and of the necessary fixtures for conveniently 
 carrying on their feeding, the preservation of 
 their health and the profitable employment of 
 their very notable and interesting labors. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF COUNT DANDOLo's LABORATORY. 
 
 My laboratory, says Count Dandolo, is con- 
 structed to contain twenty ounces of the eggs of 
 silk worms, or to accommodate 800,000 worms. 
 It is 30 feet wide, 77 feet long, 12 feet high 
 in the clear, and when reckoned to the top of the 
 roof, 21 feet high. There are six rows of tables or 
 wicker trays, about 2 feet 6 inches in width 
 each, placed two and two, with four passages be- 
 tween them, each three feet wide. Posts are 
 driven in between the trays, and strips of wood 
 fastened to the posts horizontally, to sup- 
 port the trays, between which there is a space of 
 five inches and a half to allow the air to pass free- 
 ly. 
 
 There are 13 unglazed windows with Vene- 
 tian shutters, outside, and paper window frames 
 inside ; under each window, near the floor, are 
 ventilators, or square apertures of about 13 inch- 
 es that they may be closed by a neatly filled sliding 
 panne!, so as to permit the air to circulate and 
 blow over the floor. When the air is not requir- 
 ed, the paper frames may be closed. The Vene- 
 tian shutters may be opened or shut at will, [or 
 substituted for the common pannel shutter.] 
 When the air is still, and the temperature of the 
 interior and exterior is nearly equal, all the win- 
 dow frames may be opened and the shutters 
 must be closed. 
 
 There are eight ventilators in two lines in the 
 floor and ceiling, placed perpendicularly, opposite 
 to one another, in the centre of the passages be- 
 tween the hurdles or trays. They have sliding 
 pannels made of thick glass to close them, and 
 to admit light from above. As the air of the 
 floor ventilators ascends, and that of the ceiling 
 
39 
 
 ventilators descends, it must pass through the 
 trays. There are also six other ventilators, 
 made in the floor, to communicate with the 
 rooms beneath. Three of the thirteen windows 
 are at the end of the house ; and at the opposite 
 end, are three doors, constructed so as to admit 
 more or Jess air as may be necessary. These 
 doors open into another hall, 36 feet long and 
 90 feet wide, which forms a continuation of the 
 large laboratory, and contains trays sufficiently 
 raised to facilitate the care of the worms. In this 
 hall there are 6 windows and 6 ventilators under 
 them, nearly on a level with the floor, and also 
 four ventilators in the ceiling. There are 6 fire- 
 places in the great laboratory, one in each angle, 
 and one on each side of the centre, and a large 
 stove in the middle ; glass oil burners, that give 
 no smoke, are used to give light at night. Be- 
 tween the hall and the great laboratory, there is 
 a small room having two large doors, the one 
 communicating with the laboratory, the other with 
 the hall. In the centre of the floor there is a 
 large square opening, which communicates with 
 the lower part of the building. This is closed 
 with a wooden folding door; this aperture is 
 used for throwing down the litter and rubbish 
 of the laboratory, and for admitting Mulberry 
 leaves, which can be drawn up by a hand-pulley. 
 Such is the construction of the laboratory of 
 Count Dandolo. 
 
 In giving the above minute description of 
 Count Dandolo's laboratory, we do not offer it as 
 a model worthy of being adopted by culturists in 
 the U. States. On the contrary, we think it espe- 
 cially to be avoided as an example, and for the sim- 
 ple reason that it is too costly ; but notwithstand- 
 ing,that we admonish againstits adoption, we think 
 valuable hints may be derived from it, inasmuch 
 as it will enable those about to engage in the bu- 
 siness to see the great principles to be aimed at in 
 the construction of an establishment, to wit, 
 " convenience, the preservation of a proper tem- 
 perature, and the free circulation of air." These 
 are the great cardinal points to which the Ameri- 
 can cultivator must attend, whatever may be the 
 extent of the buildhsg he may construct. 
 
 Almost every large estate in the United States 
 have buildings upon them which might at a tri- 
 fling expense be converted into laboratories for 
 the accommodation of the worms. Barns, to- 
 bacco houses, out houses, may all be so altered 
 as to answer without at all interfering with their 
 usefulness for the objects for which they were 
 originally built. All buildings may be said to 
 be proper for receiving silk worms^ which have 
 one or more fire-places, two or more ventilators in 
 the ceiling, on a level with the floor, and windows 
 through which light may be admitted to the ex- 
 clusion of sunshine. 
 
 And where no such buildings already exist, 
 that can be spared for the purposes of the worms, 
 
 one at a very moderate cost may be erected 
 Any one with ordinary enterprise and ingenuity 
 may go into his woods and in a few days prepare 
 posts, scantling and clap-boards in sufficient 
 quantities to construct a house even upon the 
 most extensive scale. As to the chimneys 
 and shutters, they will answer every valuable 
 purpose, no matter how plain, or how coarse, the 
 materials of which they may be made. 
 
 In this country it is recommended that houses 
 erected expressly for the purpose of raising silk 
 worms, should be placed in the coolest place's, and 
 most airy situations attainable, and in the shade 
 of trees, if possible, because it is always within 
 our power to increase the heat of the apartment, 
 when necessary, by means of stoves or fire-places, 
 but it is not so easy to guard against a sudden 
 increase of heat in the weather, which might go 
 far to defeat the labors of the season, if it should 
 occur in the fifth age, when the worms are nearly 
 done eating, as will be seen hereafter. 
 
 We will now describe the apparatus of the 
 reverend Mr. Sevagne, which is highly spoken of in 
 the Transactions of the Society of Arts, Lon- 
 don. It is recommended on account of the 
 small space occupied by it, the neatness in which 
 it enables persons using it, to keep the apartment 
 clean, and the ease with which the caterpillars 
 can be fed and their litter removed. 
 
 MR. SEVAGNE'S APPARATUS. 
 
 " The apparatus consists of a wooden frame, 
 four feet two inches high, each side sixteen inch- 
 es and a half wide, divided into eight partitions, 
 by small pieces of wood, which form grooves, in 
 which the slides run, and are thus easily thrust in 
 or drawn out of the frame. The upper slide is 
 of paper only, and designed to receive the worms 
 as soon as hatched", the two next are of catgut, 
 the threads about one-tenth of an inch distant 
 from one another ; these are for the insects, when 
 a little advanced in size ; the four lower ones are 
 of a wicker work, the openings through which 
 the dung is to fall, being about a quarter of an 
 inch square. -Under each of these, as well as 
 under those of catgut, are slides of paper, to pre- 
 vent the dung of the cocoons from falling on 
 those feeding below." 
 
 "Mr. Sevagne afterwards found that netting 
 may be substituted with advantage, in the room 
 of wicker bottoms. The meshes of the netting 
 were about half an inch square." 
 
 "The caterpillars are to be kept in the second 
 and third drawers, until their dung and litter do 
 not readily fall through, and then to be removed 
 to the drawers with wicker bottoms, arid fed 
 thereon, till they shew symptoms of being aboutto 
 spin. Each wicker drawer will afford sufficient 
 room for five hundred worms, when grown to 
 their full size." 
 
 In order to provide against a contingent in- 
 crease of caterpillars, it will be always best to 
 
40 
 
 have a number of spare drawers ready for their 
 accommodation. 
 
 " The feeding frames of the Messrs. Terhoeven, 
 of Philadelphia county, are four feet square, and 
 are fixed to upright posts; they have two sets in 
 one room, with passages between and around 
 them. This size enables a person to reach any 
 point of them. Over the shelves, are frames or 
 shelves placed on elects, and filled with split 
 rattans at proper distances to permit the litter 
 from falling through." 
 
 It is obvious to us that all costly expenditures, 
 either in the construction of a laboratory or in 
 that of the shelves for feeding the worms on, are 
 not only unnecessary, but would be a wanton 
 waste of means and time. The great object of an 
 American culturist should, and doubtless, will be, 
 to make money to study utility instead of orna- 
 ment profit instead of display, in a word, the 
 healthful accommodation and profitable employ- 
 ment of his worms. If these be his objects, they 
 can all be attained for a very small comparative 
 amount, and if they be not, he had better not en- 
 gage in the business, but leave it to the posses- 
 sion of those who will enter into it with a view 
 of benefitting themselves and their country. 
 
 To those who shall be thus influenced, there 
 can be no difficulty either in providing a house 
 or the necessary fixtures ; for they may be both 
 provided with the least possible expense : the 
 plainer and more simple the better. The fact is, 
 there is a mystery thrown around these matters, 
 as there are around every thing else in European 
 works, calculated, if not so intended, to create 
 difficulties where none exist, and to give to very 
 simple operations the air of complication. We 
 will not say that these things are done with a 
 view of repressing the spirit of competition of 
 preventing rivalry for we have alike too much 
 respect for ourself and charity for others, to be- 
 lieve in the existence of motives so unworthy, 
 unless upon the most indisputable authority ; but 
 the effect of the elementary treatises of European 
 origin, upon this, and many other branches of in- 
 dustry, are so mixed up with unprofitable phi- 
 losophical speculations, so embarrassed with im- 
 practicable theories, and the ostentatious display 
 of learning, as to deter a plain common sense 
 man from engaging in them. Whereas, when 
 they come to be stripped of the verbiage, and to be 
 divested of the fustian, with which they are de- 
 corated,they are very plain concerns just such as 
 an ordinary, enterprising, industrious farmer, 
 might lay hold of, with decided advantage to him- 
 self, his family, and the nation at large. 
 
 Why need there be such parade about building 
 a house for the worms to perform their labors in ? 
 In their native state, the forests of India were their 
 dwellings, and the canopy of heaven their only 
 cocoonery, or laboratory. There, there were no ve- 
 netian shutters, no costly wicker or latticed work 
 
 shelves, no hygrometers nor hydrometers, and 
 yet they lived on mid sunshine and rain and thun- 
 der and lightning. True they were then in their 
 wild and native state true also it is, experience 
 has shown that since domesticated by man, and 
 furnished with dwellings, they have yielded more 
 and better silk ; have suffered less from their 
 natural enemies : but then, we maintain, the more 
 simple and plain their accommodations are, the 
 better. In proof of this, we would mention that 
 in Italy, France, Bavaria, and other European 
 countries, where the silk culture forms a materi- 
 al branch of husbandry, the hovel of the peasant, 
 the barns, kitchens and all other out-buildings of 
 the opulent, are each converted into laboratories 
 for the time being. And such also, is the fact 
 in the New England states. There, those who 
 have not the means of constructing cocooneries, as 
 they there term the feeding houses of the worms, 
 give them, during the short period of their labors, 
 situations in their dwellings, barns and every oth- 
 er place on their respective farms, calculated to 
 afford room and shelter. In corroboration of 
 what we have just said, we will quote from Mr. 
 Cobb's excellent Manual, the observations which 
 he makes upon this head. He says : 
 
 " European laboratories have been constructed 
 with great care and expense; but however con- 
 venient these may be, they are by no means ne- 
 cessary to success in rearing silk worms ; almost 
 any building will answer for that purpose. I 
 have reared them myself with success in a barn, 
 in my cellar, kitchen, and other rooms of rny 
 dwelling-house, and in the lower story of Tre- 
 mont House, in Boston." 
 
 It was found in France that the cocoons 
 brought to market by the peasants, raised in hov- 
 els so full of cracks as easily to be seen through, 
 and to admit the air freely, were richer and 
 heavier than those raised in palaces and in the 
 confined rooms of dwellings in cities. 
 
 We infer from all that we have seen and read 
 upon the subject, that all to be aimed at in the 
 erection of a laboratory, is, to put up a plain, 
 cheap, substantial house, sufficiently large to ac- 
 commodate the number of worms you contem- 
 plate feeding; to be provided with windows that 
 will admit the air and exclude the sun; with 
 fire-places or stoves, as may be most convenient, 
 so that a proper temperature may be kept up at 
 all times, and especially when it rains, as damp- 
 ness exercises a pernicious influence over the 
 worms, in generating a noxious effluvium, detri- 
 mental to their health. 
 
 Upon the subject of a laboratory or cocoonery, 
 and the necessary fixtures, we shall further copy 
 from the excellent essays of our intelligent towns- 
 man, Gideon B. Smith, Esquire, whose experi- 
 ence and observation entitle his opinions to eve^ 
 ry possible consideration. 
 
MR. SMITH'S PLAN. 
 
 'The fixtures necessary for raising silk worm 
 are, appropriate tables or shelves, in number anc 
 size corresponding with the number of worms to 
 be fed. The best form for shelves that I have 
 seen is that adopted by my friend, Mr. J. Y 
 Tornpkins, of this city. It is about 2 J feet wide 
 by 5 or 6 feet long, made of thin boards, with a 
 piece 2 inches wide nailed flat on the tipper edge 
 along the sides and ends, with legs about a foot 
 long in the corners. The legs do not pass through 
 the table, but leave a part of the hole on the up- 
 per side, for the feet of another table to set in. 
 Thus contrived, five or six of these tables are set 
 one above another, and are taken down, cleaned, 
 and again set up with facility. One of these 
 shelves will accommodate about 500 worms. If 
 I could suggest any improvement in these shelves, 
 it would be the substitution of twine net-work for 
 the board of floors, with slides under them to 
 catch the excrement of the worms.* 
 
 The room or laboratory must, of course, be of 
 a size proportionate to the number of worms 
 raised, and should be provided with windows or 
 ventilators on the north and south sides at least ; 
 and if one or two ventilators, are opened in the 
 ceiling it will be of great service. These ven- 
 tilators, however, should have shutters that they 
 may be closed at any time when necessary. Fire- 
 places or stoves should also be provided for use 
 when necessary. For the accommodation of 
 1,000,000 worms, a room about 80 feet long and 
 40 wide would be required. A large establish- 
 ment would also require a ware-room for the de- 
 posit of leaves, and this should be large, so that 
 in wet weather the leaves may be shaken and scat- 
 tered about for drying. This room might be ad- 
 vantageously situated above the laboratory. A 
 cool, dark cellar, will also be useful, for keeping 
 the leaves fresh in dry weather: White Mulberry 
 leaves will thus keep fresh for three days the 
 native Mulberry will not keep so long." 
 
 NUMBER OF ATTENDANTS NECESSARY FOR A 
 MILLION OF WORMS. 
 
 Mr. Smith says that, 
 
 " The number of attendants necessary for 
 
 1,000,000 worms will be tioo the first week, 
 
 four the second, eight the third, and sixteen to 
 
 twenty the remainder of the feeding season ; 
 
 one half of which may be boys and girls." 
 
 In speaking of his fixtures, Mr. Cobb of Mas- 
 sachusetts, says : 
 
 " I have used three tiers of rough pine boards 
 fixed upon upright posts, about 4 feet in width, 
 one above the other, with a space between, of 
 two and a half feet, affording sufficient room to 
 
 *This hint has been improved upon by Mr. 
 Whitmarsh, as the reader will see in reading the 
 description of his "cocoonery." 
 6 
 
 41 
 
 | pass all around the frame, so that I could conve- 
 niently reach any part of it." 
 
 The plan of Mr. Cobb, the reader will observe, 
 is that pursued by Messrs. Terhoeven, of Phila- 
 delphia county, Pennsylvania, and does not differ 
 at all from that recommended by Mr. Smith. 
 
 On the subject of a laboratory and its fixtures, 
 we will give one other plan, which we copy from 
 the Northampton Courier. It is that of Mr. Whtt- 
 mors/j,, which, as we have before remarked, is in- 
 debted to Mr. Smith for, probably, the best part 
 of its arrangement ; we allude to the lattice work 
 frames, which are identical with those of the 
 Rev. Mr. Swayne. 
 
 MR. WHITMARSH'S COCOONERY. 
 
 " Mr. Samuel Whitmarsh is erecting an edifice 
 of two hundred feet in length, east of his house 
 on Fort Hill, as a Silk House and Cocoonery. 
 The plan of it is original, and promises the best 
 results. The worms while feeding, are now 
 laid out upon boards and benches by those who 
 rear them, covered with Mulberry leaves, and 
 when for health and cleanliness they are re- 
 quired to be moved, it must be done separate- 
 
 y. 
 
 Mr. Whitmarsh's building is intersected by al- 
 eys, and on each side tiers of sliding frames or 
 drawers rise from the floor upwards. These 
 frames are covered with lattice work of tome. 
 The top one is laid over with leaves upon which 
 he worms feed. The second frame about an 
 nch and a half below, is covered with strong pa- 
 per or coarse cotton. The stems of the leaves or 
 offal from the worms fall from the lattice work, 
 above upon this drawer, and when the usual time 
 or cleaning them comes, instead of lifting each 
 separately, it is only requisite to remove the 
 ower drawer and the cleaning is accomphsn- 
 
 The leaf of the Chinese Mulberry, which Mr. 
 W. will use, is so tender that the worm will de- 
 vour it all. Sometimes they will fall from the 
 attice work above upon the paper drawer below, 
 n that case, when a supply of leaves is laid on 
 ,bove, the worms at once ascend, as the distance 
 s not too great between them, to prevent their 
 caching above. This is a great and important 
 ihange introduced into the method of feeding 
 .nd cleanliness, saving time and promoting the 
 health of the worms. 
 
 Another improvement to be introduced by Mr. 
 Whitmarsh, is the aid given the worms in wind- 
 ing their cocoons. Now, when the worms have 
 terminated their feeding, easily known by their 
 movements, branches of trees and bushes are laid 
 over or suspended above them, and among which 
 the process of winding is carried on. Conse- 
 quently, they are much entangled in securing 
 themselves, and lost to sight, and a great deal of 
 labour and silk is lost, in the awkward method 
 of separating the cocoons for use, from the bushes. 
 
42 
 
 He proposes, \vlien the worms arc ready to 
 wind, to transfer them to upright frames, with 
 twine lattice work, standing about an inch and 
 half apart. The worms will reach over from one 
 frame to the other, fasten themselves at each ex- 
 tremity, and then, in a small compass, envelope 
 themselves in their cocoons. Every thing is then 
 clean and compact, and after they have finish- 
 ed winding, the frames in pairs ran bs put 
 away compactly, and, when wanted for use, the 
 cocoons may be easily taken oft'. The building is 
 well contrived for ventilation, and the reeling, by 
 steam power, will be carried on in the same edi- 
 fice. He intends to feed a million of worms 
 this summer and reel four or five hundred pounds 
 of silk." 
 
 We have been thus particular in developing 
 the various plans oflaboratories and fixtures, be- 
 cause it is the only part of the silk and Mulberry 
 culture which can, in the least, be thought to bear 
 the smallest resemblance to costliness, and the 
 intelligent reader will find on a proper examina- 
 tion, that for a very few hundred dollar? a house 
 calculated to accommodate many millions of 
 worms' may be built, and that it is so simple in 
 its construction as to be within the achievement 
 of the mechanical skill of most plantation hands 
 
 HATCHING THE WORMS. 
 
 The time of hatching the eggs is to be deter- 
 mined by the forwardness of the season, and 
 should mainly be regulated by the state of the 
 Mulberry leaves on which they are to be fed and 
 supported ; for it is a reckless waste of time and 
 hazarding of prospective gain, to bring them into 
 being before you are prepared to sustain their 
 wants. All the authors we have consulted agree 
 in this, that as soon as the leaves have developed 
 themselves you may make your arrangements 
 for stimulating the worms into life. Upon this 
 head Mr. Smith observes that : 
 
 "At the period for hatching, which in Mary- 
 land, is generally about the 1st of May, the eggs 
 which are presumed to have been kept in the cel- 
 lar, may be brought out and spread on paper on 
 a common table, called the hatching table. The 
 proper period is always best ascertained by the 
 state of the Mulberry leaves. 1 consider the best 
 and most safe time to be that when the leaves 
 are about the size of a half dollar. The hatching 
 table may be kept in the common laboratory. 
 If the weather be mild and warm, the eggs will 
 begin to hatch in eight or ten days. The first 
 day or two there will but few leave the eggs. 
 They need not be attended to. On the third 
 a considerable quantity will hatch. Some fresh 
 leaves should then be laid on them, when they 
 will soon attach themselves to the leaves, and 
 should be removed on to a shelf and be thinly 
 spread out. The next day all that have hatched 
 should be treated in the same way ; and so on 
 lill they have all hatched, which will generally 
 
 he in five or six days. Each day's hatching 
 hould be placed on separate shelves, and the 
 whole laboratory arranged into as many divisions 
 of shelves as there were day's hatchings, that 
 they may be continually kept separate. This is 
 important that the periods of moulting and spin- 
 ning may be as nearly the same with all the 
 worms on a shelf as possible. 
 
 In large establishments a small close room, 
 with a stove will be very useful in hatching the 
 eggs, as the temperature may be regulated at 
 pleasure. But in this case a thermometer is al- 
 most indispensable, as there would be danger of 
 too high a degree of heat, which would spoil the 
 eggs at this season, and the necessary equability 
 and gradual increase of the temperature could 
 not be secured without one. In this mode of 
 hatching by artificial heat, the worms will be 
 brought out with more regularity and in less 
 time than in that above described, and therefore it 
 is preferable in large establishments. The hatch- 
 ing room should be, when the eggs are carried in- 
 to it, of about 70 temperature,^ which should be 
 increased one degree a day till the worms are 
 hatched. The hatching room will therefore be 
 of about 80 temperature when the worms are 
 hatched, and if the laboratory is not then about 
 the same temperature it should be raised to it, 
 or nearly so, before carrying in the young worms, 
 that they may not experience too great and sud- 
 den a change The leaves maybe torn in small 
 pieces whilst the worms are small, and the worms 
 should be led during the first week two or three 
 times a day, by scattering the leaves over them. 
 The second week the worms will require food 
 three times a day, the third, fourth arid fifth, it 
 should be given them as fast as it is either con- 
 sumed or becomes withered." 
 
 Having thus copied the plain common sense 
 directions above, we would respectfully state that 
 Count Dandolo, and those who have either ab- 
 stracted or transcribed his plan, for most all the 
 writers appear to have done either the one or the 
 other, recommends that, 
 
 " When the Mulberry leaves are about to open, 
 the cloths upon which the eggs are fastened, 
 should be put into a small pail of water, steeped 
 up and down, that they may be thoroughly soak- 
 ed for nearly six minutes, which will be sufficient 
 to dissolve the gummy substance by which the 
 eggs are stuck to the cloth. The six minutes 
 elapsed, the cloths must be taken out, and the 
 water allowed to drip from them, by holding 
 them up for two or three minutes. They should 
 then be spread upon the table, the cloth to 
 be well stretched, while the eggs are separated 
 from the cloth with a scraper. The scraper 
 should not be too sharp, for fear of cutting the 
 eggs, neither too blunt, lest it should crush 
 them." And after the eggs are off" the linen 
 cloths, they are to be put into a basin aud submit- 
 
43 
 
 ted to the operation of another washing, ami 
 then drained either by means of a sieve or cloth 
 and dried. &.c. 
 
 We have given this not with a view of recom- 
 mending it, but merely of showing the parade 
 that is thrown around a few eggs by giving a fac- 
 titious importance to what does not deserve a 
 second thought. Where we would ask did the 
 worms in their native state procure their scra- 
 pers and persons to use them ? Where did they 
 derive the water to perform their ablutions in ? 
 W here let us ask, has science derived the know- 
 edge of the fact, that the gummy substance 
 which gives to the eggs their cohesive property, 
 should be removed? We are not among those 
 who would reject all improvements upon nature. 
 it we confess we are of those who believe that 
 all improvements tending to domesticate such in- 
 cresting and ingenious artistes as are the silk 
 worms, should approach as near their mode of op- 
 eration in their untamed condition as possible. 
 
 It may possibly be asked, as we have set our 
 ace against innovations, where in their native 
 ioresls, did the silk worm obtain a thermometer? 
 -By what process did he regulate thtf ternpera- 
 ure of the atmosphere ? We answer that he did 
 >t obtain a thermometer any where; nor did he 
 hnd means to regulate the temperature of the 
 atmosphere. But these facts do not in the 
 'east militate against the soundness of our posi- 
 tion, as from tin; difference in the climate of that 
 joijutry and ours, what would be wholly super- 
 tin^ there, would be absolutely requisite here, 
 t'ere, the equality of the temperature of the at- 
 >ospuere,renderssuch an instrument entirely un- 
 necessaryhere from the ever changin charac- 
 Jf our climate, from hot to cold, from dry to 
 humid, it is essentially necessary to the preserva- 
 ion of their health and the successful pro<=ecu- 
 tion of their labors in all large establishments 
 e use of fire in stoves or fire-places are for the 
 two told purpose of maintaining a temperature 
 ranging from 70 to 80 during the period of 
 batching: the eggs, and from 65 to 70, afterwards, 
 up to the completion of their toils, and to preserve 
 ie atmosphere dry. We do not pretend to affirm 
 : worms cannot be successfully hatched and 
 raised without the aid of either stove, fire-place 
 thermometer: on the contrary, we know thai 
 the Eastern states they have been so raised 
 and are continued to be, by probably a majority 
 the farmers; but we think we are justified in 
 the opinion that to ensure success, as we have be- 
 lore premised, to any large establishment, the 
 cultunst should be able to create an artificial 
 temperature at all times, so as to counteract the 
 deleterious influence of sudden atmospheric 
 transitions, whether from heat to cold or from 
 aridity to dampness. 
 
 Jn maintaining this opinion we but consult na- 
 ture, m the promotion of the health and comfort 
 
 oi this most ingenious insect, and consequently, 
 ensure a vigorous prosecution of his labors. It 
 is affirmed by every writer that a certain tempera- 
 is necessary to be preserved during the pe- 
 riod of incubation, and if that be necessary, it can 
 [ only be successfully done in extensive laborato- 
 ries by means of the instrument named. But 
 there is also another important object to begain- 
 ! ed. It is known, that, where large bodies are 
 ' brought together in the same apartment, an at- 
 mosphere is generated, which if not corrected 
 will prove detrimental to their healthful exist- 
 ence, and it is a fact equally well known, that 
 there ^ no more efficient purifying agent than 
 i he silk worm when congregated together 
 m large masses make, comparatively, great de- 
 posites of noxious substances, which, no matter 
 how much cleanliness may be observed, will be- 
 come fetid and fill the apartment with vapors of 
 an offensive and injurious character. It is also 
 important to expel dampness whenever genera- 
 ted, and this can only be done by heat ; but then 
 as the degree of heat must not be pushed beyond 
 the proscribed point, an instrument is necessary 
 to designate that point. In small establishments, 
 the objects pointed out can be attained without 
 the agency of any SU ch instrument, as for in- 
 stance, the farmer who appropriates but an acre 
 or two to the culture, would be able to get aloncr 
 without it, making his feelings and judgment the 
 criteria with respect to the temperature. In 
 speaking of the necessity of preserving a dry 
 atmosphere, we do not wish to be understood as 
 pushing it to that point of rarification that would 
 be offensive to a human being; that is to be 
 equally avoided, and hence when inconvenience 
 may arise from that cause, the introduction into 
 the room of a few bowls of water, as is now 
 practiced in ordinary stove rooms, will be pro- 
 er to counteract it. We deem this explana- 
 tion the more necessary as our aim is to unfold, 
 as far as we can arrive at them, the difficulties as 
 well as the advantages of the culture, to the A- 
 mencan people. We shall, we trust, ever be 
 found too tenacious of our own self-respect, and, 
 to value the good opinion our fellow men, too 
 highly, to jeopard either the one or the other by 
 making misrepresentations in this or any other 
 branch of husbandry, which we believe could 
 not be realized; nor will we through fear of de- 
 terring persons from entering into it, fail from 
 making what we consider a candid and manlv 
 exposition of our honest and sincere convictions". 
 Our objectis not to get the agricultural communi- 
 ty to adventure into this branch of husbandry 
 with their eyes shut to it disadvantages our de- 
 sire is to lure them to its embraceby a candid 
 and open statement i,f facts we should scorn 
 ourself, could we bo influenced by other motives 
 could we be guilty of concealment. We be- 
 lieve that the culture is destined, if well prose- 
 
44 
 
 ruled, to enrich those who may engage in it, and 
 \ve feel it our duty to deal in all sincerity, truth, 
 and fairness, in whatever we may advance up- 
 on the subject. 
 
 If the stoves be employed to produce the ne- 
 cessary temperature, it is Ihought that they should 
 not be made of iron, because the heat cannot 
 be regulated so accurately therein ; but cf thin 
 bricks, soapstone, porcelain, or tiles. The stoves 
 made at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, of the latter 
 material, or the porcelain ones which come from 
 France, at a price of about ifjJIO, would answer 
 well, and in order that the heat generated 
 should be equable, the fuel should be either 
 fanners' drawn bark or charcoal. 
 
 Count Dandolo prescribes that the eggs be 
 hatched in a small, square, thick pasteboard, or 
 thin board boxes or trays. For an ounce of eggs, 
 a box or tray eight inches square is required, and 
 so in proportion for a greater amount, and these 
 to be numbered. Besides these, he says, there 
 should be wicker trays or boxes projecting hori- 
 zontally from the wall for the boxes containing 
 the eggs to be placed in for hatching, a flat spoon 
 to stir the eggs well. This part of his plan, is, 
 we think, multiplying fixtures and magnifying 
 difficulties, without any possibility of increasing 
 the product of the worms whatsoever. Simpli- 
 city in their treatment, economy in the use of 
 means, and an approximation to nature, should be 
 the great objects to be held in view by the Ameri- 
 can silk culturist. 
 
 With respect to the temperature of the apart- 
 ment in which the worms are hatched, it maybe 
 instructive to add the observations of Count Dan- 
 dolo. He says : 
 
 " If the temperature of the stove room should 
 not reach 64, on the day fixed upon to put in 
 the eggs, it is necessary to light a little fire, that 
 it may raise to that degree, which ought to be 
 continued during two days. If the thermometer 
 indicate that the extericr air is above 64, the 
 shutters should beclosed, and the doors and ven- 
 tilators opened, to create a draught and cool the 
 stove room. The third day the temperature 
 should be raised to 66, the fourth day to 68 9 , 
 \hefifth day to 71, the sixth day to 73, the 
 seventh day to 75, the 8th day to 77, the 9th 
 day to 80, JOth, llth and 12th days to 81. 
 
 The following are the signs of the speedy vivi- 
 fication of the silk worm : 
 
 "The ash-gray color of the eggs grow bluish ; 
 then purplish ; it then again grows gray, with a 
 cast of yellowish, and finally, of a dingy white." 
 
 Count Dandolo further remarks that: 
 
 "When the eggs assume a whitish color, the 
 worm is already formed, and with a glass, may be 
 seen within the shell. The eggs should then be 
 covered with white paper well piered with holes, 
 the paper to be cut so as to cover them all. To 
 encourage the worms to come through the holes, 
 
 small twigs of the Mulberry, with hut few leaves 
 on them must be placed on the outside of the pa- 
 per, the scent of which attracts the worms: tliey 
 crawl through the holes and attach themselves to 
 the food. The number of twigs to be increased 
 as fast as the worms occupy those on the paper, 
 to prevent their gettin^out of the boxes in search 
 of food." 
 
 "When the worms are red at their first coming 
 out, it is a sign that the eggs have either been 
 bad or ill kept over winter,or over heated, that is, 
 too much forced when laid to hatch. Worms of 
 this color are good for nothing, and should be 
 thrown away, since they will not produce co- 
 coons." 
 
 "Few worms appear the first day, and if the 
 number of them should be inconsiderable, it is 
 best to throw them away, as it is well not to mix 
 them with later worms. If not thrown away they 
 should be kept on separate shelves. 
 
 Eggs which have been scraped from the paper 
 on which they were laid, should bestirred round 
 two or three times a day. This operation has- 
 tens their coming forth." 
 
 A prude.it cultivator, says Count Dandolo, has 
 done all in his power, when, on observing the 
 season favorable, and the bud of the Mulberry 
 shoots in a proper degree of forwardness he has 
 put his eggs into the room for hatching ; and if 
 after they are there, or even after being hatched, a 
 sudden change of the weather should take place, 
 and it be desirable either to retard the hatching, or 
 to depressthe appetite of the worm, both or either 
 can be effected by lowering the temperature of 
 the air of the room, gradually to about 68. 
 
 Upon this Count Dandolo remarks: 
 
 "This cooling of the air diminishes the hun- 
 ger of the young silk worm by degrees, and with- 
 out danger; and by these means the modifica- 
 tions are prevented, which at 75 would have 
 brought on the casting or moulting much more 
 speedily. At 75, the moulting is effected the 
 sixth day ; whilst at 71, it requires six or seven 
 days. The second moulting, which at 75. is 
 wrought in four days, at 69 and 71, takes six 
 days for its accomplishment. Thus by foresight 
 and prudence, the proprietor will be enabled to 
 gain seven or eight days, which prevents any ill 
 effect from the unfavorableness of the season ; 
 and this time gained, it is evident, may be of the 
 utmost impoitance." 
 
 We shall now quote from the essays of Gideon 
 B. Smith, Esquire, his treatment of the worms 
 from the hatching of the insect to the comple- 
 tion of the cocoons. His instructions are the re- 
 sult of practice, backed by close observation and 
 a sound discriminating mind. With such lights 
 as his guide, the culturist cannot well fail to pur- 
 sue the business with an enlighted economy, and 
 to find in it a most interesting and profitable pur- 
 suit. 
 
45 
 
 " The period of moulting are, generally,'abou 
 the 7th, 13th, 19th and 24th days of their age 
 but these periods are materially influenced b) 
 the care and attention bestowed on the worms 
 some worms will begin to spin on the 25th day 
 while others will delay their spinning even to 
 forty-five or fifty days, according as they are wel 
 or ill attended to. At the periods of moulting 
 the worms do not eat, and if they all moult to 
 gether, no feed need be given them ; but shoulc 
 they not be thus simultaneous in changing thei 
 skins, those which require food should be sup 
 plied, even though the others may be disturbec 
 by it. They are about 36 hours shedding thei 
 skins. 
 
 The ftalians strenuously insist upon cutting tin 
 leaves fine, before giving them to the worms 
 but, having tried this plan, I found an objection 
 to it which induced me to reject it. When the 
 leaves are cut fine, the worms easily press them 
 down, and they are lost, having become a mere 
 carpet for the worms. I therefore, never cut the 
 leaves after the worms are two weeks old; but 
 for several reasons, I prefer laying on the whole 
 leaves, and even the small branches. When laic 
 on whole, the leaves keep fresh till consumed ; 
 especially when left upon the small twigs. The 
 small branches have another advantage the 
 worms can climb, and fix upon them, over and 
 under them, so that the same shelf will accom- 
 modate many more than when the leaves are cut 
 fine and they are obliged to remain on a com- 
 mon level surface. The worms also prefer this 
 mode, as it approaches nearer to the nature oi 
 the limbs of the tree. 
 
 Every two or three days the shelves should be 
 well cleared of litter and excrement, to effect 
 which the worms may be removed in the follow- 
 ing manner: lay on either large leaves or twigs 
 with leaves, and as soon as the worms attach 
 themselves to them, bear them to a clean shelf; 
 repeat the operation till all are removed. Some 
 lay fresh leaves on one side of the shelf, and 
 leave the worms to go over to them, and clear 
 off the other side. I prefer the first plan. Very 
 few leaves will suffice for the first ten days; a 
 dozen, torn into small pieces will be enough for 
 each shelf, the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th days; double 
 the quantity the next two days. However, it is 
 unnecessary to attempt estimating the quantity, as 
 the intelligent attendant will readily discover 
 what is necessary, and be able at all times to 
 guard against both stinting the worms and waste 
 of leaves. They should always have as much as 
 they will consume and no more. Great care 
 must be observed that the leaves be perfectly 
 free from wet, and fresh. When they have been 
 kept some time, the leaves begin to turn black or 
 dark colored, and should be thrown away. In 
 wet weather, the leaves may be dried by taking 
 
 them into a large room, spreading them out, and 
 occasionally shaking them up. 
 
 Great care should be taken to guard against 
 mice and ants ; mice devour them with avidity, 
 and the bite of an ant is almost instant death to the 
 worm. Isolating the shelves from the walls and 
 setting the feet in basins of water will protect 
 them from ants; but the access of mice to the 
 room must be cut off. 
 
 The success of the crop depends upon the 
 cleanliness of the shelves, and purity of the air 
 in the room, especially in hot, and more particu- 
 larly in damp weather. If the excrement and 
 litter be allowed to accumulate, fermentation and 
 putrefaction soon commence, and the conse- 
 quence will be fatal to the worms, especially in 
 hot, damp weather; besides, the worms at all 
 times thrive better when the shelves are kept 
 clean, and nothing but fresh leaves allowed to re- 
 main about the worms. To guard against impu- 
 rity of air, which is the greatest enemy the silk 
 worm has, a small quantity of chloride of lime 
 should always be kept in a plate in some part of 
 the room. It is a cheap and most effectual pre- 
 ventive of this cause of disease in worms, as well 
 as a powerful remedy for the tripes, and other dis- 
 eases that have become epidemic. It is generally 
 sold at the drug shops at 18| cents a pound, and 
 four pounds will be sufficient for the largest la- 
 boratory. A couple of spoonfuls may be put in- 
 to a plate with about a gill of water, and should be 
 replenished every three days. 
 
 Where proper cleanliness and due attention to 
 ventilation are observed, there is little to be 
 dreaded from hot weather. Nevertheless, in ve- 
 ry hot weather all the means at hand should be 
 availed of for the reduction of the temperature of 
 the room ; for worms will thrive best in mod- 
 erate temperature. But ice, or sprinkling the floor 
 with cold water, should never be resorted to, as has 
 been recommended; for the vapor thus produced 
 will do more injury than the heat. When conveni- 
 ent, the laboratory should be shaded with high trees 
 on the south side. An open, high piazza to shield 
 the south front of the house from the sun's rays will 
 also be of service. Opening; the windows and doors, 
 and the ventilators in the ceiling, will then be all 
 that can be done to cool the room; and this should 
 never be neglected, in hot weather. There is much 
 more danger from cold than heat; and on the 
 slightest appearance of a cold night, fire should be 
 made in the fire places or stoves, and replenished as 
 often as necessary. The temperature should be 
 cept as equable as possible, and sudden changes 
 guarded against. For this purpose a thermometer 
 vill be useful; but the senses of the attendant will 
 >e a sufficient substitute if care be observed. I do 
 [o not pretend to give degrees of temperature most 
 uitable for silk worms; for although we can in- 
 irease the heat, it is not easy to reduce it in a large 
 oom, when the surrounding atmosphere that sup- 
 )lies the air circulating in it, is of a high tempera- 
 ture. It may be observed here, that the cool sensa- 
 
tion felt while sitting in a current of air, is no evi- 
 dence of that air or the place we sit in being of a 
 lower temperature than the air of a room where 
 faiere is no such current. The air passing over the 
 surface of our bodies carries off heat, and thus 
 causes the cold sensation, while at the same time the 
 current of air, that "feels cool," is in many degrees 
 vrarmer than our bodies. But silk worms are 
 not warm blooded animals, and of course they do 
 not experience the same relief, having no excess of 
 animal heat to be carried off. Although many per- 
 sons have assured me that they had lost many 
 worms by hot weather, I am constrained to think, 
 that the heat was not the sole cause of the loss, for 1 
 have never lost a worm that I could attribute to that 
 cause. Hot weather will undoubtedly cause the de- 
 struction of the whole of them, if the litter and ex- 
 crement be left unremoved ; and I always suspect 
 some such want of attention in every instance of the 
 destruction of worms by hot weather. Heat dees 
 not injure the worms in their natural state, nor will 
 it in their state of domestication, if they are kept as 
 free from filth as they are on their native trees. 
 Keeping the shelves clean, the worms not too much 
 crowded, the air in the room pure by the use ol 
 chloride of lime and ventilation, and feeding with 
 fresh dry leaves, I consider the best and only preven- 
 tives of any ill effects from hot weather. 
 
 Between the 25th and 35th days of the worm's 
 age they will show signs of a disposition to spin 
 They will become somewhat of an amber colo 
 
 niently lie on the papers may be placed there. This 
 mode has the advantage of security against ants 
 and mice, which are very destructive to these insects. 
 The room should be dark, if possible, while the in- 
 sects are on the papers, and each sheet should be 
 filled before any are put upon another, and as soon 
 a the moths on one sheet are done laying eggs, it 
 hould then be taken down, folded, and put into a 
 in box in a cold cellar, uhere all the eggs must be 
 cept till wanted for use next spring. The moths 
 are in the form of a grayish white butterfly, and 
 generally begin to lay eggs in 24 to 36 hours after 
 eaving the cocoons. The eggs are. at first of a pale 
 yellow, or somewhat of a sulphur color, but in three 
 days turn to a light slate color, and subsequently to 
 a dull brownish slate color. When seen through a 
 microscope they are speckled. Those that remain 
 yellow have not been fecundated, and of course are 
 worthless. Each healthy female moth will lay about 
 450 eggs, generally, handsomely disposed and firmly 
 attached to the paper in a circular form, the whole 
 covering a space about the size of a fifty cent 
 piece. 
 
 Should the eggs be permitted to remain exposed 
 to the warm weather, they will hatch, and, unless 
 another crop be desired, they will be lost. This is 
 the only injury they are liable to from warm wea- 
 ther. The flies eat nothing after leaving the co- 
 coons, and die in a few days after depositing- the 
 eggs. The tin box in which the ejsss are directed to 
 
 about the joints of the body, semi transparent, 
 throw out fibres of silk on the leaves, and wander 
 about. The brush for the cocoons should now be 
 provided. The best and simplest that I have been 
 able to find is the broom-corn. Clear it well from 
 seed, and cut it from the stalk close to the junction 
 of the straws: spread out the top in imitation of a 
 small tree, and set it on the shelf with the top press- 
 ing against the bottom of the upper shelf to hold it 
 in its position. It may be set in rows six or eight 
 inches apart, across the shelf, and over the top 
 shelf an extra one may be placed for this purpose. 
 The worms will readily find and climb these little 
 trees and spin their cocoons in them , the worms 
 will be four days spinning their cocoons, and they 
 will all generally be finished on the 8th day after 
 they first begin that is, all of the same day's hatch- 
 ing. The brush may then be taken down, the co- 
 coons taken off, cleared of the loose tow, and pre- 
 pared for reeling. 
 
 The cocoons from which eggs are expected must 
 be spread out in a room, secure from mice and ants, 
 and in five to ten days the moths will come out of 
 the cocoons, when the males and females will couple; 
 they must then be taken by the wings in pairs with- 
 out separating them, and placed upon sheets of pa 
 per disposed for their reception, where they are to 
 remain. There is generally about an equal number 
 of each sex. I have found the best mode for fixing 
 the paper for the moths to lay on, as follows: stretch 
 two pieces of strong twine across the room from vval 
 to wall, about two feet apart, and another about a 
 fool over the middle of these. Lay large sheets o 
 paper (old newspapers will do) over them and pii 
 them down at each side to the lower twine. The 
 sheets of paper will then be in the form of the roo 
 of a house. As many pairs of moths as can conve 
 
 be kept, is intended to protect them from mice and 
 insects. The eggs should be kept in a dry cellar, 
 as mould and mildew will injure them. There will 
 be many double cocoons, those which have two or 
 more worms in them ; these and as many more of 
 the others as are wanted should be selected for 
 
 After clearing- the cocoons of the loose low, such 
 as are intended for reeling, and cannot be wound off 
 immediately, must be subjected to some process by 
 which the chrysalis will be killed, to prevent its per- 
 orating the cocoon. Heat ia most commonly ap- 
 )lied. In Europe the modes of its application are 
 arious. Some bake the cocoous in un oven about 
 jalf heated for bread ; others apply steam, and others 
 xpose them to the rays of the sun for several 
 lays during the heat of the day. There is danger 
 of scorching the silk in the first mode ; of decom- 
 )osing the fibres, in th second ; and, of not perfectly 
 accomplishing the object in the third. I have found 
 the following mode preferable to any other, as the 
 object is perfectly effected without danger to the 
 siik. I put the cocoons into a tight tin vessel, with a 
 cover clo&ely fitted; and put this vessel into another 
 a little larger, containing such quantity of wafer as 
 will nearly fill it when the other is put into it; the fire 
 is then applied and the water kept boiling half an 
 hour, or more, according to the size of the vessel 
 and until the cocoons in the inner vessel shall have 
 become as hot as the boiling water. The cocoons 
 are then spread out in a dry room, that whatever 
 moisture there may be, may evaporate. By this 
 mode, the heat can never be raised so high as 
 to injure the silk, and th6 fibre is not loosened by 
 moisture; on the contrary, much of the natural 
 moisture of the cocoon is dispersed. After this op- 
 eration, the cocoons are ready for the reel or for sale. 
 All the cocoons that can be reeled in the course of 
 
47 
 
 the first week after they are taken from the bush, 
 may be reeled without this operation; and a con- 
 siderable advantage is gained by thus reeling them, 
 as they unwind much easier than when they have 
 been heated. Cocoons intended for sale, or keep- 
 ing on hand for future reeling, must be secured 
 against mice and roaches." 
 
 almost every family clean out all the rooms in the 
 house, except one in which they live during the crop 
 season ; the worms being produced, they purchase a 
 quantity of leaves and strew them over the floor, 
 leaving a small space next the wall that they may 
 walk round and distribute the leaves ; they then 
 
 place the worms on the leaves, who readily attach 
 
 It has been our desire from the beginning to I themselves, and they daily throw on such quantities 
 make our Manual a plain, practical treatise, which as experience teaches them will supply the want of 
 could be laid hold of by every man, woman and child the worms, and this they repeat until the worms are 
 who could read- in a word, which could be under- ready to rise and wind the cocoons, without ever re- 
 stood and practised by all ; and after reading every moving the offal or straw, and frequently the pile of 
 thing within our reach, we have selected the above collected matter will reach the height of three or 
 general rules for the feeding of the worms, and the four feet. When the worms show symptoms of 
 reader will observe, that there is no attempt at mys winding, they plant branches and bushes immediate- 
 tery ; no burying of meaning by the unnecessary ly over the collected mass, and the worms rise on 
 multiplication of words, and to Mr. Smith's plan these, the cocoons are formed and collected, and the 
 we have nothing to add, save the net-work frames, rooms are then cleaned out and the reeling is com- 
 which at his suggestion Mr. Whitmarsh has adopt- menced. This manipulation is performed in the 
 ed. By the substitution of these a great amount of most clumsy manner and with the rudest machine- 
 labor is saved, and the means of health promoted, ry imaginable, notwithstanding which, they produce 
 by increasing the facilities of cleansing the worms, the finest silk in the world." 
 
 and consequently, of purifying the apartment. Now this Turkish method of attending to the 
 
 As to the apportionment of food, that must, in a great worms is simple enough in all conscience ; but it is 
 measure, be left to the discretion and judgment of so filthy as to be repulsive to our very nature. The 
 the chief superintendent; for although it has been re- Turks, as every body must know, are proverbial for 
 duced to a certainty, that a thousand worms will, on their love of ease, for their lazy disposition, and 
 an average, devour during the feeding season from hence their system of feeding of worms is formed 
 thirty -seven and a half to fifty pounds of leaves ; yet solely with the view of consulting theirown idle hab- 
 the quantity to be progressively fed out, must, to a its ; but however much we may condemn it for its 
 considerable extent, if not altogether, be regulated want of cleanliness, we may learn important truths 1 
 by the wants and necessities of the worms for the from its very defects and deformities. We may 
 time being. Their appetites must govern in the learn this, that the raising of silk worms is a very 
 main. Whatever quantity of leaves they consume simple thing, unattended with any difficulty which 
 cleanly, from one feeding time to another, it is to be ordinary industry and discernment may not over- 
 presumed has been advantageouslyeaten, and when- come, From what we have read and seen, we de- 
 ever it shall be found that more has been given than duce these facts, that nothing is wanting to ensure 
 the worm can consume, the subsequent feeding must success to the culture 1C? 33 but room for the worms, 
 be lessened in quantity, while on the other hand, if a supply of food for them to eat, regularity, and 
 they should, between those periods, be any consid- cleanliness in their feeding , proper ventilation of their 
 erable time without leaves, the ensu ng feeding {apartments, and untiring attention to their wants. 
 must be increased ; for while it will not do to gorge The general rules laid down by Mr. Smith will be 
 the worm, neither will it answer to keep him with- sufficient for most readers, but as there may be some 
 out food for any length of time, as abstinence is that would prefer to see something with respect to 
 both detrimental to his health, and injurious to the the quantities of food to be progressively given, we 
 interest of his feeder. will abstract from Count Dandolo's plan all that we 
 
 In the eastern states, the feeding of the worms, esteem essential to be known upon this part of the 
 heretofore, has been carried on with the least possi- business, and we will here remark, that from the 
 ble trouble, and from what we can learn, with, per- great regard for exactitude of this distinguished 
 haps, too little regard to cleanliness, to be followed in culturist, the utmost reliance may be placed in his 
 large establishments, for however well such neglect statements. 
 
 may succeed upon a small scale, if you come to car The quantity of food is the proportion given to the 
 ry it out in a large establishment, much positive worms hatched from 5 OUNCES of eggs, which, ac- 
 evil will ensue in the death of the worms. Small | cording to our reading, means 100,000 worms, al- 
 
 bodies might exist under a system of inattention, 
 which if followed in an extensive laboratory, would 
 end in the mortality of the insects, and the pecuniary 
 loss of the proprietor. 
 
 In Turkey, according to Mr. Rhind, "the produc- 
 tion of silk is confined to cities or the larger towns, 
 in the vicinity of which the Mulberry tree is chiefly 
 cultivated ; those trees belong to the Farmers, or 
 proprietors of the ground, who do not rear the worm 
 themselves, but during the crop season, the leaves 
 are collected by them daily and carried into the city 
 and sold in the market in the same manner as fruit 
 and vegetables, in such quantities as purchasers 
 may require. At the commencement of the season 
 
 lowance being made for casualties of all descrip- 
 tions. 
 
 HEARING OF THE WORMS IN THE FIUST AGE. 
 
 First day. The worms should occupy a space of 
 nearly 36 feet 8 inches square on the wicker trays 
 or tables. They should this day receive 3 1-3 Ibs. 
 of leaves chopped small, dividing their meals 
 through the 24 hours into four, at intervals of 6 
 hours each. The worms to be fed regularly four 
 times a day, and not to give them their food all at 
 once. Care to be taken in giving the food to widen 
 the square by degrees. 
 
 Second day. On this day 6 Ibs. will be needed. 
 This will suffice for the four regular meals, the first 
 
48 
 
 of which should be the least, increasing them as thej 
 proceed. 
 
 Third day. This day 12 Ibs. of leaves will b 
 necessary. 
 
 Fourth day. This day but 6 Ibs. 12 oz. of leave 
 must be given, as the quantity must be decreased, a 
 the appetite diminishes : the first meal 2 Ibs. 4oz. 
 and the other meals to decrease in proportion as the 
 quantity of leaves given before, appears not to have 
 been thoroughly eaten. It is important as th 
 worms grow rapidly now that they have plenty o 
 room. At the beginning of this day, many of thi 
 silk worms begin shaking their heads, which indicate 
 that they feel overloaded by their covering or skins 
 Some of them eat little but keep their heads erect 
 Towards the close of this day, the greatest number 
 of the silk worms appear torpid and eat no more. As 
 a general rule, it may be proper to apprise the cul- 
 turist, that during the time of moulting, the worms 
 must not be disturbed ; for the process of changing 
 their skins will be thereby interrupted. 
 
 |CJ t> The hurdles or trays should be clean- 
 ed before and after every moulting, until the 
 fourth age, once during that age, before and after 
 the fourth or last moulting, and every two days dur- 
 ing the fifth age. 
 
 Fifth day. This day 1 J pounds of leaves chopped 
 small will be sufficient, to distribute whenever the 
 worms appear disposed to eat. 
 
 Towards the end of this day the worms are torpid : 
 a few begin to revive. 
 
 The first age of the silk worm is generally accom- 
 plished in five days, exclusive of the two days occu- 
 pied in bringing them forth. 
 
 SECOND AGE. 
 
 Nearly 73 feet 4 inches square of the tables or 
 trays, will be necessary for the accommodation of 
 the worms from this period to their second moulting. 
 The temperature should be from 73 to 75. The 
 insects should not be lifted from their litter until 
 they are nearly all revived. No harm will arise 
 from waiting, even though it should be for twenty 
 or thirty hours from the time the first few began to 
 revive. 
 
 First day. For this day 9 Ibs. of young tender 
 shoots, and 9 Ibs. of Mulberry leaves, well picked 
 and chopped small. 
 
 The method of reviving the worms is thus de- 
 scribed. 
 
 When nearly all the worms are roused, and be- 
 gin moving their heads, and raising up as if they 
 sought something, those at the edge of the paper 
 having already left the litter on which they had lain, 
 preparation should be made to remove them, that 
 the sheets of paper may be cleaned. The worms 
 should be removed from those sheets of paper first 
 when they are perceived to be most revived and 
 stirring. Some shoots of the young twigs of the 
 Mulberry tree, with six or eight leaves on them 
 should be put over the silk worms ; then boughs 
 should be placed, so that, when spread out, there 
 may be an inch or two between them. When one 
 of the sheets of paper are thus covered with silk 
 worms, another must be begun, and so on until all are 
 completed. Each, as filled, are to be removed to a 
 clean tray, sheet or hurdle. 
 
 An hour or two after the worms have been thus 
 removed, they should be given a meal of 3 Ibs. 
 
 of leaves chopped small. In the remainder of thia 
 day, the worms should have in two meals, the re- 
 maining six pounds of chopped leaves, with an inter- 
 val of six hours between each. The hurdles from 
 which the silk worms were removed, will, of course 
 be cleaned. 
 
 Second day. Thirty pounds of chopped leaves to 
 be divided into four portions, should be given at in- 
 tervals of 6 hours each ; the two first meals less 
 plentiful than the succeeding ones. 
 
 Tliird day. This day 33 Ibs. of chopped leaves 
 well picked will be necessary ; the two first meals to 
 be the largest. The leaves should be distributed in 
 proportion as they may be wanted, and with atten- 
 tion. Towards evening some of the worms will begin 
 to refuse to eat and rear their heads up, indicating 
 their approaching the period of torpor. 
 
 As a general remark, it may be observed, that as 
 the worms increase in size, the space allotted to 
 them should be enlarged. 
 
 Fourth day. Only 9 Ibs. of leaves will be neces- 
 sary this day, as the worms will sink into torpor and 
 shed their skins the ensuing day. 
 
 THIRD AGE. 
 
 On this day 15 Ibs of the small shoots will be ne- 
 cessary and the same quantity of picked leaves the 
 temperature of the apartment from 71 to 73 e du- 
 ring this age. Their removal to be the same as in 
 the previous age the space for their accommoda- 
 tion 174 square feet. The 15 Ibs. of young shoots 
 to be the first meal of the worms. When they shall 
 have eaten the leaves upon the shoots, give them a 
 second meal of 74 Ibs. of leaves, and the remainder 
 :o be given at an interval of six hours. 
 
 Second day. This day 90 Ibs. of picked leaves 
 chopped will be needed, the two first meals the 
 smallest. 
 
 Third day. This day 97 Ibs. of leaves are to be 
 jiven, the two first the largest meals. 
 
 Fourth day. This day only about 52i Ibs. of 
 shopped leaves will be requisite, as the appetite of 
 he worms always decrease immediately preceding 
 heir becoming torpid. The first meal to be the 
 argest and so on to the fourth, that being the last. 
 
 Fifth day. To-day only 27-lbs. of picked leaves 
 must be given them. If, however, they appear not 
 o have enough, more must be given them. They 
 >ecome torpid this day. 
 
 Sixth day. On this day the worms arouse from 
 heir torpor and accomplish their third age. 
 
 FOURTH AGE. 
 
 The worms during this period should occupy a 
 pace of about 412 feet square the temperature 
 tiould be from 68 to 71. 
 
 First day. On this day 374 Ibs. of young shoots 
 nd 60 Ibs. of picked leaves will be needed. After 
 ic worms consume the leaves on the young shoots, 
 ley should be given SO Ibs. of leaves, and when 
 icse are consumed they should have the other 30 
 
 )S. 
 
 Second day. 165 Ibs. of leaves must be given to- 
 ay ; the two first meals the lightest and the last the 
 most copious: 
 
 Third day. 225 Ibs. of leaves to day ; the two 
 rst meals the most plentiful ; the last meal to be 
 bout 75 Ibs. 
 
 Fourth day. 255 Ibs. of leaves to-day; the three 
 rst meals 75 Ibs. each, the 4th the remainder. 
 
Fifth day. No more than 128 Ibs. of leaves to- 
 day ; the first meal to be the largest. The worms 
 become torpid to-day, and therefore, the leaves 
 should only be distributed on such of the hurdles, 
 where the worms are perceived not to be torpid. 
 
 Sixth day. 35 Ibs. of leaves are enough for to- 
 day, to be fed to such worms as may require it. 
 
 Seventh day. The worms rouse on this day and 
 accomplish their fourth age. 
 
 FIFTH AGE. 
 
 First day. The laboratory should uniformly have 
 63 to 7.0 of heat and occupy a space of 917 
 square feet. After the fourth moulting, the leaves 
 should* consist of the full grown leaves of the old 
 trees. The hurdles must be cleaned every two days 
 during, this age. They must have 180 Ibs. of leaves, 
 90 Ibs. the first meal, the other 90 Ibs. to be divided 
 into 2 meals at interval of 6 hours each. 
 
 Second day. Two hundred and seventy pounds 
 of leaves to-day ; the first feed 52 Ibs., the other 
 three more plentiful, the last being 97 Ibs. 
 
 Tliird'diiy. The worms will require 420 Ibs. to- 
 day, to be divided into four feeds; the first should be 
 of 77 Ibs. of leaves, the last feed should be the lar- 
 gest, and-of about 120 Ibs. of leaves. 
 
 Fourth day. To-day they require 540 Ibs., the 
 first feed 120 Ibs. and the last 150 Ibs., the other 
 two 135 Ibs. each. 
 
 Fifth'day, 810 Ibs of -picked leaves to be given 
 the worms this day. The first feed 150 Ibs., (he 
 last 210'lbs:, and 1 besides the regular four meals-, 
 should the worms devour the'tr apportionment in 
 less than an hour and a half; they should receive 
 some leaves in the intermediate time, and should they 
 appear to require more food than the designated quan- 
 tity, they must have it, as it is important to give 
 them whatever they will eat with avidity. 
 
 Sixth day. The worms must have 975 Ibs. of 
 picked leaves to-day, to be divided into five feeds; 
 the last of whrch should be the most plentiful. If 
 the worms feed voraciously at this period, and it is 
 difficult to limit the amount, the culturist will, if it 
 appears to him necessary, give an extra or interme- 
 diate feed. 
 
 Seventh day. The worms will require 900 Ibs. 
 of loaves this day; the first meal should be the lar- 
 gest, and those following should be diminished ; 
 and should intermediate meals be required, they 
 must be given, as it will not do to let the worms suf- 
 fer now. They this day attain their largest size and 
 greatest weight. 
 
 Eighth day. This day 660 Ibs. of leaves must be 
 given in four meals; tire first of which to consist of 
 210 Ibs. of leaves. 
 
 Ninth day. 495 Ibs. of leaves to be distributed to- 
 day, as it may be wanted. 
 
 Tenth day. Two hundred and forty pounds of 
 leaves to be given to-day as may be required. The 
 hours of feeding however, to be left altogether to 
 the discretion of the culturist, as it is impossible to 
 anticipate the peculiar necessities of the worms this 
 day ; and it is equally difficult to ascertain whether 
 some of the worms may not require feeding the en- 
 suing day. 
 
 This last day they attain perfection , which may be 
 ascertained by the following indications : 
 
 1st. When, on putting some leaves on the wick- 
 
 them, and rear their heads as if in Jeafch for some- 
 thing else. 
 
 2d. When on looking at them horizontally, (lie 
 light shines through them, and they appear of * 
 whitish yellow, transparent color. 
 
 3d. When numbers of the worms which, were 
 fastened to the inside of the edges, and straightened, 
 now get upon the edges, and move slowly along, in- 
 stinct teaching them to seek change of place. 
 
 4th. When numbers of worms leave the centre of 
 the wickers, and try to reach the edges, and crawl 
 upon them. 
 
 5th. When their skins become wrinkled about 
 the neck, and their bodies have more softness to the 
 touch than heretofore, and feel like soft dough. 
 
 6th. When their rings draw in, and their green- 
 ish color-changes to a deep golden hue. 
 
 7th. When in taking a silk worm in the hand, and 
 looking through it, the whole body has assumed 
 the transparency of a ripe yellow plum. Whr-n 
 these signs appear in any of the insect*, every thing 
 should be prepared for their rising, that those worn.sr 
 which are ready to rise, may not lose their strength 
 and silk in seeking for the support they require. 
 
 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND RULES. 
 
 The reader will have perceived that to each day 
 of the feeding season, a given quantity of leaves 
 has been allotted by the diary above. This quanti- 
 ty in general will, doubtless, prove correct ; but then 
 the judicious, observing culturist, must not rely. on 
 these prescriptive aHowances, but exercise his own 
 judgment from day to day, with respect both to the 
 quantity of leaves to be given, and the time when, 
 the worms should be fed. Circumstances over 
 which he can have no' control, may operate to 
 make the appetites of the worms keener at one time 
 thin at another \ this will be indicated by the avidi- 
 ty with which they will consume their food. When- 
 ever theculturist discovers that the worms have eaten 
 all the leaves given them, sooner than usual, he 
 must give them an additional supply to stay their ap- 
 petites till their regular hour of feeding, as it is in- 
 jurious to let them remain for a long time without 
 nutrition. 
 
 The culturist will also regulate the space occupied 
 by the worms on the feeding shelves, as they may 
 grow in size, it being a desirable object always to 
 give them ample room. As we have before urged 
 upon his consideration, he will'at all times take care 
 to have the apartment, of a large establishment, of tl.e 
 proper temperature, as much depends upon it for the 
 success of the labors of his worms; a sudden transi- 
 tion from heat to cold, as well as dampness, injuri- 
 ously affect them. 
 
 While care must be taken not to let the worms 
 remain too long without food, over feeding must be 
 equally guarded against. This being the case, the 
 sensible culturist will at once perceive the necessity 
 for bringing his own powers of discrimination and 
 observation into play, and that, therefore, all that 
 the teacher can do is to give general rules, leaving 
 their application and modification with the culturist. 
 It may be laid down as an unerring principle, that 
 the more leaves the worms consume with avidity, 
 and in a healthful condition, the more silk will 
 they yield. Count Dandolo recommends chopping 
 of the leaves throughout the whole period of feed- 
 
 ers, the insects get upon the leaves without eating ing; Mr. Smith, however, and other American feed- 
 7 
 
50 
 
 ers, think it wholly unnecessary after the two first 
 weeks. 
 
 During; the time of moulting: or changing of their 
 skins, the worms must not be disturbed. 
 
 The hurdles, or shelves on which the worms are 
 fed, should be cleaned before and after every moul- 
 ting, until the fourth age, and then, as we have be- 
 fore urged, once during that age, before, and after, 
 the fourth or last moulting, and every two days 
 during the fifth age. 
 
 The worms of different ages should be fed on 
 shelves by themselves, as those of unequal ages and 
 inequality of sizes, do not thrive so well when pro- 
 miscuously fed together. 
 
 Care must he observed in picking the leaves for 
 the worms during their two first ages, such as pick- 
 ing off the twiss and stalks of the leaves, and to 
 clean them of all hard and useless parts. 
 
 As a general rule it may be proper to remark, 
 that the chief superintendent will always be able to 
 ascertain whether a healthful atmosphere be pre- 
 vailing in the apartment, by the fact, that if it be so, 
 he will be able to breathe as freely in the laboratory 
 as in the open air, and feel no other difference than 
 what may arise from the heat in the interior apart- 
 ment. When any difficulty of breathing exists, it 
 should be remedied, and may be easily done by the 
 admission of fresh air from without, and by burning 
 some straw or shavings in the apartment. The 
 burning of shavings, in all cases where the air of the 
 room is damp, is recommended, as from the brisk- 
 ness of the fire, it much sooner distributes its heat 
 through the apartment, and thus corrects the humid 
 condition of the atmosphere. 
 
 The culturist will not omit to keep plates of chlo- 
 ride of lime, say three or four, distributed through 
 the apartment, as it is, possibly, one of the best cor- 
 rectors of impure air wilhtn the power of science to 
 apply, and therefore eminently promotive of health. 
 
 While the sun is pouring its rays upon the win- 
 dows of tho laboratory, the shutters should be closed, 
 the ventilators of the apartment kept open. The 
 windows also, to be kept open from evening till sun- 
 rise, unless the weather should be very damp or wet. 
 
 PREPARATION FOR FORMING THE COCOON HEDGE, &C. 
 
 With respect to the accommodation of (he worms 
 with conveniences for spinning their cocoons, we 
 would barely refer the reader to Mr. Smith's plan, 
 to be found in page 46, with (hese additional remarks : 
 that should the culturist adopt the net work frame, 
 for the purpos' 1 , brush-wood of all kinds will be su- 
 perfluous. In Europe bundles of twigs of chesnut, 
 hickory, oak or of birch, such as brooms are made 
 of, are used. As soon as it is observed that the 
 worms want to rise, the faggots or brush-wood 
 should be put against the inside wall above the trays, 
 of the most convenient size, leaving fifteen inches 
 between each bundle or faggot. The twigs or top 
 branches of the bundles should touch the lower part 
 of the tray above that on which it is placed, and 
 by being bent down by the tray above, form a 
 species of arch, to be given such an angle or incli- 
 nation as not to be too sharp to prevent the worms 
 from retaining their position firmly with ease. The 
 branches shoHld be spread out somewhat like fans, 
 BO as to permit the air to penetrate freely. Before 
 
 hurdles or trays should be well cleansed, and the 
 litter removed out of the laboratory. The cabins 
 or arches formed as above directed should be about 
 two feet from one to the other. When the cabins 
 or arches are nearly laden, should there remain any 
 silk worms on the trays, shelves or hurdles, a small 
 branch may be put against them, and thus prevent 
 their lying too thick together. 
 
 Two things are particularly to be attended to: 
 the first is, to put those worms near the cabins or 
 arches, which are perceived to be ready to rise; 
 and the second is, to give a few leaves to those 
 worms that are still inclined to eat. It will, therefore, 
 be necessary in a large establishment to place this 
 part of the business in charge of a careful person or 
 two, as long as the worms feel a disposition to eat; 
 if but a mouthful, they should be indulged. It often 
 happens that after the great majority of the worms 
 have risen, that a portion will remain on the hurdles 
 without manifesting any disposition either to eat or 
 rise, appearing motionless. These should be re- 
 moved to a clear, dry place, where they may enjoy 
 a temperature of 73, and have fresh leaves distri- 
 buted over them, when they will speedily revive and 
 descend and weave their cocoons. If they should 
 need it, bandages of straw might be placed through 
 the branches to act as couches or supports to the 
 more feeble worms. 
 
 As soon as the worms have all risen, the hurdles 
 must be cleansed without delay. 
 
 When the worms manifest a disposition to rrse, 
 the temperature of the laboratory should be careful- 
 ly maintained between 63 and 7'1, as any violent 
 agitation of the air, or sudden change at this par- 
 ticular period is detrimental to the worms. Care 
 also should be taken to keep the air dry; and the 
 chloride solution well kept up. Worms which may 
 fall after having risen, should be placed in 
 another situation among the more feeble ones. All 
 diseased and dead worms should be removed imme- 
 diately, and all offal should be also removed, as noth- 
 ing tends more readily than a viliated atmosphere 
 to occasion a fermentation of the dirt and leaves. 
 The due observance of cleanliness, purification of 
 the room, and equable circulation of air, contribute 
 no less towards the health of the worms, than to the 
 profit of (he culturist. A too dry, or too warm 
 atmosphere, are both to be avoided, as the tenden- 
 cy of each is to dry up the worms and produce-con- 
 traction of the skins. 
 
 It may not be amiss here, to emphatically state, 
 the worms must have sufficient room to perform 
 their labors in ; they must be regularly fed, kept 
 clean, and the air of their apartment preserved alike 
 from excess of cold or heat, or from too much aridi- 
 ty or dampness in a word, cleanliness and com- 
 fort must be consulted, and when these shall have 
 been attended to, the whole mj'stery of profitably 
 feeding worms, will have been not only fully com- 
 prehended, but mastered. 
 
 VARIOUS STAGES AND APPEARANCES OF THE WORMS. 
 
 Towards the end of the 5th day the worms are 
 torpid : a few will begin to revive. 
 
 After the first moulting, the silk worm is of a dark 
 ash color and shows motion : the rings that compose 
 
 the worms mount for spinning their cocoons, the its body stretch and shrink more freely than before. 
 
51 
 
 The worms when first hatched take 56,626 to make 
 an ounce; after the first moulting 3,840 are sufJti- 
 cient to make up that weight ; thus in six days the 
 worm increases fourteen times its own weight : at 
 first it is but the twelfth of an inch long. On the 
 eighth day it becomes torpid. 
 
 On the 9th day, the worm becomes of a light gray, 
 the hair hardly to be perceived by the naked eye, 
 and becomes shorter; the muzzle, which, in the 
 first age, was very black, har.J and scaly, becomes 
 immediately upon moulting white and soft; but af- 
 terwards, again grows shining and black as 
 before. As the insect grows older, at each moul- 
 ting, its muzzle hardens ; because it needs to saw 
 and bite larger and older leaves. Its size is in- 
 creased to half an inch, and part become roused on 
 this day and part on the 10th. On the 14th day 
 they go into torpor again; just preceding this state, 
 the insect seeks free space to slumber in, rearing its 
 head upwards. When on the point of sinking into 
 torpor, they completely void all excrementitious 
 matter, and there remains in their intestinal tube a 
 yellow lymph alone. When the worms prepare for 
 the 3d and 4th moulting, the ventilators must be 
 opened. 
 
 On the 15th day, the worms begin to rouse, and 
 thus accomplish the third agei The head and body 
 are much enlarged since the casting of the skin. 
 
 On the 20th day, the worms become torpid : rouse 
 on the 22d day. After this moulting, they are of a 
 darker color, grayish with a red cast, but continue to 
 whiten. 
 
 By the 30th day of their being fed, the worms be- 
 gin to advance towards maturity, which may be 
 perceived by their yellow color, which increases 
 from ring to ring. Their backs begin to shine, and 
 the rings lose their dark green color. The ad- 
 vance to maturity is also evinced by diminution of 
 bulk, and by their seeking to fix themselves on the 
 edge of the shelves or hurdles, to void Ihe sub- 
 stances with which they are loaded. When these 
 signs are apparent, the offal and excrement must be 
 cleaned off' and removed, light fires raised, and the 
 apartment fumigated. 
 
 On the 30th day, the yellow hue of the silk 
 worms grows deeper, their backs shine more, and 
 in some, the rings assume a golden appearance, the 
 uiuzzle becomes a brighter red. 
 
 On the 32d day, they generally attain perfection, 
 which may be known by the following indications : 
 
 1. When on putting leaves on the shelves the 
 worms get on them without eating them. 
 
 2. They appear of a whitish yellow, transparent 
 color. 
 
 3. The worms get upon the edges and move 
 slowly along, instinct urging them to seek a change 
 of place. 
 
 4. Their rings draw in, and their greenish color 
 becomes a deep golden hue. 
 
 Their skins become wrinkled about the neck, and 
 their bodies have more softness to the touch than 
 heretofore, and feel like soft dough. 
 
 6. In looking through the worm, the whole body, 
 it will be seen, has assumed the transparency of a 
 ripe yellow plum. 
 
 When these signs are manifest, it is time for them 
 to mount. 
 
 VARIOUS QUALITIES OP COCOONS, 
 
 Dandolo says the cocoons may be divided into two 
 general heads or classes ; the white and the yellow. In 
 the yellow we meet with all the shades from a bright 
 yellow, diminishing, at last, to while : some few are a 
 pale green. 
 
 There are he says nine different qualities, which 
 he thus describes : 
 
 1. The good cocoons arc those which are brought to 
 perfection and are strong, hard, of a line grain, and but 
 little or riot at all spotted. 
 
 2. The pointed cocoons arc those of which one of the 
 extremities rises up in t* point, uno are difficult to 
 reel, because when the thread comes round to the 
 hole, it is, of consequence, broken, and the whole con- 
 tains nothing but ends. 
 
 3. The cacalons are a little larger than the others ; 
 yet they do not contain more silk, because their con- 
 texture is not so strong. 
 
 4. The doupion, or double cocoons, are so called, be- 
 cause they contain two, and sometimes three worms. 
 They interlace their threads and make the silk called 
 doupion. 
 
 5. The soufflons are imperfect cocoons, the contexture 
 of which is loose, sometimes to that degree that they 
 are transparent, and bear the same proportion to a 
 good cocoon, as a gauze to a satin. These cannot be 
 wound. 
 
 6. The perforated cocoons are so called, because 
 they have a hole at one end ; for which reason they 
 cannot be wound. 
 
 1. The calcined cocoons are those in which the worm, 
 after the formation of the cocoon, is attacked with a 
 sickness, which sometimes petrifies it, and at other 
 times, reduces it to a fine white powder, without in the 
 least damaging the silk. On the contrary, these co- 
 coons produce more silk than the others, because the 
 worms are lighter. They are to be distingusbed by the 
 noise the petrified worm makes when the cocoon is sha- 
 ken. 
 
 8. The good choqueltcs consist of those cocoons m 
 which the worm dies before it is brought to per- 
 fection. They can be distinguished from the others, 
 because they do not rattle when shaken. They pro- 
 duce as fine silk as the others; but should be wound 
 separately, as they are subject to furze out, and the 
 silk is neither of as bright a color, nor so strong as the 
 rest. 
 
 9. The bad choquelte is composed of defective cocoons, 
 spotted or rotten : many of them may be wound togeth- 
 er, but make very foul, bad silk of a blackish color. 
 
 HOW TO JUDGE A COCOON. 
 
 To judge whether a cocoon be good, observe if it be 
 firm and sound : if it has a firm grain, and the two 
 ends round and strong and capable of resisting pressure 
 between the thumb and the finger. The cocoons of a 
 bright yellow, yield more silk than the others, because 
 they have more gum. Pale cocoons leave less gum, 
 lose less in winding, and take a better white or pale 
 blue. 
 
 GATHERING OF THE COCOONS. 
 
 Strong healthy worms, in three days and half 
 from their time of moulting, will complete their cc- 
 coons, and this period may be shortened by increas- 
 ing the temperature of the apartment. On the 
 other hand their labors are prolonged by a colder 
 temperature than has been fixed, as also by feeble 
 health. Transitions from heat to cold, as well as a 
 vitiated atmosphere and sudden draughts of wind be- 
 fore the cocoons are sufficiently advanced to afford 
 them shelter, are injurious. The cocoons will be 
 
fit to be taken off from the 7lh to the 10th day I 
 The gathering must be commenced below and con- 
 tinued upwards, and the cocoons that feel soft should 
 be kept by themselves. \Vben the cocoons are de- 
 tached. the down or floss, in which the silk worms 
 hare formed the cocoons, should be taken off. 
 The floss silk ought also to be collected and kept 
 separate. 
 
 CHOOSUTO TUB COCOONS FOR THE PBODCCTIOJf OF 
 EGOS. 
 
 About two ounces of eggs, which will yield, allow- 
 ances being made for accidents, 40,000 worms. 
 The small cocoons of a straw color, with hard ends 
 and fine webs, and which are a little depressed in 
 the middle, as if tightened by a ring or circle, are 
 to be preferred. There are no certain signs to dis- 
 tinguish the male from the female cocoons; the 
 best known are the following : 
 
 The smaller cocoons, sharp at one or both ends, 
 and depressed in the middle, generally produce the 
 males ; the round full cocoons, without ring or de- 
 pression in the middle, usually contain the females. 
 Ac, however, all marks may fail, an extra number of 
 the best should be taken for eggs, and when the 
 moths come out, the males and females being easily 
 distinguished, an addition, should there be a defi- 
 ciency of either sex, can be made, from the double 
 cocoons, to the defective side- In the seed cocoons, 
 however, the double ones are to be avoided, and on- 
 ly to be resorted to, to supply a deficiency. 
 
 By shaking the cocoon close to the ear, we may 
 generally ascertain whether the chrysalis be alive. 
 If it be alive and loosened from the cocoon, it yields 
 a sharp sound, when dead it yields a dumb one, 
 and is more confined in the cocoon. 
 
 If white silk be desired, the choice must be made 
 among the white cocoons exclusively. The cocoons 
 intended for seed should be stript of the floss, that 
 the moth may not be embarrassed when it first ap- 
 pears, and the cocoons thus sorted, should be laid 
 separate. It is recommended by some writers, that 
 the selection of cocoons for seed should be from 
 among those thai were spun the earliest, but we 
 hardly think that can be considered essential. The 
 cocoons when selected for seed should be spread out 
 thin, and in from two to two and a half days the 
 moths vill come out, when they should be placed in 
 pairs, male and female, on the paper arches to be 
 formed across the room, as described by Mr. Smith 
 in page 46, and there permitted to couple and lay 
 eggs. Each healthy female will lay about 450 
 
 While the moths are coupling they should not be 
 disturbed by noise, but be permitted to enjoy each 
 other's society in quiet; the room should be dark- 
 ened. and its temperature kept at from 66 to 73* 
 
 If there be an excess of males, they must be 
 thrown away ; if of females, males must be allottee 
 to them, which have already been in a state of uni- 
 on. The male ought not to remain united more than 
 six hours ; after the expiration of that time they 
 should be gently separated. As the males are dis- 
 united, they must be pat upon the frame to be in 
 readiness to attend to ihe calls of any females that 
 may require being served : the preference, of course 
 to be given to the most rigorous. 
 
 KILLING OF THE CHRYSALIDS. 
 
 The killing of the chrysalids must be attended to as 
 <oon after the scathe ringoft he cocoons a* possible, to 
 jrevent their being pierced by the moth, whereby 
 he web would be injured. Each silk pod consists 
 of one single thread, the length of which varies from 
 900 to 1,300 feet. We have already given Mr. 
 Smith's plan for effecting this part of the process, 
 and we will now state the several other modes pursu- 
 ed in Europe, 
 
 The Italian method simply consists in exposing 1 
 the grub in the cocoons to the ardent heat of the 
 sun, during three days, when the thermometer is 
 at SS 2 Fahr. from 10 o'clock, A. M. until 4 
 o'clock, P. M 
 
 The French plan is to put the cocoons into an 
 oven in a bag, with the temperature standing at SS* 
 2 Fahr. The oven being shut and the bags fre- 
 quently stirred, the grubs are killed within 4 hours. 
 
 In Germany they are killed by steam proceeding 
 from boiling water. A kettle of boiling water being 
 prepared, fixed in the wall, a clean basket is then 
 placed over it upon two pieces of wood ; cover the 
 basket with three or four folds of woollen cloths that 
 the steam may penetrate completely. The water 
 in the pot must be kept boiling for three hours, 
 which will be sufficient to kill the chrysalids, which 
 can be ascertained by opening one of the cocoons. 
 They must then remain undisturbed until the fol- 
 lowing day, when they will have been sufficiently 
 hardened to be removed, being then fit for reeling 
 or for sale. Suffocating with brimstone, or tur- 
 pentine oil, are sometimes adopted ; but we think 
 neither are to be recommended. 
 
 The process of killing the chrysalids, should be 
 gone through with, within twelre days after the com- 
 pletion of the cocoons, and the sooner '.hereafter the 
 better. 
 
 PRESERVATION OF THE EGGS. 
 
 Collect the papers on which the eggs are laid, 
 when quite dry, fold them up and put ti:em away in 
 tin boxes, in thin layers. They should be kept 
 in a dry, cool cellar, or some other cool place, where 
 the temperature does not exceed 65 nor descend 
 below the freezing point 32 where water will not 
 freeze. 
 
 Being thus placed, they may remain there until 
 the following spring, when the time to hatch 
 them shall have arrived. 
 
 PROPORTION OF EGGS TO COCOONS. 
 
 The relative proportion of eggs, depends very 
 much upon the care and attention that may be paid 
 to the feeding of the worms, the degree of nutrition 
 in the leaves, the vigor with which they may have 
 fed, and the degree of health maintained during the 
 feeding* season. The cocoons are like all other 
 crops, some heavier, and some lighter than others. In 
 Tuscany, 150 cocoons have made a pound. In the 
 early settlement of Georgia, 200 cocoons from 
 worms raised in that state, weighed one pound ; but 
 these were extraordinary cocoons, and, therefore, 
 cannot fairly be taken as the basis of a calculation ; 
 because it has severally taken, in other places, 208, 
 240,262,297,271,306,328,490 and 600 to make 
 a pound. We have adopted as our ratio 300, which 
 with ordinary care, we think may be assumed as a 
 
53 
 
 fe one. With respect to the gross quantity of 
 silk produced from an ounce of eggs, there is the 
 same difference : all depending upon the assiduity and 
 energy of the culturist. who, as he wills it, may 
 either produce 40 or 120 pounds of cocoons. In- 
 stances have been given, and are well authenticated, 
 where, in an establishment in which 6 ounces were an- 
 nually batched for 10 consecutive years, the average 
 
 dampness; but all these, except the defective im- 
 pregnation, may be guarded against 
 
 It is maintained that no disease will occur, if the 
 temperature of the place where the moths are kept, 
 be maintained between 68* and 70, when the 
 apartments are dry and free from vitiated air, and 
 when the eggs are carefully kept Low marshy 
 places are unfavorable, as beat and moisture is 
 yield* to the ounce of eggs was 100 pounds of, highly injurious to their healthful existence 
 
 coceons, or 11 1-9 pounds of raw silk. Now if the 
 CAsualties had reduced the worms down to our stand- 
 ard of 20,000 to an ounce of eggs, and that is about 
 the fair average number, then an acre would pro- 
 duce 305 pounds of silk. This is a very large 
 yield, and of coarse should not be relied upon, or 
 at all events no one should be disappointed at a 
 greatly-diminished production, though we bj no 
 means would discourage the hope, that even a larger 
 produce might not be raised in either Neir Jer- 
 sey, Pennsylvania, Delaware. Maryland, Virginia, 
 .1 Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisi- 
 ana, Alabama or Mississippi 
 
 Our table, it will have been perceived, sets 22.640 
 egzs as the number contained in an ounce ; this is 
 arbitrary, having deducted nearly 33 per cent as the 
 presumed loss. 
 
 E5EM1E5 OF SILK WORMS. 
 
 Red Ails. These are deadly insects to silk 
 worms. To prevent their attacks, the posts con- 
 taining fixed shelves ought not to touch the ceiling, 
 nor must the shelves reach the walls, and their legs 
 should either be smeared with Molasses, or placed 
 in basins of water, or perhaps both would be best. 
 
 The smaller varieties of birds are rery food of 
 them, bnt as these would not enter while there are 
 persons in the apartment, there is not much danger 
 to be apprehended from them. 
 
 Fowls, nice, rah, weazles, lizards and spiders, are 
 also their enemies. If the apartment be infested 
 with mice and rats, they most be trapped and killed: 
 from weazles and lizards not much need be feared, 
 and as for the spider, though a deadly and destruc- 
 tive foe, the broom most be made to render him his 
 quietus. 
 
 DISUSBS OF THE WORMS. 
 
 It may be assumed as a sound proposition, that 
 nearly all the diseases to which this noble insect are 
 subject, arise from^/bol air, or from an trregvbr or 
 overheated apartment; from exposure to sodden at- 
 mospheric transitions; from too close crowding; 
 from the too great accumulation of filth, and from 
 improper food. There may be eases where the ex 
 citing cause of disease springs from some particular 
 condition of the air, against which prudence, fore- 
 eight, and art, cannot avail And as it is useless to 
 speculate upon that over which we hare no control, 
 and which depends upon eontingenees that may or 
 may not occur, let us rather torn oar attention to 
 those enumerated diseases* the cause of which we 
 know. 
 
 DISEASES FROM DETECTS I3T EGGS. 
 
 When the eggs are too thickly heaped together 
 they become heated even at a low temperature, aw 
 the" embryo becomes injured: there are also other 
 causes which injuriously affect the eggs, such as the 
 imperfect impregnation of the eggs [dubto,] and 
 
 high dry situations are always the best, both for 
 the worms and the Mulberry. 
 
 DISEASE FROM IMFCRITT OF THE AIR OF THE LABORA- 
 TORY. 
 
 It is surprising to find bow large a portion of me- 
 phitic air disengages in a large establishment, par- 
 ticularly in the fourth and fifth ages from the silk 
 worms. The damp stagnates in it, the transpira- 
 tion is cheeked, the dung and fitter undergo the 
 process of fermentation and emit noxious exhala- 
 tions.; the skins of the worms become relaxed, and 
 disease follows in a few hours, and hence the neces- 
 sity of using the means, which we have before attuv- 
 ded to, of ensuring a renewal of pure air by the ex- 
 pulsion of the heavier, and replacing it by fight, 
 fresh, exterior air. The burning of shavings ist tiM 
 fire places or stoves, or the fumigation f the apart- 
 ment, are the most efficient means; indeed they are 
 the only ones to be relied upon. It may be weB to 
 re mark here. th%! if c'.e'ir.lintis be ob~ervd, U wiJI 
 
 scarcely ever be necessary to apply other 
 than the solutions of chloride of fine; and to be 
 candid, we believe this agent the best under any 
 circumstances. Its affinity for pt 
 
 natter is proverbial ; nor is it less so with , 
 og vegetable substances. Count Dandolo, howev- 
 
 er, has the following recipe which he 
 
 being eminently active as an anti-putreseent a- 
 gent: 
 
 Take 6 ounces common salt, mix it wefl with S 
 ounces of oxyde of manganese : put this mixture hi 
 strong bottle with 2 ounces of water, cork H wefl. 
 Keep this bottle in a part of the laboratory farthest 
 from the stoves or fire places. In a phial put 
 li Ibs. of sulphuric acid, (oil of vitriol,) and keep it 
 near the bottle, with a small wine glass and an 
 iron spoon. Put in the wine glass two-thirds of a 
 spoonful of oil of vitriol, pour it into the huge bottle, 
 and there will issue a white vapor. Move the bot- 
 tle about the laboratory, holding it up high to let 
 the vapor spread through the air. When the va- 
 por ceases, cork up the bottle and replace it Du- 
 ring the fifth age of the worms, it is good to repeat 
 this fumigation three or four times a day. During 
 each successive repetition, the quantity of oil of vit- 
 riol may be diminished. The quantity slated is 
 sufficient for a laboratory of 5 ounces of eggs. 
 
 The necessity for the use of this remed j may al- 
 ways be known by the presence of an unpleasant ef- 
 fluvia in the room, or a cloiencn of the air and 
 difficulty of breathing. 
 
 The fumigation tntmH always be renewed after 
 each "E****"C nf the hardies or ihclvti, and in 
 moist damp weather. 
 
 The use of oil of vitriol, is, as the reader is sen- 
 sible, subject to its dangers. If dropped upon the 
 dothes or skia, it wifl burn, and its vapor if inhaled 
 too closely, wovld he in jurious. The way to guard 
 
54 
 
 against its bad effects, id to hold it above the head, 
 and thus avoid its searching, dangerous and un- 
 pleasant exhalations. Should the mixture in the 
 bottle harden, dilute it with water. 
 
 The following is given as the good effects of fumi- 
 gation : 
 
 1. It destroys unpleasant effluvia : 2. it diminishes 
 fermentation: 3. it neutralizes the effects of mias- 
 mata and deleterious emanations : 4. it revives the 
 silk worms, by means of the gentle stimulating ef- 
 fect of pure vital air:---and 5thly, it influences 
 the goodness of the cocoon. This fumigating pre- 
 paration would cost about 30 cents. 
 
 Disease frvm change of food. Ifthediet of the 
 worms aftev being fed on one kind of leaves, or food 
 of any kind, be changed to another more congenial 
 to their appetites, great danger is to be apprehend- 
 ed from their eating to bursting ; the feeder, must, 
 therefore, use his judgment in feeding them spar- 
 ingly at the onset. 
 
 Diseases also arise from a peculiar constitution and 
 from sudden changes of the air ; but these can be easi- 
 Jj guarded against by observing what we have already 
 said on this subject. 
 
 PARTICULAR DISEASES. 
 
 The passis. This disease appears aftor the first 
 moulting, when the worms advance unequally in 
 growth : they are observed to be short, thin and with- 
 out vigor or appetite : it is ascribed to their being too 
 much heated in their earl} state. The remedies consist 
 in separating them from healthy worms, putting them 
 in another apartment, well ventilated, giving them ten- 
 der leaves, and in preserving them in an uniform tem- 
 perature, a little higher than that in which the healthy 
 ones are kept. 
 
 Tlie Grasserie. This disease appears towards the se- 
 cond moulting, and in the third or fourth ages. Its 
 cause is ascribed to the food being too substantial or 
 nourishing for the young worms, occasioning indiges- 
 tion ; hence they swell, theirbodies become opaque and 
 of a green color, and their skins tear from the least 
 touch, and sometimes, spontaneously from over disten- 
 sion. Theirbodies are alsocorered with an oily, viscous 
 humour which. transudes the skin. If this be the cause 
 it is an easy matter to prevent the occurrence of the 
 disease, by feeding the young worms through the first, 
 second and third ages, with young tender leaves. 
 
 The Lueette. About the fifth age, silk worms are at- 
 tacked with a disease called lusetteorclairette, from the 
 shining appearance of their bodies. Their heads also 
 increase in size, and they ultimately die without form- 
 ing their cocoons. The cause is neglect in the regular 
 supply of leaves. The means of prevention as well as 
 cure are easy. Regularity in feeding effects the first, 
 and separation of the silk from healthy worms, and the 
 supplying of the invalids with food in a gradual manner, 
 so as to restore them without subjecting them to an 
 opposite disease arising from a too sudden repletion, is 
 the last. 
 
 The yellows. This disease appears towards the end 
 of the fifth age, when the worms are filled with the 
 silky fluid and are about to spin. It proceeds from ex- 
 posure to sudden intense heat, and its symptoms are 
 yellowness and swelling of the body, an enlargement 
 of the rings, an appearance of the feet being drawn up 
 from the puffiness of the surrounding parts. They 
 cease to eat and run about, leaving stains of a yellow 
 fluid, which exudes from their bodies. The yellowness 
 first appears round the spiracles or breathing holes, 
 and gradually diffuses itself over the body. It may be 
 called a dropsy of the skin, arising from the infiltration 
 of the nutritive Quid through every part of their bodies, 
 
 and they soon become soft and burst. The acid humour 
 issuing from them, will kill any worms that touch it. 
 This disease has its origin in indigestible food and ex- 
 posure to cold during rainy weather. The diseased 
 worms must be removed to a separate apartment, where 
 a change of air, aided by fires, may cure them. Oak 
 leaves fed to the worms in two instances effected a 
 cure. 
 
 The muscardine or numbness. This disease shews it- 
 self in the fifih age, by black spots in different parts of 
 the worm. These spots afterwards become yellow, and 
 finally red, or the color of cinnamon, which is diffused 
 over the whole body ; tho worm becomes hard and dry, 
 and is covered with a white mould. The remedy is fu- 
 migation and admission of fresh air. 
 
 The tripes, or mart blanc. This disease appears gene- 
 rally during moist or rainy weather, but is sometimes 
 produced by the confined exhalations of the worms 
 and their litter. The symptoms are, the worms be- 
 come flaccid and soft, and when dead, preserve the 
 semblance of life and death ; but they soon turn black; 
 and become putrid. The remedies are the atmosphere 
 of the apartment should be warmed, and made to cir- 
 culate by lighting brisk fires in the chimney ; and by 
 the removal of the diseased worms to another room. 
 
 This is a most formidable array of diseases, but the 
 discriminating reader will have perceived^ that they are 
 in fact nearly one and all the suine disease, assuming, to 
 be sure, somewhat different types and forms, but all re- 
 ferrible to the same general causes, viz : impure air, too 
 contracted room, exposure to sudden atmospheric transitions, 
 to irregular feeding, over feeding, stinted feeding, and to 
 improper food : so that afterall, there is not one^esciting- 
 cause in the whole catalogue of diseases, that is not 
 perfectly within the control of the culturist, and, there- 
 fore, if his worms suffer by sickness, the fault is with 
 himself; for there is not one of those maladies which, 
 may not be prevented by proper attention to feeding and 
 temperature. There is nothing more simple in all its 
 bearings than the management of the worms, if the 
 proper vigilance be resorted to, to preserve them in the 
 possession of health ; but if negligence and wanton 
 neglect be indulged in, these causes will assuredly prove 
 destructive to the interests of the culturist, in the genera- 
 tion of disease and production of mortality among his 
 worms. For ourself, we regard the diseases enumerated 
 as of little account, because in the vigilance, energy, 
 and good sense, of such of the American people as 
 may engage in it, we behold the sure guaranties that 
 nothing will be jeoparded or lost by want of attention 
 and care. Indeed, we hold these diseases to be of such 
 trifling account, that did we not desire to deal with per- 
 fact ingenuousness, we should not have named one of 
 them, as we believe they are formidable only in name, 
 and may all be prevented by following the rules pre- 
 scribed. 
 
 VARIETIES OF THE SILK WORMS. 
 
 Count Dandolo describes the following distinct varie- 
 ties of silk worms, viz : 
 
 1. Silk worms of three casts or moultings. The eggs of 
 this kind are to be found in Lombardy ; the worms and 
 cocoons are two-fifths smaller than thoseof the common 
 sort. Their cocoons are composed of finer and more 
 beautiful silk than the common cocoon, are better con- 
 structed, and according to weight yield a greater quan- 
 tity of silk ; require four days less care than the com- 
 mon worms; are strong and hardy, and promote a sav- 
 ing of time, labor and money. 
 
 2. Large silk worms of four casts. These worms are of 
 a very large quality, the eggs were obtained in Friuli ; 
 they yield a much larger cocoon than the common 
 species ; 150 of the large sort weigh a pound and a half, 
 while it requires 360 and upwards of the ordinary co- 
 coons to weigh as much. The silk is coarser and not 
 
55 
 
 near so pure, and the worms five or six xlays later than 
 the others in attaining their full growth, and in rising, 
 than the common silk worm. 
 
 3. Worms that produce white silk. This species was 
 introduced into France about fifty-two years ago, from 
 China, but was not much cultivated until about 24 
 years past, and is much prized. 
 
 Count Dandolo says, that he has raised a large quan- 
 tity of these, and found them in all respects equal to the 
 common silk worms of four casts. That if he reared silk 
 worms for the purpose of spinning the silk himself, he 
 would cultivate only the silk worms of three casts, 
 and those that produce white silk, as preferable to all 
 others, and every year would choose the very whitest 
 and finest cocoons, to prevent the degeneration of the 
 species. 
 
 The following varieties may also be added to the 
 number : 
 
 4. In Windham county, Connecticut, there is a small 
 pale white worm, which it is said eats but twenty 
 days, and produces fine white silk, though in less 
 quantity than either the common large pale white, or 
 dark colored worm ; but it has the good quality of re- 
 taining its clear while color, and does not turn white 
 by washing or by exposure to sun and air. These 
 worms also produce two crops. 
 
 5. Jl dark drab colored icorm. This variety is very 
 common in the U. Stales, and are called "black" they 
 live longer and make more silk than the large white 
 worms. 
 
 6. Silk worms of S cropt. At the silk establishment 
 of the British East India Company at Jungepore, Den- 
 gal, Lord Valencia, besides the common annual silk 
 worm which gave but one crop, found two others ; the 
 one commonly reared, and supposed to be indigenous, 
 is called Dacey, producing S harvests also another, 
 but greatly inferior, called the China, or Madrassa, 
 which yields S times a year. 
 
 The following instances we copy from the Treasury 
 Manual, to show that two crops a, year have been raised 
 in the United States ; and to use a very trite adage, what 
 has been done, may be done again, therefore, \ve 
 incline to the belief, that it is within the power of a vi- 
 gilant culturist, residing in those States, in which the 
 heat of summer continues long, to make double crops ; 
 but then, we question much, whether any calculations 
 should be predicated upon such results, as they must 
 necessarily depend for success upon circumstances, in 
 our eccentric climate, too uncertain to rest any well 
 grounded hopes upon. 
 
 " In the month of March, 182G, Mr. Seth Millingfon, 
 Prairie Haul, St. Charles Co., Missouri, received a few 
 silk worm eggs from Philadelphia, which were kept in 
 an upper room without a fire, and hatched early in 
 April : they were fed the first week on lettuce, after- 
 wards on the leaves of the White and native Mulberry 
 tree, and came to maturity, within from twenty-four to 
 thirty days, and spun their cocoons before the 12th 
 of May. 
 
 On the last day of May and first day of June, the moths 
 came out and laid their eggs on paper, which was loose- 
 ly rolled up and placed in an open room. Within 8 or 
 10 days from the time the eggs were laid, they began to 
 hatch, and before the 15th of June, nearly one-twen- 
 tieth part had hatched ; and the worms were heallhj, 
 fed well, grew more rapidly and came to maturity in 
 a few days less time, than the first crop. They wound 
 their cocoons on the first day of July; or the last of 
 that month, and first of August, the moths came forth 
 and laid their eggs, which were placed in the, same 
 room as the first eggs. On the 12th and 18th of 
 August, these eggs were hatched. The worms came to 
 maturity and spun their cocoons in less time than the 
 first, viz : before the middle of September, the moths 
 
 came forth and laid their eggs in the first days of Oc- 
 tober." 
 
 "Messrs. Weiss and Youngman, of Bethlehem, Pa. 
 raised two crops during the year 1825. The worms of 
 the second crop appeared more vigorous and healthy 
 than those of the first ; they also produced large co- 
 coons, the silk of which was of a belter quality. 
 
 " Two attempts, however, by Messrs. Terhoeren, of 
 Philadelphia county, Pa., in the years 1826 and 
 failed." 
 
 We have now arrived at a branch of th6 culture of 
 the most vital importance to the success of the whole, 
 and we feel especially solicitous to lay before the rea- 
 der a frank exposition upon this head. It is the supjfOs- 
 ed difficulty of reeling that has hitherto deterred hun- 
 dreds from entering into the business, and, indeed, to- 
 that cause, together with the want of a market, may be 
 ascribed the snail-like march it has hitherto made to- 
 wards being adopted as a component part of the hus- 
 bandry of the country. Much difficulty too has been ex- 
 perienced in the obtainment of reels. This latter cause, 
 however, has ceased to exist, as reels of the most sim- 
 ple structure are now to be had at moderate prices, 
 and a knowledge of the use of these is so easy of acquisi- 
 tion, as to hive stript this particular part of the culture 
 of all the repulsiveness with which it was formerly sur- 
 rounded. Those who enter into the business with a 
 view of prosecuting it on a large scale and of combi- 
 ning them anufacture of silk with it, will not need to be 
 instructed ; but the farmer or planter who may have 
 entered into it merely as a branch of his system of 
 husbandry, will require to be inducted into the mode of 
 preparing his silk for market. And we would advise all 
 such to submit their cocoons to the process of reeling, 
 because in so doing they will impart a greatly enhanced 
 value to the article, and we would especially recom- 
 mend them so to do, as the requisite labor may all be 
 performed by the females of their respective families, 
 who will be enabled through a labor no less interesting 
 than useful, to greatly add to the aggregate amount of 
 the productions of the country, and instead of being 
 burthens upon those upon whom they may be depen- 
 dent, will become at once among the most profitable 
 branches of every farming establishment. Nor is the 
 labor of reeling the less valuable, because it can bo 
 performed at periods of leisure ; but as we would ad- 
 vise in almost every other matter, so in this, the co- 
 coons should be reeled as speedily as possible, and es- 
 pecially those that are defective, as they will deterio- 
 rate by being permitted to remain unwound for any 
 length of time. 
 
 Before we enter upon the description of the process 
 of reeling, we would respectfully offer a word of advice 
 to each and every person who may contemplate enter- 
 ing into the business. It is this. 
 
 Those who may commence the silk business as a 
 branch of their respective system 5 ' of husbandry, after 
 having sown their Mulberry seed, should procure a 
 small quantity of silk worm eges, with which we ad- 
 vise, that they should practice upon our instructions. 
 Should they do so, this good will result from it by the 
 time their orchards of Mulberry are fit to feed from, 
 they will have become perfect masters of the manage- 
 ment of the worms, the cocoons and the method of reel- 
 ing the silk. Jf we are asked, where they will get the 
 leaves from with which to feed the worms, we answer, 
 in most cases, even the first year, they will be able to 
 abstract a sufficiency of leaves from the Mulberry 
 plants, without injury to them, to feed the few worms 
 necessary to be fed as a school. Five hundred or a 
 thousand eggs would be sufficient to commence with, 
 and these could be afterwards multiplied, so that, by 
 ihe time the orchards were of sufficient age for strip- 
 
56 
 
 ping, the party might hare tho requisite number of 
 eggs on band, without further cost, to feed all the 
 leaves lie might raise. The 'intelligent reader will dis- 
 eoVer at a single glance fhe object we have in view, 
 and will doubtless, improve upon our suggestion. Our 
 anxiety to get our countrymen to enter liberally into 
 Ihis culture, arises from the honest conviction enter- 
 tained by us, that it is more profitable than any thing 
 else within the range of the agricultural calling, and 
 because we behold in it the certain means of employ- 
 ment to the thousands and tens of thousands of desti- 
 tute females, who are now dragging out a precarious 
 livelihood throughout our wide spread country, and be- 
 cause we also behold in it, an antidote for that spirit 
 of desolating emigration, which is driving the honest 
 and enterprising from the haunts of their youth, to dis- 
 tant lands, rand depopulating the members of that gal- 
 lant confederacy, which achieved our freedom. Thus 
 influenced, it will 'be readily perceived, we were solici- 
 tous that success s'hould attend those who should be in- 
 duced to adventure in the silk culture, and hence it is, 
 we advise all to acquire a thorough knowledge of the 
 art, by practising in the way we recommend a wcy 
 which, while it embodies every advantage of a fchool 
 of experiment, comparatively costs nothing. 
 
 METHOD OF KEELTNO. 
 
 A person charged with the business of reeling the co" 
 coons, whom we will suppose to be a woman, must be 
 provided with a basin of soft, hot water, to be kept at 
 the proper heat, by being placed upon a small earthen 
 or iron furnace, containing burning charcoal ; she 
 must have a small whisk of broom corn, or of birch 
 twigs, cut sharp at the points, and being seated behind 
 the basin, she must throw into the water a handful or 
 two of cocoons of the same quality ; press them gently 
 tinder the water for two or three minutes, in order to 
 soften the gum of the silk, and thereby to loosen the ends 
 of the filament?. She is then to stir the cocoons Trith 
 the end of the whisk or birchen rods, as lightly as pos- 
 sible, barely touching the cocoon, as should they be 
 roughly struck, the fibres of the silk instead of coming 
 off singly, will clinjr together in lumps, which prevents 
 it from winding off. She will continue the stirring un- 
 til one of the fibres or filaments adheres to it, when dis- 
 engaging it, and laying aside the whisk, she is to draw 
 the filaments towards her, until they come off quite 
 clean from the floss or coarse silk, which always sur- 
 rounds the cocoon, and the fine silk begins to appear : 
 then, breaking off the thread and collecting the floss first 
 taken off, she will run the thread through one of the 
 holes in the iron plate, and proceed to get, and at- 
 tach, others in a similar way, until a sufficient number 
 is obtained to make the thread of the required firm- 
 ness; a second thread is formed the same way, and 
 passed through the adjoining hole : the two threads 
 are then crossed several times around each other, and the 
 ends of each passed through the guide hooks of the 
 traversing bar, and on the contrary side to the hole in 
 the iron plate, through which it had been previously 
 passed. They are then to be carried from, and made 
 fast to, one of the arms of the reel. The points of at- 
 tachment of the two threads will be regulated by the 
 recler, who should have smooth fingers, as roughness of 
 the skin will cause great embarrassment. If, there- 
 fore, the skin of the reeler's fingers be rough, they should 
 be rendered smooth by being rubbed with fand paper, 
 or dog fish skin. Roth threads being fastened to the 
 reel, it is to be turned with a rr gular and even motion ; 
 at first tlowly , until the threads are found to run freely 
 and easily. The crossing of the threads is essential to 
 their perfection, and must not be omitted. The fric- 
 tion of the threads removes any inequalities and rough- 
 ness upon them, and insureg strength, uniform thickness, 
 
 As soon as the pods begin to give the thread freeljT, 
 the reel is turned with a quicker motion. While" the 
 reel is turning, the spinner must continually add fresh 
 fibres to each thread as fast as she can find the ends, 
 not waiting till some of the number she began with are 
 ended, because the internal fibres are much thinner 
 than those constituting the external layers ; but must 
 constantly prepare fresh ends, by dipping the whisk 
 among fresh cocoons, of which such a quantity must 
 be occasionally thrown into the basin as will suffice to 
 supply the two threads which are reeling, but not 
 more ; because by being too long soaked in the hot wa- 
 ter,, they would wind off in burrs. The eocoons thrown 
 in, must be often forced under the water, that they 
 may be equally soaked. The supplying fresh ends, is a 
 business which every woman who can spin will fully un- 
 derstand. She will know, when the cocoon is exhausted, 
 or its fibres break, she must take the end of another fi- 
 bre and throw it lightly on the one that is winding and 
 roll them between the thumb and the finger, gently 
 pressing them together, so as to cause a juncture of the 
 threads. The adroitness in adding fresh threads can 
 only be acquired by practice ; but by proper attention, 
 that peculiar tact, so necessary to success can easily be 
 acquired. 
 
 If the pods leap up often, tFie motion of the wheel 
 must be slackened, and if the threads come off in burrs, 
 it must be turned quicker. Of this, the spinner, who has 
 her eyes upon the balls and thread, must, as she sees 
 occasion, apprise the reeler, and at the fame time, the 
 fire must be increased or diminished 1 , that the reel be 
 allowed a proper motion, which ought to be as quick as 
 possible without endangering the breaking of the 
 thread, or huir^ing the spinner, so that she cannot 
 add fresh cocoons as fast as the old ones are ended. 
 The quicker the motion of the wheel is the better the 
 silk winds off-, and the better the end joins to the 
 thread. 
 
 Every care must be observed to avoid the breaking 
 of the whole thread or single fibres, as every such oc- 
 currence greatly retards the operation. 
 
 In preparing fine silk, in Cevervne?, a famous silk dis- 
 trict of France, the cocoons are not wound off entirely, 
 so as to leave the pellicle of the chrysalis bare ; first 
 because the additional fibres retired, to be added, 
 when the first and strong part of the fibre is observed to 
 be spent, might make the compound thread too stout, 
 and would thus cause a waste of silk ; secondly, be- 
 cause the fibre of a cocoon which has been entirely 
 wound off, besides being weak, also abounds in knots, 
 which would cause it to break in winding, and injure 
 its uniformity, in which the goodness of the thread main- 
 ly consists. Therefore, in winding fine silk, when the 
 cocoon has given off three-fourths and a half of silk, it 
 must be replaced by another cocoon : the remainder of 
 the first cocoons are to be set aside, and theirsilk add- 
 ed to that of an inferior quality. When the first par- 
 cel of cocoons is nearly finished, take out with a ladle 
 all those on which some silk has been left ; let them be 
 opened, the chrysalids taken out, and the shells put in 
 a basket, with the coarse fibres first pulled off with the 
 hands from the cocoons, which were ordered to be laid 
 aside. Those cocoons which are partly wound off, 
 must on no account be permitted to remain in the ba- 
 sin ; for they will obscure and thicken the water, and 
 injure the color and lustre of the silk, which can then 
 be used only for dark colors ; besides this, the consist- 
 ence of the silk is injured, and waste ensues in the 
 winding. The shells must be added to the manure 
 heap ; and as a general rule, it may be laid down as es- 
 sential, that the water in the basin must be changed 
 whenever it becomes discolored. 
 
 The softest water must always be chosen for reeling 
 
 and cylindrical form, which would otherwise be flat. ' I f tne silk, and although its precise temperature can. 
 
57 
 
 not be laid down, because that, in a great measure, 
 must depend upon the composition of the silk of the co- 
 coons, which cannot be nscertained until the reeling has 
 commenced. Such is the difference in cocoons, that while 
 some can be reeled from water heated from 160 B and 
 indeed less, others will require a temperature of 200. 
 Some point between 150 and 190 is probably the right 
 one, but what that point is can easily be ascertained, 
 as whenever the cocoons yield /reefy, it has been already 
 found, and the heat of the water should be maintained 
 at it. By immersing the thermometer in the water at 
 any time, the precise required heat can be determined, 
 and may be preserved at that by submitting the water 
 repeatedly to the test of the instrument. The water 
 should never exceed 200 P , and never that or any thing 
 like it, unless absolutely required by the condition of 
 the cocoons, and in order to arrive at the exact heat 
 wanted, the increase should be gradually carried for- 
 ward. There is no mystery at arriving at this point 
 all that is requisite is attention : with this the person 
 engaged in reeling will be able to graduate the tern- 
 perature with the least difficulty. 
 
 When the spent cocoons leap up and adhere to the 
 iron plate, they must be immediately taken away, else 
 by choking the passage, they will endanger the break- 
 ing of the thread. 
 
 When the reel hag remained any time idle, the thread 
 between the basin and the wires or Yampins, must be 
 vfet to cause the thread to run easily. Keep also the 
 teeth of the wheels, and the mortises in which the 
 traversing bar plays, wet, to ensure regularity and ease 
 to their movements. In winding the good cocoons, some 
 defective ones will be found among them, which will 
 not wind off, or are full of knots. These must be taken 
 out of the copper, and be kept by themselves ; they are 
 called bassinats, and are to be wound apart as coarse as 
 possible : they make afoul silk. 
 
 The breaking of the fibres is principally owing eithrr 
 to bad cocoons, viz: being ill formed owing to the 
 worms being disturbed during their spinning : or the 
 fibres may break by an improper regulation of heat in 
 the water : first, when it is not sufficient to make them 
 wind off easy ; or, second, when it is too great, and oc- 
 casions burrs, which may stop at some of the holes 
 through which the thread runs. Cocoons also which 
 have two worms enclosed, will perpetually break. The 
 whole thread may also break, by burrs stopping at the 
 holes of the plate or by the reels being turned by jerks. 
 It may be fastened like the fibres, by laying the parts 
 on one another, and giving them a little twist. To 
 avoid the breaking, occasioned by burrs, the rampins 
 should be just so wide as to let them easily pass. 
 
 It would be convenient for the spinner to have a lit- 
 tle stick erected close to the side of the basin, to hang 
 her wisk on, and also a sharp fork, with which she 
 may draw away the spent cocoons, or such as being 
 near spent, stick in the holes in the plate : and as the 
 whisk will frequently take up more ends than are im- 
 mediately to be added, and as the spinner will some- 
 times have occasion to employ both her hands, the brush 
 will, at that time, conveniently hang by the basin, 
 while the cocoons, which are attached to it, remain in 
 the water, and the ends will be in readiness as they are 
 wanted. When the cocoons rise to the iron plate, they 
 are to be drawn down between the fingers of the snread 
 hand. 
 
 If the spinner be under the necessity of leaving off 
 work for any length of time, the cocoons should all be 
 raised with a skimmer out of the water, till her return, 
 otherwise by oversoaking they would run off in burrs ; 
 but it is best to continue the reeling without interrup- 
 tion, and let fresh, but equally experienced persons 
 succeed those who are tired. 
 
 As the heat of the water of the basin will require to 
 be varied according to the ease or difficulty with which 
 
 8 
 
 the different sorts of cocoons give off their silk, the 
 spinner should always have some cold water within 
 reach, in order to cool that in the basin quickly, when 
 the silk comes off too easily, and in burrs. The water 
 is also necessary for the woman managing the cocoons, 
 to cool her fingers, and to sprinkle the iron bar when it 
 becomes heated. Some light wood, chips or shavings, 
 should also be at Hand to increase the heat quickly, 
 when the cocoons do not yield their silk readily. The 
 water in which the cocoons are heated must be pure, 
 soft nnd clear of sand or settlings. 
 
 When the cocoons are first put in the water, if the 
 silk rises thick upon the brush, or gets in lump^, it 
 is a eign the water is too hot : if the thread cannot be 
 caught, the water is too cold. When the cocoons are 
 in play, if they rise often to the holes in the iron plate, 
 the water is too hot , if the cocoon do not follow the 
 threads, it is too eoW. 
 
 Keep nn equal number of cocoons working at each 
 end of the hasin in order to preserve the thread of silk 
 to an equal size. When there are fewer on one side 
 than the other, the silk becomes smaller at that side, 
 and the thread will break. Therefore, throw in the co- 
 coons one by one, and never throw two at a time. 
 
 It will be seen by observing the position of the thread 
 upon the reel, that the ditlerent layers do not lie paral- 
 lel to, nor upon, but across one another. This is owing 
 to the mechanism of the apparatus, and is particularly 
 contrived to effect this object ; which is essential to the 
 perfection of the process, and one to which the ac- 
 knowledged superiority of the Italian silk is to be as- 
 cribed. It is effected by the seesaw or horizontal mo- 
 tion of the traversing bar, and is produced by the dif- 
 ferent number of the teeth in the pinion of the axle, 
 and in the wheels at the ends of the shaft, and in the 
 pinions on the top of the post, which catch and work 
 upon one another. Without this crossing, the thread", 
 from their gummy nature, would inevitably adhere, and 
 render the subsequent windings and twistings of the 
 silk very difficult ; causing the threads frequently to 
 break, and when joined to form knots, which, in weav- 
 ing, cannot pass through the reed*, apd hence injure the 
 beauty of the stuffs. But the mechanism mentioned of 
 the traversing bar, prevents the threads lying over 
 each upon the other, upon the reel, until after it has 
 made many revolutions. It is stated by Borgnis in the 
 Traite de Mechanique, that the silk fibres of the cocoons 
 are spun in zigzags, like those formed by the silk reel, 
 and, consequently, the operation of the reel is an imita- 
 tion of nature, of which the industry of the catterpillar, 
 instructed by her, is the prototype. 
 
 Count Dandolo, says, that it is a well known fact, that 
 of two reelers, each reeling 7 1-2 pounds of cocoons of 
 the same quality, one will obtain only six ounces and 
 a half, or, perhaps still less, while another will turn off 
 eight ounces. 
 
 A woman experienced in the business, with a girl to 
 turn the wheel and attend the fire under the cauldron, 
 can, with ease, reel off one pound of silk per day, con- 
 sisting of four or five cocoons of the most perfect.quali- 
 
 *y- 
 
 When a desired quantity of silk has been wound on 
 the reel, pick off all the loose silk; then take a little 
 handful of the coarse silk, and after washing nn.5 
 squeezing it, dip it in cold water, and rub over the silk 
 on the reel, stroking up also the silk with the palm of 
 the hand : then turn the wheel with a II possible veloci- 
 ty, with open windows, if the reeling has been done in 
 a room for eight or ten minutes to dry the silk pffertiv 
 ally; which done, take it off the reel, put it i,n a Hry, airy 
 place, but not in the sun. This is done to clear the 
 silk and give it a gloss. 
 
 When one reel is taken off, another should be p"t on, 
 that the work may not be delayed. Every winding ap* 
 paratus must have two reels. 
 
58 
 
 In preparing tho dupions for winding off, more arc 
 put into the basin at once than of the finest kind. Thev 
 must be first well cleaned from the floss on their out" 
 sides. The water also must be boiling hot ; and as the 
 silk they yield is of a coarser quality than the other, anc 
 has a good deal of the floss upon "it, the person who 
 turns the reel must take the opportunity, while theom 
 who manages the basin is preparing the cocoons fo 
 winding, to clear and pick off the loose silk from tha 
 which is on the reel. The dujiions intended for ordina 
 ry sewing silk, are to be wound from 15 to 20 cocoons 
 The rest may be wound as coarse as possible, that is 
 from 40 to 50 cocoons. These serve to cover and fill up 
 in coarse stuffs, and are likewise for seuing- silk. Th< 
 good choquettes arc to be wound according to the use 
 they are in tended to be put to, but not finer than from se 
 ven to eight. The badchoquettes may be wound from 15 tc 
 20. The satin cocoons, so called from their resemblance 
 to satin, require water only moderately hot. The pro 
 per heat will be found by observing the manner in which 
 the silk comes off from the first of them which are pu 
 into the basin ; and, as already said of cocoon- 
 generally, if it come off thick, cold water must be add- 
 ed, until the proper temperature be attained. They 
 must not be allowed to remain long in the water, and 
 there should be only a few of these cocoons put in a 
 a time. The water for the dupions and choquettes mus 
 be changed four times a day. 
 
 It may, perhaps, be profitable to give the views o 
 others, upon this particular branch of the business, as 
 it is the process of reeling which imparts so much to 
 the value of the silk. If done indifferently it may no 
 be worth more than four dollars per pound ; but if wel 
 and skilfully executed, it may be worth from six to se 
 ven dollars per pound according to the demand and state 
 of the market. 
 
 London says : 
 
 "The cocoons, or produce of the worms, as soon as 
 completed, are either reeled off or sold to others to be 
 reeled. The silk as formed by the worms is so fine 
 that if each ball or cocoon was reeled separately, ii 
 would be entirely unfit for the purposes of the manu- 
 facturer. In the reeling, therefore, after the cococns 
 are cleared from the floss, the ends of several are 
 joined and reeled together out of warm water, which 
 softening their natural gum, makes them stick together 
 so as to form one strong smooth thread. As often as 
 any single thread breaks or comes to an end, it is sup- 
 plied by a new one, so that by continually keeping up 
 the same number, the united threads may be wound to 
 any length. The single threads of the newly added co- 
 coons are not joined by any tie ; but simply laid on the 
 main thread, to which they adhere by their gum ; and 
 their ends are so fine as not to cause the least percepti- 
 ble unevenness in the places where they are laid on. 
 Care should be taken in the operation that the silk 
 when reeled off may consist of a smooth thread of equal 
 t-hickness and strength ; but of a round form, having 
 the small threads of which it is composed as equally 
 stretched and firmly united as possible, and that the 
 several rounds as they lie on the reel should not be 
 glued together. When the skein is quite dry it is ta- 
 Jjen off the reel, and a tie is made with some of the re- 
 fuse silk on that part of the skein where it bore upon 
 the bar of the reel, and another tie on the opposite part 
 of the skein, after which it is doubled into a hank, and 
 usually tied round near the extremities, when it is laid 
 by for use or sale." 
 
 Mr. Kenrick in his Silk Grower's Guide, states that 
 "the use of the reel requires dexterity and practice. 
 The cocoons, after being cleared of the floss, and 
 thrown by handaful into basins of pure soft water, 
 placed over small furnaces of charcoal. When 
 the water is almost at boiling point, sink the cocoons 
 with a whisk of broom corn under water for two or 
 
 three minutes, to soffen the gum and loosen the fibres. 
 Then moving the whisk lightly, the filaments will ad- 
 here to it, and may be drawn off till the flossy i)k is 
 unwound, and the fine silk comes off. A sufficient num- 
 ber being collected, the reeling begins. If the pods 
 leap upwards, the reel must be slackened ; if the srlk 
 comes off in burrs, you must turn faster ; if thewateris 
 too hot, they furze in unwinding, and the fine lustre of 
 white silk is injured, and cold water must be added. It 
 requires long practice dexterously to attend to the 
 splicing on the fibres, to keep up an even thread, as the 
 silk grows continually finer to the end of the co- 
 coon." 
 
 Mr. Cobb, a practical culturist and extensive manu- 
 facturer gives the following as the method of reeling 
 cocoons and manufacturing silk in Connecticut. " A 
 large kettle set in a furnace, or in an arch, is filled with 
 water, and fire is kept under it; and when it is about 
 to boil a quart of cocoons is thrown into it," &c ; and 
 after describing other preparatory measures, he says-, 
 "Keeling is then commenced on a common hand reel 
 (such as is in common use in families in New England 
 for reeling yarn from the spinning wheel,) and the silk 
 fibres run off about as fast and with as little difficulty as 
 yarn from a spindle. Some of the cocoons run off be- 
 fore others, and when on this account the thread be- 
 comes too small, all the fibres are broken off, and what 
 is reeled is tied up by itself on the reel, and another 
 quart is then thrown into the kettle ; the ends are col- 
 lected and reeled in the same way as before, and each 
 separate piece is tied by itself. When the reel is full, 
 the pieces are all tied together, taken off, and imme- 
 diately dried." 
 
 "Most of the silk is manufactured into sewing silk, 
 and twist in the following manner : it is immersed for 
 a few moments in boiling water, taken out, put on 
 swifts and spun or twisted, on a common wool wheel, 
 beginning at the large end of the piece, that is at the 
 end which was reeled nrst ; and when it becomes too 
 small, which is the case when one-half or two-thirds 
 is run off, the small end of another piece is added to it, 
 and thus they are twisted together. It is then spooled 
 directly off the spindle, a sufficient number of spools is 
 put into a small spool frame to make thread of a proper 
 size, which is twisted again and cleansed by boiling in 
 strong suds for three hours, then dried and colored. 
 Undergoing this process it shrinks about one-half in 
 weight: after this, for sewing silk, it is doubled, twist- 
 ed and reeled on a reel two yards long, and is divided 
 into skeins of twenty threads each, as the statute of 
 the state requires. If it be calculated for twist, it is 
 made three threaded, twisted, and done up into sticks 
 with a small hand machine, and is then ready for the 
 market. The floss or tow, as it is called, is boiled in 
 strong suds for three hours, dried, picked, carded, and 
 spun on a common wool wheel. The yarn is woven into 
 cloth, usually worn by the women for every day gowns ; 
 and sometimes manufactured into strong and durable 
 carpets. 
 
 Those cocoons that the grubs have pierced are boiled 
 as above directed : the end that is not pierced is cut off; 
 they are then spun on a linen wheel like worsted, begin- 
 ning at the end cut. It is then twisted together, three 
 threaded and knit into stockings. 
 
 The imperfect cocoons, and all that will not reel, are 
 boiled, carded, spun and manufactured in all respects 
 ike floss, but they make nicer and finer cloth." 
 
 We have been thus full upon this part of the subject, 
 "or the reasons before assigned by us, that it is by 
 means of the reeling, &c. that a large portion of the 
 irofit of the culturist arises. Indeed it may be said 
 hat those who are now engaged in the culture of 
 silk, have to look to it for fully 25 percent, of their pro- 
 it, and hence it becomes doubly important that it 
 liould be well done. 
 
MODE OP MAKING SEWING SILK, AND SILK TWI3T IK CON- 
 NECTICUT. 
 
 Ths following is the method followed in Connecticut 
 as recommended to the secretary of the treasury by 
 Daniel Bulkley, Esquire. 
 
 " The raw silk is first spooled on bobbins, the num- 
 ber of which is in proportion to the size of the intended 
 thread from the first spinning, and, to facilitate the op- 
 eration, they are put into warm water. The silk is 
 again spooled, taking two or three bobbins, according 
 to the size of the intended thread. After being spun, 
 it is reeled into skeins, each of forty yards in length, 
 or half a knot of the country reel, as required by a law 
 of the state. About twenty-five of these skeins are put 
 together, like a skein of cotton or woollen yarn. They 
 are then boiled, adding a small quantity of soft soap, or 
 ley of wood ashes, to cleanse them from the gum, they 
 are then ready for dying. 
 
 Silk twist is spun in the same manner, except that it 
 is always of three cords. The winding of twist is done 
 on a machine imported from England." 
 
 We have a small establishment for spinning by water, 
 with a machine similar to a throstle frame of a cotton 
 mil). The silk is first spooled by hand on bobbins, 
 which are placed on the top of the frame ; the thread 
 of raw silk passing from it under a wire through a 
 trough of water, then through rollers to the spindle. 
 A single frame may contain from thirty to fifty spin- 
 dles, and can be attended to by one person. The doub- 
 ling and twisting may be done by the same frame at 
 the same time, by giving the bands to a part of the 
 spindles of a contrary direction. As many threads are 
 put to a spindle as are required to make a thread of two 
 or three cords. Silk spun in this way is far superior to 
 that done by hand. The machine will spin from two to 
 three pounds in a day. A pound of silk after being spun 
 and cleansed will weigh about ten ounces, and form one 
 hundred and seventy skeins; the threads of sufficient 
 size to sew woollens. If spun finer, it would make 
 more. It increases little or nothing in weight when 
 dyed. Silk is sold by the skein ; one hundred of which 
 will measure one-third more than half a pound of 
 Italian, or English silk, of the same sized threads One 
 woman can make from twelve to fifteen pounds 
 of raw silk, in a season of six weeks." 
 
 FREPARiTION OP WASTE SILK. 
 
 " All the cocoons pierced by the moths ; those form- 
 ed with holes at one or both ends; the light cocoons 
 deemed improper for winding, after the insects have 
 rbeen cut out, or threshed out, and the pellicles remain- 
 ing after winding of the silk, are to be collected ; and 
 if it be wished to retain the yellow color, they are put 
 in a copper kettle with water, and trampled with the 
 feet; turning the cocoons, and adding a little fresh wa- 
 ter from time to time, until it be found that the silk 
 separates properly, upon tedding it out with the fin- 
 gers. They are then tied up in a clean cloth, which is 
 dipped in a clear stream, or water is poured on them, 
 until it runs off without color, and spread out to dry." 
 
 WASTE WHITE SILK. 
 
 " Waste silk intended to remain white, is to be treat- 
 ed in the following manner : 
 
 Put the cocoons in a kettle of cold water, and let 
 them lie 24 hours : then boil them in a copper kettle, 
 adding a quarter of a pound of soap for every pound of 
 cocoons : when the soap is dissolved, tic up the cocoons 
 in a clean cloth, put it in a kettle, and boil until the 
 cocoons have become white. The water should entire- 
 ly cover the cloth ; then take out the cloth, and dip it 
 in a clear stream, or pour water on it till it comes off 
 clear ; then spread out the cocoons in the sun to 
 dry. 
 
 ON SPINNING INFERIOR QUALITIES OF E1LK. 
 
 In every filature, one or more reels are devoted to the 
 spinming with the carrelet, the inferior qualities of silk, 
 which cannot be spun on the common reel. The car- 
 relet, is thus described by M. Reynauld, of Paris. Tlce 
 frame is larger than the common silk reel, and has 
 commonly a wheel with four arms. The most essen- 
 tial difference in the frames, is that of the head pieces. 
 To these are added a board which carries two or four 
 bobbins. If there are only two, they are placed longi- 
 tudinally one above the other. If two threads are to 
 be wound at a time, two other bobbins are added, and 
 placed between the other two in the same position. Af- 
 ter the cocoons have been threshed, a number of the fi- 
 bres are collected to form a thread, which is passed 
 through one of the two eyes of the board of the bob- 
 bins, of the same form as that of the traversing bar of 
 the silk reel ; then it is wound round both bobbins at 
 the same time : being first carried to the first and re- 
 turning round the second, it passess between them, giv- 
 ing a twist to the part of the fibre which was extended 
 from one bobbin to the other. The spinner then takes 
 the same end, and passes it through the eye of the 
 traversing bar, and attaching it to the wheel, it is set 
 in motion. If it be wished to wind two skeins at one 
 time, a second thread is prepared, and attached to the 
 second pair of cylinders or bobbins, whence it passed 
 through the second eye of the traversing bar, and then 
 fixed to the wheel at a proprr distance from the first 
 end. 
 
 The silk called /ram, which is slightly twisted, and 
 used for the filling of stuffs and for inferior silk for bon- 
 nets ; the dupions or double cocoons, are also reeled on 
 the carrelet in France. These latter require softening 
 in hot water five or six minutes. 
 
 In France the coarse fibres taken off the cocoons and 
 laid aside, are called fantasie ; it is first boiled, then 
 carded and spun : the best of it is used for filling after 
 being slightly twisted.'a'nd the inferior for the chain of 
 stuffs. In' Connecticut ihe coarse thread of the cocoons 
 are made into a ball, then reeled, boiled in soap and 
 water, rinsed, dried, cut into one and a half inch pieces, 
 then carded on cotton cards and spun like wool or cot- 
 :on. 
 
 The pointed cocoons, or such imperfect ones, as are 
 made by feeble worms, or in cold seasons, when the 
 .emperature of the apartment is not attended to, are 
 first deprived of their gum, by being immersed in wa- 
 ter, or soap and water, dried, and then spun upon the 
 wheel, and forms an even and fine thread. 
 
 In Connecticut, family sewing silk is made from the 
 good cocoons, from which the moths have escaped. The 
 shrivelled case of the pupa, and any eggs which may 
 lave been deposited in the cocoon, are first taken out ; 
 .hey are then boiled in soap and water, rinsed, gently 
 iqueezed, dried, an'd spun on a foot wheel. Knitting 
 thread for stockings and mils, is ajso made from them. 
 They make the best sewingsilk, by doubling the thread, 
 reeled from cocoons and twisting it on the common 
 wheel. The skein is first boiled in soap and water, 
 and it lies on a dish containing enough soap-suds to keep 
 t moist, while the process of reeling is going on. 
 
 To organzine silk. The thread is first twisted from 
 /ight to left. The silk in twisting, turns off on other 
 jobbins somewhat larger than the first. These bobbins 
 are then to be exposed to the stream of water, to which 
 have been added two ounces of white, or castile soap, 
 r the latter best,) 18 ounces of olive oil and four or five 
 pounds of wood ashes The bobbins are put in a kettle, 
 the bottom of which is pierced, and placed on the ves- 
 sel of water, when it boils with a cloth over it, and 
 permitted to remain until the silk begins to swell, and 
 to detach from the bobbins. They are then to be taken 
 away, and the second throw' or twist given to the 
 
60 
 
 threads, from left to right. The combination of these 
 to threads, is called the pearl, as the organzirie looks 
 Jike a string of small pearls or beads. It is easy to know 
 t the second throw be perfect, by untwisting part of the 
 urganzine, and when it is open, or slackening the hand a 
 Ule, each thread twists round itself in obedience to 
 the first throw or twist. The water may be filled up as 
 it wastes, but the ashes, soap and oil. arc to be renew- 
 ed every day. 
 
 MACHINERY. 
 
 It is not our purpose to give minute descriptions of the 
 various reels, looms, and other machinery used in the 
 preparation and manufacture of silk. Such an occupa- 
 tion of our pages, we deem wholly unnecessary, be- 
 cause it is not to be presumed that farmers will desire 
 to become manufacturers of such implements, and, in- 
 deed, if they were so disposed, the immunities of the pa- 
 tent law would prevent them. We shall, therefore, 
 content ourself with enumerating such of the most 
 prominent inventions, as appear to us, by their merit, 
 to demand notice. Indeed, more than this, in the pres- 
 ent state of improvement, when the spirit of emulation 
 is emphatically abroad, would be worse than superero- 
 gatory. Any individual entering into the silk culture, 
 will, as a matter of sheer prudence, in the exercise of 
 a sound discrimination, piocure for himself the best of 
 all such machinery as he may require to carry on such 
 branches of the business, as it may be his peculiar plea- 
 sure to engage in ; and with respect to the prosecution of 
 the business by manufacturing companies, they will not 
 require to be reminded of what particular kinds of ma- 
 chinery, or implements, they will need, their interest 
 will at once dictate the procurement of such as is best 
 adapted to the uses, to which they intend to appropri- 
 ate them. 
 
 The brief notice below will suffice for all profitable 
 uses of the farmer or planter : 
 
 1. The silk reel, of Piedmont.i 
 
 2. Gideon It. Smith's improved silk reel being an 
 improvement upon the above, the operation being great- 
 ly simplified. 
 
 3. Brooks 1 patent silk spinning and reeling machine. 
 This is represented as being a very simple and easy op- 
 erating machine, and yet one of the most perfect that 
 has been invented for the purpose of reeling and twist- 
 ing silk from the cocoons, and manufacturing it into 
 sewing silk. 
 
 4. Gay and Moseky's reel, and silk power loom. The fol- 
 lowing description of the latter improved machinery 
 we copy from that excellent and sensibly conducted pe- 
 riodical, The Silk Worm," published at Albany, New 
 York, and edited by Samuel Blydenburgh, Esquire. 
 u " J 1 J? C im P roved system of winding silk, invented 
 by Mr. Gay, many and important advantages are gain- 
 ed ; but gull it will not altogether supercede the use o 
 the reel. By his plan the silk is wound on spools from 
 the cocoons. In this state it is not liable to tatgle as 
 when in skeins. When once wound in a contiguoui 
 thread on the spools, it may be kept any length of time 
 and carried any distance., without injury. It will be 
 in the same state of keeping, as the spools of cotton 
 thread, and may always be wound off in the same entir 
 thread as it was wound on. 
 
 When the silk is intended to be sold to the manufac 
 turer even to the merchant, this is infinitely the safes 
 way in which it can be preserved. When in the skeii 
 it is always liable to injuries, either in keeping or in 
 trasportation. 
 
 If the silk is cultivated near to where it is to be manu 
 factured, the manufacturer can furnish the spools 
 weighing them s they are delivered out, and deduct 
 ing the weight of the spools when returned from th 
 silk. If it is to go through several hands, the spool 
 
 nay be made of an exact given weight, and warranted 
 ot to weigh more. 
 
 The whole process of winding is, by this plan, not 
 endered much more simple and easy to learn, but is in- 
 nitely more convenient, as it will be done by a little 
 mig machine, which will be no inconvenience at the 
 reside, while the regular silk reel is much more cutn- 
 TOUS and would scarcely find room in a small dwell- 
 "g- 
 
 But in nearly all cases, where the silk is to be manu- 
 actured, it will still have to be reeled from these 
 )obbins, or spools, into hanks or skeins. This, howev- 
 er, is no objection to winding it originally on spools, for 
 he saving and other advantages which result from 
 Beeping and preserving the silk on spools, overbal- 
 .nce the trouble of two windings." 
 
 g#-\Ve take pleasure in stating, that these ma- 
 hines may be obtained on application to Samuel Bly- 
 lenburgh, Esquire, Albany, New York. 
 
 Speaking of the machinery of Mr.Gay and his partner, 
 ilr. Moseley, Judge Ambrose Spencer, of Albany, New 
 York, in a letter to Mr. A. H. Brown, of Frederick 
 Bounty, Md. makes the following remarks, which 
 hrough the politeness of the latter gentleman, we are 
 >ermitted to copy : 
 
 " I am personally acquainted with Mr. Gay : he is, 
 ndeed, a very ingenious man : independent'of the reel 
 nvented by him and Moseley, he, or they, have sim- 
 >lified all the machinery necessary for the manufac- 
 ure of silk, and there is now in operation at Provi- 
 dence, under Mr. Gay's direction, a manufactory of 
 silk, the stock in which has sold for more man 100 per 
 cent. .advance. He sent me a pattern for a vest, equal 
 to any imported. He finds that the power loom, by 
 vhich cotton has been woven, may be successfully used 
 'or the weaving of silk. Mr. Gay is the very man to 
 ^ive or furnish instruction in the art of reeling, and to 
 establish a manufactory, furnishing all the necessary 
 machinery." 
 
 And in addition to this high encomium upon the mer- 
 its of Mr. Gay and his machinery, we have seen it 
 stated, that his red is so simple in its construction, as 
 that any woman can acquire sufficient knowledge of its 
 use, in two hours instruction, to become a tolerably ex- 
 pert reeler. 
 
 5. Terhoeven's winding, doubling and twisting machine. 
 This is represented as a simple machine, invented by 
 Messrs. Terhoevens, of Philadelphia, used for winding 
 silk from cocoons, and for doubling and twisting the 
 thread at the same time. 
 
 6. Cobb's reel. This is an invention of Mr. J. H. 
 Cobb, of Massachusetts, and it is stated to be a most 
 efficient machine, combining in an eminent degree sim- 
 plicity with power. 
 
 There are many other reeling machines, of European 
 and American inventions, as well as numerous silk 
 looms, twisting machines, draw boys, ribbon looms, 
 looms for weaving plain and figured stuffs, and power 
 and other looms, and inventions, of one kind or another, 
 out of number ; but as our work is intended for farmers' 
 and planters, who, we presume, will scarcely ever car- 
 ry the business beyond converting the cocoons into raw 
 silk, we consider that, in noticing the machines herein 
 recited, we have accomplished all that need be required 
 by those for whose accommodation we have ventured 
 to compile this work. Indeed, so far as the interests of 
 the husbandman is concerned, except lor the purposes 
 of domestic use, such as sewing silk, knitting of stock- 
 ings, and the fabrication of an occasional dress for the 
 females of the family, we should doubt the propriety 
 of his carrying the silk culture beyond the point of 
 reeling. Having effected that, we think, he should be 
 content to transfer the business of all subsequent labor 
 upon the commodity, to the hands of the manufacturer, 
 
leaving his factor to settle the questions with respect 
 to who that should he, or whether he should find for it 
 a foreign or domestic market, 
 
 MAUKKT FOR THE SILK. 
 
 The disposal of the silk after it shall have been raised, 
 being an object of the first importance, it seems oppor- 
 tune that we should say a word or two with respect to 
 Ifee markets. By a letter of Judge Ambrose Spencer, 
 H is stated, that the import of silk amounts to the 
 value of $10,000,000, <mnu<i%, and as he very justly 
 remarks, this will increase with our wealth and popu- 
 lation. Thus we have a domestic market, to this enor- 
 mous amount, inviting theAmerican husbandman to sup- 
 ply it. And already various manufactories in the states 
 of New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massa- 
 chusetts, have been established, to convert the raw silk 
 into stuffs of various descriptions, and so confident are 
 th calculating people of that intelligent and enterpris- 
 ing portion of our country, of the entire and triumphant 
 success of the silk busine-s, that companies and indi- 
 viduals are in every direction of it, entering with spirit 
 into the culture and manufacture of silk. Indeed, so 
 rapid have been the multiplication of establishments 
 for its manufacture, that the demand for the raw mate- 
 rial, greatly exceeds the supply, and at the present mo- 
 ment almost any quantity of cocoons or raw silk, would find 
 a really and profitable market, in any of the principal 
 eastern cities. The price of raw silk, we have seen 
 quoted at $4 per pound, and that of cocoons at 3 a 
 bushel. We have never counted the number of cocoons 
 contained in a bushel ; but from haying measured and 
 counted a quart, we should think that from 4,000 to 
 5,000, according to their size and perfection, would 
 make a bushel of cocoons. The only thing like a cal- 
 culation upon this part of the subject, that we have 
 been able to lay our hands upon, we found in the very 
 interesting letter of William B. Buchanan, Esquire, in 
 which he speaks of 1,500 worms making ah ant three 
 pecks of cocoons. If kis measure be the correct one, then, 
 two thousand would make a bushel, but we incline to 
 think that an average, of any considerable quantity, would 
 take fully the number assumed by us. 
 
 Besides the domestic market just spoken of, France 
 imports annually between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000 
 worth of raw silk, and this, too, notwithstanding she is 
 a silk growing country. And England, owing to the 
 humidity of her climate, being unable to raise in 
 worms lo advantage, has to draw all the raw material 
 for her numerous silk manufactories, from distant coun- 
 tries, and we have seen the annual average amount 
 consumed by them from 182 1 to 1828, a period of 7 
 years, stated at $17,255,368. Thus then, in our home 
 market, and in the markets of France and England, we 
 find a demand for raw silk, annually, of about $33,000,- 
 000, which, as those countries respectfully expand ir 
 population and wealth, must increase in a corresponded 
 ratio ; and no one will pretend to affirm, that, if we sup- 
 ply the article upon as good terms as other nations, w 
 will not have an equal chance with them in so doing 
 And here we would ask, what can prevent us, will 
 our advantages of locality, of climate, extensive do 
 mains, and soil, from at once becoming successful rival 
 in every market where the raw silk material is demand 
 ed ? There is nothing within the range of probability 
 that can operate unfavorably to our competition, un 
 less, indeed, it be our own supineness our culpable ii 
 difference our criminal neglect to add toourproduc 
 tions, a staple commodity, which will, if prosecute 
 with vigor and intelligence for ten years, equal, if it doe 
 not exceed, our exportation of cotton, without interfei 
 ing in the least with its consumption. As it has been for 
 cibly observed by Judge Spencer, our import uf silk stu/ 
 already exceed our entire export of breadstuff's. This is a 
 important fact, because, with the facilities of manufac- 
 turing already established and being established, we 
 
 ave at our own doors, a market greatly exceeding in. 
 tmmd any supply which for several years the country 
 'ill be able to furnish, and at prices loo, which offer 
 r ie most generous rewards to the labor of the agricul- 
 urist. 
 
 If it be said that these markets are to the eashoard, 
 mote from the great Mulberry regions of the middle 
 nd southern stales, we affirm that agencies for the pur- 
 hase of raw silk, will rise up in every district and city 
 f those regions, so soon as the article shall be grown 
 herein in sufficient quantities to make it an object. 
 Therefore, no farmer or planter should permit such a 
 bought to enter his mind, as there is nothing more cer- 
 ain than that markets and capital will spring up, and be 
 
 mployed wherever and whenever profit is to be made, 
 
 nterest and emolument, being; with merchants, as 
 vith every body else, the great ruling motives by 
 vhich their actions are governed in matters of trade. 
 
 DISBANDING OF SILK FROM THE REEL. 
 
 The Treasury Manual has the following, and as 
 ive see it copied by the Silk Culturist, published at 
 Hartford, Connecticut, by the Hartford county Silk So- 
 :iety, in the midst of the silk culture country, we take 
 t for granted that it is the approved method. 
 
 " The single fibres of which the thread is composed, 
 are liable to suffer very different degrees of stretching- 
 as they are wound from the cocoons. If the cocoons are 
 not well sorted, this different degree of extension will be 
 he greater ; and even when they are sorted, they 
 must still be subject to the same, because some are a lit- 
 .le longer in the water than others, and, therefore give 
 heir silk easier ; and also, the weak latter ends of 
 ome cocoons wind off with the strong first part of 
 others. The fibres being thus strelched unequally, will 
 occasion when the skein is taken from the reel too sud- 
 denly, those fibres which are most stretched to contract 
 more than the others, by which their union will be in 
 some measure destroyed, and the thread composed of 
 .hem rendered less compact and firm, the fibres appear- 
 ng in several places disjoined from, one another. To 
 emedy this, the skein should remain there six or eight 
 lours, until the unequal exlerision which it suffered in 
 winding is, by the stretch which it undergoes on the 
 reel, brought nearer to an equality ; and, until the- 
 thread, by being well dried, has its fibres firmly united. 
 When the skein is quite dry, proceed to disband it 
 from the reel. First, squeeze it together all around, to 
 loosen it upon the bars ; then, with a thread made of 
 the refuse silk, tie it on that place where it bore on 
 the bars of the reel : then slide it off the reel, and 
 make another tie on the part opposite to the one first 
 made ; after which, double it, and tie it near each ex- 
 tremity, and then lay it by for use or sale, in a dry 
 place. When the skein is finished, there should be a 
 mark tied to the end of the thread, otherwise it may be 
 difficult to find it, if it mixes with the thiead of the 
 skein. 
 
 CLEANSING AND UNGUMMING SILK. 
 
 " The operation consists of depriving silk of the prin- 
 ciples which affect its whiteness. 
 
 Make up the silk into hunks, that is to say, run a 
 thread around each hank, which consists of a certain 
 quantity of skeins tied together. After that, the hanks 
 are to be united, and several of them to be bound to- 
 gether, to make up a bundle, the sizes and names 
 whereof vary according to the nature of the article 
 manufactured. 
 
 After this operation, soap is to be dissolved in water, 
 heated in a kettle in trie proportion of 15 Ibs. of sap 
 to 100 Ibs. of silk. Cut the soap into small slices to 
 promote its solution. After the soap has been dissolved, 
 the kettle is to be filled with fresh water, which should 
 be pure, free from calcareous impregnation, but not in 
 unnecessary quantities, in order to avoid increasing the 
 
proportion of injurious salts, and weakening the forci 
 of the solvent. The proper proportions for this opera 
 tior^ as ascertained after many experiments on a largi 
 scale, are 7 or 8 Ibs. of water, to 1 of silk 1-12 
 1-6 is sufficient for the greater number of colors : for 
 yellow, unbleached silks, it is necessary to add from 50 
 to per cent. ; for unbleached white silks, 25 per 
 cent, of soap. The water being in the kettle, the door 
 f the furnace closed, leaving only a few live coals in 
 it, in order that the bath may be kept quite hot, bul 
 Vithout boiling ; for Dr. Bancroft says, that silk ought 
 never to be submitted to a boiling heat, either when 
 the mordant is applied, or afterwards in the dying op- 
 eration, as a high temperature, besides injuring the 
 texture and lustre of the silk, would detatch and sep- 
 arate the mordant, before the coloring matter could 
 have combined, and produced an insoluble union with 
 both. Those eminent French chemists Ttienard and 
 Roard, also confirm Mr. Bancroft's views. 
 
 Whilst this bath is preparing, the hanks are to be put 
 upon the pegs or pins, and when the bath is ready, the 
 silk is to be put into it, and left therein, until all the 
 part dipped is wholly freed from its gum ; which will 
 be easily seen, by the v/hiteness and flexibility which 
 Ihe silk acquires when deprived of it. The hanks are 
 then placed again on the rods, to undergo the same op- 
 eration in the parts not yet steeped ; they are then to 
 !be taken out of the bath, in proportion as they are 
 found divested of their gum. 
 
 The silk, thus ungummed, is to be wrung upon 
 the pins to remove the soap in it ; then to be dressed, 
 by being arranged upon the pins and upon the hands, 
 in order to disentangle it ; then a cord is to be run 
 through the hanks, to keep them down during the boil- 
 ing. About 8 or 9 hanks may be placed on a line. Af- 
 ter this the silks are to be put into bags of strong coarse 
 linen. These bags are to be put 14 or 15 inches wide 
 and 4 or 5 feet long, closed at both ends, but open 
 lengthwise. When the silk is put in them they mus 
 toe stitched up each bag will hold 30 Ibs. of silk. 
 
 The silk thus bagged is to be submitted to a similar 
 oap bath, as above described, to undergo a boiling for a 
 quarter of an hour ; when it begins to boil over, it is 
 
 to be checked by adding cold water. The bags during 
 boiling must be often stirred to prevent the silk from 
 burning. This operation is performed with silk intend- 
 ed lo remain white. 
 
 BOILING SILK TO BE DYED WHITE. 
 
 For boiling silks intended for common colors, 20 Ibs. 
 of soap to 100 Ibs. of raw silk. The process of boiling 
 the same, as the first described, with this difference 
 only, that as the silk is not to be freed from its gum, 
 the boiling is to be continued three hours and a half, 
 taking care to fill up from time to time with water. 
 
 If the silks are intended to be dyed blue, or iron 
 gray, sulphur, or other colors, which require to be set 
 in a very deep white ground, in order to acquire the de- 
 sired beauty, there are to be used 30 Ib?. of soap to 100 
 Ibs. of silk, and the boiling to be continued three or 
 four hours. After being supposed to be boiled enough, 
 Jet the bags be raised with a stick, placed on a frame, 
 and examined if there be any parts where the liquid 
 ha not penetrated. This is easily ascertained by the 
 yellow and a certain kind of slime remaining on those 
 parts. Should this defect be discovered^ the bags of 
 silk must be again boiled until it be remedied. The loss 
 in boiling: is about one-fourth in weight. 
 
 SULPHURING. 
 
 The silks to be sulphured, should be extended on poles, 
 placed 7 or 8 feet from the ground, in a high apartment 
 without a chimney, where the air may freely circulate 
 by leaving the windows and door open. For every 100 
 Ibs. of silk, take 1 1-2 pounds of roll brimstone, put it 
 into an earthen pan or iron kettle, at the bottom of 
 
 which a layer of ashes is to be placed ; pound the rolte 
 of brimstone coarsely ; then set fire to it and smoke 
 the silk during the night. The next day the door 
 and windows are to be opeaed, to let the smell of the 
 brimstone escape and dry the silk. If the silk should 
 not thus be dried, apply live coals in chaffing dishes or 
 some other convenience. 
 
 ALUMING. 
 
 After having washed the silks, and divested them of 
 the soap by giving them a boiling, pass a cord through 
 them as when they are to be boiled; then take 50 Ibs. of 
 alum, for 50 buckets of water (dissolve the alum first 
 in hot water,) stir it well on emptying the solution of 
 alum into the tub, and it will prevent congelation. 
 This bath will answer for 150 Ibs. of silk to be steeped 
 in it until the solution begins to have a fetid smell. The 
 silk should not be put in until it is perfectly cold. If 
 the alum water should appear too weak, more alum is 
 to be added. 
 
 PROCESS OF DYING SILK. 
 
 A HANDSOME YELLOW. 
 
 ^Note. The following receipts are proportioned to 10 
 Ibs. of silk previously boiled.] 
 
 Take H Ib. of alum 
 
 20 Ibs. common Lady's (St. Mary's) Thistle 
 
 J Ib. wood ashes. 
 
 Dissolve the alum in a kettle containing ten buckets 
 of water, pour the solution into a vat, fix your silk upon 
 ods, in the usual way, steep it in the solution, work it 
 well therein for an hour, take it out, and lay it aside 
 wet, for further use. 
 
 This being done, put ten buckets of water in a kettle, 
 add the St. Mary's Thistle, and boil it well fora quarter 
 f an hour, run the decoction through a sieve into a 
 ail, to separate the coarse parts from it; let it cool, un- 
 il you will be able to bear your hands in it, steep the 
 silk in the liquor, work it well therein for half an hour; 
 then take it out, wring it, and lay it aside, in its wet 
 state for further use. 
 
 The pails or vessels in which you dress the silk with 
 alum, and in which the liquor is, must be filled, and 
 kept full, during the process of working it, to within a 
 
 few inches of the top; and. should there be occasion to 
 fill up, or to increase the quantity of liquor with water, 
 care must be taken not to make it too cool, but to pre- 
 serve, at all times, a degree of heat, in which the han4 
 can be barely held. While this is doing, the St. Mary's 
 thistle must be put into the kettle a second time, with 
 fresh water, and be boiled again. Then take out the 
 silk, dip out some of the liquor, in which you had pre-r 
 viously worked the silk, and add as much of the liquor 
 of the second boiling to it as Was taken therefrom, so 
 that the first quantity will be preserved. The liquor 
 must now, as well as each time before you steep the 
 silk in it, be stirred well; then steep the silk in the li- 
 quor again, and work it well therein for half an hour, 
 
 The liquor may, in this latter process, be made a little 
 hotter than it was in the first; but be cautious not to 
 make it too hot, as the silk would be considerably in- 
 jured thereby. 
 
 During this second process the wood ashes are to be 
 dissolved in a kettle, into which you have poured some 
 of the liquor of the second colouring, boiling hot; stir 
 ihe liquor and wood ashes well, and then let it settle. 
 This being done, pour some of the clear part of the so- 
 ution into the yellow liquor, after having first taken 
 out the silk, stir the whole of it well, steep the silk 
 n it again, and work it well therein during fifteen min- 
 utes. At the expiration of this time, or sooner, as you 
 may deem it necessary, take out a small quantity of the 
 silk, wring it, and examine whether it has retained the 
 required colour; should this not be the case, a small 
 [uantity of the solution of wood ashes must be added to 
 
63 
 
 the liquor, the silk steeped in it again, and well worked 
 in the same, until the required colour be obtained. 
 
 A CITRON YELLOW. 
 
 Take 1 1-4 Ib. of alum 
 
 8 Ibs. of safflour 
 
 1-4 Ib. of alum. 
 Dissolve the alum in a kettle containing ten buckets 
 of water; then pour the solution into a vat, steep the 
 silk in it, work it well therein for half an hour, wring 
 it, lay it by in its wet state, for further use, and throw 
 away the solution of alum as useless. Put again ten 
 buckets of fresh water in the kettle, add eight pound 
 of safflour and 1-4 Ib. alum, let it boil for half an hour, 
 run the solution through a sieve into a vat, steep the silk 
 in the liquor, work it well therein a quarter of an hour, 
 wring and dry it, fix it on the wringing post, wring and 
 beat it well. 
 
 With the rest of the above liquor, a pale yellow may 
 yet be dyed. 
 
 A CITRON YELLOW, which may be heightened to a hand- 
 some gold tint. 
 
 Take 1 1-4 Ib. of alum, 
 
 14 Ibs. of safflour, 
 1-4 Ib. of alum, 
 
 Put ten buckets of water in a kettle, add one and a 
 quarter pounds of alum, dissolve it therein, pour the 
 solution into a vat, and work the silk in the solution for 
 about half an hour, wring it, and lay it by in its wet 
 state, for further use. 
 
 This being done, pour ten buckets of fresh water into 
 the kettle, add seven pounds of safflour, and boil it half 
 tin tiour, pour the liquor through a sieve into a vat and 
 work it well therein for the space of fifteen minutes; 
 then wring and dry it. The yellow liquor is now to be 
 poured back into the kettle, the remaining seven pounds 
 of the safflour to be put into it, together with a quarter 
 of a pound of alum, and the whole to be boiled half an 
 hour; then pour the liquor through a sieve into a pail, 
 work the silk well in the liquor for half an hour, wring 
 and dry it and then beat it well. By the above process, 
 a handsome citron yellow may be obtained. 
 
 A CITRON YELLOW, in a different way. 
 
 Take 1 1-4 Ibs. of alum, 
 
 7 Ibs. of French berries. 
 
 Pi4 the alum into a kettle, with eight buckets of wa- 
 ter; \vhen dissolved, pour it into a bucket, immerse the 
 silk in the solution, work it well therein for half an 
 hour, take it out, and lay it aside for further use in its 
 wet state, and throw away the solution. Then boil ten 
 buckets of fresh water, put into it the French berries, 
 T>oil it for three quarters of an hour, pour it through a 
 sieve into a bucket, and immerse it in the liquor, work 
 it well therein for half an hour, wri-ng it, fix it on the 
 wringing post in the usual manner. To make this color 
 deeper or brighter, take more or less than the above 
 quantity of the French berries. 
 
 If the liquor, after this process, still retains some of 
 its yellow properties, it may be used to color ten pounds 
 of silk, previously prepared in a solution of alum, to a 
 pale yellow, or to lay at least the ground for a handsome 
 gold tint. 
 
 A CITRON YELLOW, in another manner. 
 
 Take 2 Ibs. of alum, 
 
 6 Ibs. of Quercitron bark, ground. 
 Put the alum in a kettle, with ten buckets of fresh 
 water, dissolve it therein, and pour the solution into a 
 vat, immerse the silk in it, and work it well therein for 
 two hours; wring it, lay it aside wet for further use, and 
 throw away your solution of alum as useless. Then 
 pour into a kettle ten buckets of fresh water, and put 
 the ground Quercitron into it; boil this one hour, take 
 it out, run the decoction through a seive into a pail, im- 
 
 merse it into the liquor, and work it well an hour in 
 the solution ; after which it is to be taken out, wrung 
 and dried ; fix it on the wringing post, wring it again, 
 &c., when it will have acquired a beautiful citron yel- 
 low. The remaining yellow liquor may be used for 
 other purposes, and may therefore be preserved. I will' 
 now give the necessary direction for coloring a hand- 
 some pale yellow, with the above remains of tha 
 yellow liquor. 
 
 A PALB TELLOW. 
 
 Take 2 Ibs. of alum. 
 
 Prepare the silk with alum, as directed in the fore- 
 going receipt, and lay it away for further use. Then 
 warm the liquor, which has been used in the coloring 
 of the foregoing operation ; put it into a pail, immerse 
 it in the liquor, and work it well therein, for the space 
 of half an hour. This being done, take it out, wring it, 
 fix it on the wringing- post, wring and beat it well, 
 which will give it a gloss. It is not necessary that silk 
 should be rinsed in yellow coloring. 
 
 Several Directions for Dying with 
 QUERCITRON BARK. 
 
 A CITRON YELLOW. 
 
 Take 3 Ibs. of alum, and 
 
 1 Ib. 3 ounces of Quercitron bark. 
 
 Put the alum in a kettle, with ten buckets of water ; 
 let it dissolve therein, pour the solution into a pail, 
 immerse the silk in the solution, and work it well there- 
 in, a little longer than usual ; take it out, wring and 
 rinse it, and lay it by for further use, in its wet state ; 
 put ten buckets of fresh water into a kettle, warm it, 
 put the quercitron in a bag, and boil it until the 
 strength is extracted. Then immerse the silk in the li- 
 quor, and work it well therein a quarter of an hour, 
 which will produce a handsome lively citron yellow. 
 
 A HIGH COLORED YELLOW. 
 
 This color may be heightened to its utmost extent of 
 yellow, by adding a few half ounces of soda, more or 
 less, according to the deep or bright shades of color 
 desired, to the above yellow liquor ; but this must not 
 be done until the silk has been completely saturated 
 with the yellow liquor of quercitron. 
 
 ORANGE COLOR. 
 
 Orange color is obtained by adding to the liquor at 
 the same time with the soda, a proportional quantity of 
 annatto, and by working it in this liquor until the de- 
 sired color has been obtained. 
 
 PALE YELLOW, OR STRAW COLOR. 
 
 Take less alum and quercitron, and dispense altogeth- 
 er with the soda and annatto. 
 
 To produce the many different shades of this color, 
 proceed with the quercitron in the same manner as di- 
 rected in the dying of the same colors with turmeric 
 and wild (dyer's weed.) But you must bear in mind 
 that one pound of the quercitron, will produce as much 
 as ten pounds of either the turmeric or wild. 
 
 A VERY LIVELY GLOSSY YELLOW. 
 
 If you desire to increase the above yellow to its most 
 lively and glossy hue, take instead of the alum, a solution 
 of tin, dissolved in a mixture of three parts of the spir- 
 its of salt, and one part of aquafortis. This solution 
 must be mixed with twenty times its own quantity of 
 water, and the silk is to be prepared in a solution of 
 alum, in the usual way ; but it is not necessary to rinse 
 it, and it may be colored immediately. The solution of 
 tin may be preserved for other purposes. 
 
A TURKISH BLUE. 
 
 Take 2 1-2 ounces of cochineal, 
 10 do of aquafortis, 
 
 1 1-2 do of English tin and 
 
 1-4 do of alum. 
 
 The silk must first be colored in a keep, to a medium 
 blue. This being done, take a kettle containing ten 
 buckets of water, put into it two and a half ounces of 
 cochineal, and boil it well for the space of ten 
 miuutes. 
 
 During the above process, dissolve the tin in the aqua- 
 fortis, according to art,. This being done, pour the 
 solution, together with 'a quarter of a pound of alum, 
 into the above mentioned kettle, with ten buckets of 
 water. Stir the liquor well, and immerse the silk in 
 the liquor, work it well therein, for about three quar- 
 ters of an hour ; during which time, it must be kept at a 
 steady, slow, continued boil ; then take it out, rinse it, 
 fix it on the wringing post, wring and beat it well ; 
 which will restore it to its natural gloss again. 
 
 A REAL PINK. 
 
 Take 15 Ibs. of safflower, 
 
 15 quarts of strong vinegar, 
 3-8 of an ounce of oil of vitriol, 
 1 Ib. 14 oz. potash, and 
 4 ounces of cream of tartar. 
 
 Put the 15 Ibs. of safflower in a bag, tie it tight, im- 
 merse it forty-eight hours in running water ; take it 
 out, during this time, every six hours ; tread it well 
 with your feet, to free it of all yellow matter ; con- 
 tinue this until all the yellow matter has been worked 
 out of it. Examine it at the expiration of the above 
 time, to see whether it has lost all its coloring matter ; 
 if it has not, immerse it a few hours more into the wa- 
 ter, which will clear it from all yellow matter. This 
 being done, take it out, put it into a pail, and pour six 
 buckets of river water upon it. 
 
 This being done, put one pound fourteen ounces of 
 potash in a crock, dissolve it in water, and pour the 
 clear part of this potash liquor on the safflower in the 
 tub ; mix it well, and set it by, in a cool place, for six 
 hours. At the expiration of this time, take out the 
 .afflower with its liquor, run it through a sieve into a 
 pail, pour half a bucket of water upon it, and press it 
 out, in order to extract all the coloring matter there- 
 from ; pour fifteen quarts of vinegar, and three-eighths 
 of an ounce of oil of vitriol into the liquor. 
 
 This being done, take the ten pounds of silk, fix it 
 upon the rods, put it into the safflower liquor, and work 
 it well therein, for the space of four hours ; then take 
 it out, rinse it in running water, wring it well, and lay 
 it aside for further use, in its wet state. 
 
 Lastly. Dissolve four ounces of cream of tartar in 
 river water, and pour the clear part of this solution into 
 a tub, with eight buckets of river water ; immerse the 
 silk, which has before been colored to a light red, in 
 this solution, and work it well therein for a quarter of 
 an hour ; take it out, wring it and dry it, and you will 
 have a handsome pink. 
 
 A HIGH COLORED CRIMSON. 
 
 Take 1 1-4 Ibs. of cochineal, 
 
 1 Ib. of galls, 
 
 4 ounces of cream of tartar, and 
 
 2 1-2 Ibs. of Roman alum. 
 
 Dissolve two and a half pounds of Roman alum in a 
 kettle, with ten buckets of water ; pour the clean part 
 of this solution into a vat, immerse the silk in it, and 
 work it well therein for the space of four hours ; and 
 rinse it in running water, wring it, and lay it by for 
 further use, in its wet state ; then put in a kettle con- 
 taining eight buckets of boiling 1 water, the following ar- 
 ticles : 
 
 One and a quarter pounds of finely powdered cochi- 
 neal, one pound of finely powdered gall-nuts, and four 
 
 ounces of cream of tartar. Let the whole boil slowly, 
 for the space of fifteen minutes ; cool it with two 
 buckets of water, work it well in the liquor, which 
 must be kept in continual boil for the space of one 
 hour and a half ; then take it out, rinse it, wring it, and 
 let it dry, when the dying will be completed. 
 
 For a cheaper color than the foregoing, reduce the 
 quantity of cochineal, from one and a quarter pounds, 
 to ten ounces, and substitute' for the remainder, three 
 pounds persio ;* and proceed with these materials in the 
 same manner as above directed. This color will differ 
 from that of the first described process, in no other re- 
 spect than that it receives somewhat more of a bluish 
 cast. 
 
 A HANDSOME CRIMSON. 
 
 Take 3 Ibs. of Roman alum, 
 1-2 ounce of argol,f 
 1-2 of East India galls, 
 25 ounces of cochineal. 
 
 Heat eight buckets of rain water in a kettle lake- 
 warm ; put into it three pounds of Roman alum, dis- 
 solve it therein, take out the solution and work it well 
 therein for the space of eight hours. 
 
 Take it out at the expiration of this time, wring it 
 lightly, and lay it by for further use, in its wet state. 
 To complete this color, heat eight buckets of well or 
 spring water until it begins to boil ; put into it the follow- 
 ing articles : half an ounce of argol, and half a pound of 
 finely powdered East India galls ; let the whole of 
 these articles boil well for about ten minutes, and run 
 the liquor through a sieve, into a pail ; then pour the li- 
 quor back into the kettle, and put into it twenty-fire 
 ounces of pulverized cochineal ; let it boil ten minutes 
 more, cool the liquor with half a bucket of water ; im- 
 merse the silk in this liquor, and work it well therein 
 for the space of two hours ; during which time, the li- 
 quor must be kept at a continual boil. This being 
 done, take it out, rinse it well, wring it strongly, and 
 dry it. 
 
 Then take a kettle, with ten buckets of spring or 
 well water, and heat it so that you may bear your 
 hand in it ; work the silk well in this water for half an 
 hour, then take it out, wring it, and dry it. By this 
 process, we obtain a very handsome crimson. 
 
 A DEEP RED. 
 
 Take 1 Ib. of fine galls, 
 
 2 1-2 Ibs. of alum, 
 
 1-2 Ib. of composition; and 
 5 Ibs. of madder. 
 
 Put into a kettle eight buckets of water, and one 
 pound of fine galls ; let it boil about fifteen minutes, 
 or until the strength is extracted ; take it out, run it 
 through a sieve into a vat, steep the silk in this decoc- 
 tion, and work it well therein for about two hours : af- 
 ter which take it out, rinse, and dry it. Then put into 
 a kettle eight buckets of water, with two and a half 
 pounds of alum, and a half pound of the composition ; 
 let these be properly united with the water ; pour 
 the liquor into a vat, steep the silk in the solution, 
 and work it well therein for the space of four hours ; 
 take it out, rinse it, and lay it by in its wet state for 
 further use. 
 
 Lastly. To complete these colors, put in a kettle 
 ten buckets of water ; add five pounds of madder, and 
 work the silk well in this liquor, until it begins to boil ; 
 then take it out, rinse and dry it. 
 
 A REAL BROWN. 
 
 Take G ounces of annatto, 
 1 Ib. of potash, 
 
 3 Ibs. of alum, 
 
 5 oz. of fine galls, 
 
 * The cudbear of the English dyer, 
 t Tartar from red wine. 
 
65 
 
 1-4 oz. of cream of tartar, 
 2 oz. of turmeric, and 
 10 oz. of cochineal. 
 
 Boil a kettle with ten buckets of water, powder six 
 ounces of annatto, and put it together with a pound of 
 potash into the kettle, boil for a quarter of an hour, pour 
 the liquor through a sieve into a tub, immerse the silk, 
 and work it well in the liquor for the space of two hours ; 
 then take it out, rinse, wring and dry it. After this, pour 
 eight buckets of fresh water into a kettle, add three 
 pounds of alum, and dissolve it therein ; then put the 
 solution in a vat, steep the dried yellow silk, and work 
 it well therein for the space of three hours, then take 
 it out, wring it, and lay it by wet, for further use. 
 
 This being done, prepare a kettle with eight buckets 
 of water, and bring it to boil ; put into it ten ounces of 
 cochineal, and let it boil for ten minutes ; then cool 
 the liquor with a bucket of water, and put into it a 
 quarter of a pound of cream of tartar, and two ounces 
 of turmeric, and stir the whole well ; then steep the 
 silk, previously alumed in the liquor, work it well there- 
 in for the space of two hours, during which it must be 
 kept at a continual boil. This being done, lake it out, 
 rinse in running water, wring, and lay it by, in its wet 
 state, for further use. 
 
 This being done, dye it in a keep, [dye tub,] light or 
 dark as your taste may be, or according to the pattern 
 which is laid before you. 
 
 If you do not wish to make use of the keep, or, as is 
 often the case in small dying establishments, should 
 you not possess one, you may apply the indigo color- 
 ing. 
 
 You may likev;ise color it in the liquor of logwood, 
 which will render it equally handsome, but not of so 
 lasting a color. 
 
 A MEAL CRIMSON, in another way. 
 
 Take 2 1-2 Ibs. of Roman alum, 
 
 2 Ibs. of fine galls, 
 
 1 Ib. 4 oz. of cochineal, 
 
 1-4 Ib. of argol, and 
 
 8 oz. of spirits ammonia. 
 
 Take a kettle with eight buckets of water, put into 
 it two pounds of fine galls, and let it boil for a quarter 
 of an hour ; run the liquor through a seive into a pail ; 
 steep the silk in the liquor, and work it well therein 
 for the space of four hours, then take it out, rinse, 
 wring and dry it. 
 
 After this, take a kettle with eight buckets of water, 
 and dissolve in it two pounds of Roman alum ; pour ii 
 into a vat, steep the silk in the solution of alum, and 
 work it well for the space of four hours in the same 
 then take it out, wring it, and lay it by, in a wet state 
 for further use. 
 
 After this, to complete the color, take six buckets o 
 water, pour it into a kettle, add one pound and four 
 ounces of fine cochineal, a quarter of a pound of argol 
 and eight ounces of spirits of ammonia ; let all boi 
 well together for about ten minutes, then cool the II 
 quor with two buckets of water, work the silk well in 
 it for two hours ; during which time it must be kep 
 boiling continually ; then take it out, suspend it on thi 
 rods over a vat, pour the liquor from the kettle inli 
 it, and continue to work the silk in the liquor until i 
 has become cool, then take it out, rinse it and dry it in 
 the shade. By following the above directions, you wil 
 obtain a very handsome crimson. 
 
 To turn this expensive cochineal liquor to all possible 
 advantage, (for it will still have retained some goo " 
 coloring matter,) pour the above used alum liquor int 
 it, and heat it again ; which will enable you to colo 
 many lighter shades, from the rich peach blossom 
 down to the lightest lilac color. Having used it fo 
 this purpose, you may take more or less of silk of a yel 
 
 ow ground, and color it m it, which will receive a red- 
 lish yellow from it. 
 
 A HANDSOME RED. 
 
 Take 8- oz. of annatto,. 
 
 1 1-2 Ibs. of potash, 
 
 2 1-2 Ibs. of alum, 
 
 6 Ibs. of Brazil wood, 
 5 buckets of sharp vinegar, and 
 G oz. of composition, composed of the fol- 
 lowing materials : 1 Ib. of spirits of ni- 
 tre, 2 oz. of sal ammonia, 6 oz. of 
 grain tin. The tin and ammonia, are 
 to be put into a sand stone pot of suffi- 
 cient capacity ; upon these pour about 
 12 oz. of water, then add the spirits of 
 nitre and let the solution take place. 
 Take for this purpose a kettle with eight buckets of 
 water, and let it boil. 
 
 While this is doing, powder eight ounces of annatto 
 as fine as possible ; then put it together with one pound 
 md a half of potash, into the above heated water ; let 
 he whole boil well for a quarter of an hour} and pour 
 he liquor through a seive into a pail. SJefip the silk in 
 his potash and annatto liquor, and work it well for two 
 lours in the same ; after which take it out, rinse it, 
 wring and dry it. 
 
 Then dissolve one pound and a half of alum in a ket- 
 tle with eight buckets of water ; pour this solution into 
 a pail, fix your silk upon rods, and work it well there- 
 n for two hours; then take it out, wring, and dry it. 
 
 When the silk is completely dry, steep the eilk in 
 warm water, until it has become properly soaked - t then 
 take it out, wring it, and lay it by for further use. 
 
 This being done, pour into a vat five buckets of sharp 
 vinegar, and six pounds of Brazil wood, and let it stand 
 for the space of forty-eight hours 5 then take the liquor 
 out of the vat and pour it into a kettle ; let it boil for 
 the space of ten minutes ;. then take it out, pour it 
 through a seive into a vat, i; and through the parts re- 
 maining in the seive, in the kettle again ; pour three 
 buckets of water upon it, let it boil well for a quarter of 
 an hour, and pour the liquor thereof to the other Brazil 
 wood liquor in the vat. 
 
 This being done, pour six ounces of the composition 
 into this liquor of Brazil wood, and stir it well ; steep 
 the silk previously soaked in warm water, in the liquor, 
 and work it well therein for the space of two hours. 
 Examine at the expiration of this time, whether the li- 
 quor still contains any coloring matter; if so, take it 
 out, pour it into the kettle again, work the silk another 
 time therein, during which it must be kept moderately 
 warm ; then take it out, rinse it in running water, wring 
 it, and hang it up to dry. By observing the whole of 
 the above process, you will obtain a very handsome 
 red. By using eight buckets of vinegar instead of five, 
 the color will be considerably improved, and by dispen- 
 sing with the composition altogether, the color will be- 
 come darker. 
 
 Lastly. If you desire to have this color of a darker 
 fiery hue, add two pounds of Brazil wood, and one 
 pound composition to the above quantity, and proceed 
 in the same way as above directed. 
 
 To Color Silk with Quercitron, in another 
 
 manner. 
 
 A CITRON YELLOW: 
 Take 2 1-2 Ibs. of alum, 
 
 4 Ibs. of sugar of lead, 
 
 2 oz. of chalk, and 
 
 3 Ibs. of Quercitron. 
 
 Take a kettle with eight buckets of water, put into it 
 two and a half pounds of alum, and dissolve them there- 
 in, then take out the alum liquor, and pour it into a pail, 
 
'66 
 
 and let It become cold, add to It a quarter of a pound of 
 sugar of lead, and stir it well until united with the so- 
 lution of alum, then put into it two ounces of chalk, 
 stir it well, and continue the stirring at proper intervals, 
 for the space of twelve hours, and sit it by to settle. 
 Pour off the liquor into a pail, but be careful not to dis- 
 turb the sediment at the bottom ; steep the silk in the 
 liquor, and work it well therein for the space of six 
 hours ; then take it out, wring and lay it by wet, for fur- 
 ther use. 
 
 After this, take a kettle with eight buckets of water, 
 put into it three pounds of Quercitron bark, and let ii 
 boil for the space of three quarters of an hour; pour ii 
 through a sieve into a vat, steep the silk which has been 
 saturated in the foregoing liquor, composed of alum 
 sugar of lead, and chalk, in the Quercitron liquor, anc 
 work it well for the space of an hour ; then take it out 
 rinse it, wring and dry it. 
 
 If you desire a higher colored citron yellow than the 
 above, add another pound of Quercitron to the above 
 quantity, and proceed in the following manner : 
 
 Saturate the silk, as above directed, in a liquor 01 
 alum, sugar of lead, and chalk, then take a kettle with 
 eight buckets of water, boil two pounds of Quercitron 
 therein, for the space of three quarters of an hour, and 
 pour the liquor through a sieve into a vat, steep the silk 
 and work it well therein for the space of two hours ; 
 after which, take it out, wring and dry it. This will 
 have given the silk the best of grounds for a good yel- 
 low color. After this, take another kettle with eight 
 buckets of water, put into it two more pounds of Quer- 
 citron bark, and boil it for the space of three quarters 
 of an hour ; then pour it through a sieve into a vat, and 
 work the previously coloured and dried silk in the same, 
 for the space of two hours ; then take it out, rinse it, 
 wring and dry it. 
 
 A HIGH COLORED AND DEEP CITRON YELLOW. 
 
 Take 1 1-2 Ibs. alum, 
 
 3 oz. of sugar of lead, 
 
 1 oz. of chalk, and 
 
 8 Ibs. of French berries, 
 
 bissolve in a kettle which contains eight buckets of 
 water, one and a half pounds of alum, pour the solution 
 into a pail, or which is better, into a cask, and let it 
 cool. This being done, put into it three ounces sugar 
 of lead, stir it well with a rake, add one and a half 
 ounces of freely powdered chalk, and stir the whole 
 well again and continue the stirring, every hour, for 
 twelve hours. But^ after the last stirring, the rake must 
 be taken out of it, to prevent the sediment from being 
 disturbed, and then let it stand twelve hours. At the 
 expiration of this time, draw off the liquor ; but be care- 
 ful not to disturb the sediment, which would otherwise 
 create stains that are difficult to remove ; pour the li- 
 quor, thus drawn off, into a vat, work the silk well in it 
 for the space of four hours, after which, take it out, 
 wring and dry it. This being done, moisten it with 
 warm water, rinse it in running water, wring it and lay 
 it by wet, for further use ; then take a kettle with eight 
 buckets of water, and at the same time, bruise eight 
 pounds of French berries in a mortar ; put them into 
 the kettle, and let them boil for half an hour : then take 
 out the liquor, and run it through a sieve into a vat. 
 This being done, steep the silk in the liquor, and work it 
 well therein for half an hour; take it out, wring and 
 dry it ; which produces a handsome citron yellow. 
 
 With the above used alum solution and French berry- 
 liquor, you may without any other addition, colour a 
 brighter citron yellow. The same solution may likewise 
 be applied with turmeric or weld, in dying. 
 
 A KAHKEEJ. 
 
 Take 2 Ibs. of fine galls, 
 
 1 1-2 oz. of annatto, 
 4 oz. of potash, and 
 1-2 Ib. of soap. 
 
 Put one pound of finely powdered galls in a kettle of 
 eight buckets of water, and boil it about ten minutes, 
 then take out the liquor, and run it through a sieve into 
 a pail. While thus employed, let half a pound of soap be 
 dissolved in a bucket of warm water, and pour the so- 
 lution into the liquor of the galls. Then put into a 
 crock with water, one ounce of annatto, and four ounces 
 of potash ; boil it for half an hour, add the one half of 
 it to the liquor of the galls in the pail, and stir the whole 
 well. This being done, steep the silk in the liquor, and 
 work it well therein for a quarter of an hour. Exam- 
 ine the silk, and should it not have the necessary redness, 
 add as much of the annatto liquor to it as you may deem 
 necessary to give the colour the desired tint. Then put 
 the silk in again, and work it well for a quarter of an 
 hour ; take it out, rinse and dry it. 
 
 The Nankeen coloured silk must not remain long with- 
 out being rinsed, as this would create stains in it. 
 
 A HANDSOME TURKISH BLUE. 
 
 Take 1 1-4 Ib. alum, 
 
 2 1-2 oz. of cochineal, 
 3-4 of an ounce of indigo, 
 
 3 oz. of oil of vitriol, and 
 1-2 Ib. of composition. 
 
 The silk, after being boiled in soap and water, must 
 be rinsed in running water, and then wrung and well 
 beaten. This being done, it must be colored to a hand- 
 some light blue, in a cold or warm keep; then rinse it 
 in running water, wring and dry it. 
 
 As soon as the silk has become properly dry, it must 
 be moistened in warm water, wrung and laid by wet, 
 for further use. 
 
 After this is done, prepare a kettle with eight buckets 
 of water, dissolve in it one and a quarter pounds of 
 alum, pour the solution into a vat, steep the silk in it anl 
 work it well therein for the space of an hour, then take 
 it out, wring it, and lay it aside, in its wet state, for fur- 
 ther use. 
 
 Lastly : take a kettle with eight buckets of water, boil 
 it and put into it two and a half ounces of cochineal : 
 let it boil for about ten minutes ; cool the liquor, with a 
 bucket of water, and add half a pound of the solution 
 of tin, and three quarters of an ounce of indigo, which 
 has been previously dissolved in three ounces of oil of 
 vitriol, and stir the whole well. This being done, im- 
 merse the silk coloured blue in the cochineal liquor, 
 work it well therein, until the liquor begins to boil, 
 let it boil another hour, during which time the silk must, 
 however, be continually worked, it must then be taken 
 out, rinsed, wrung, and dried. 
 
 If you desire this Turkish blue to incline more to a 
 red, take more of the cochineal : if the contrary, take 
 less. 
 
 A HANDSOME GREEN. 
 
 Take 2 Ibs. of alum, and 
 
 4 Ibs. of Quercitron bark. 
 
 Take for this purpose, a kettle with eight buckets of 
 water, and dissolve in it two pounds of alum ; then pour 
 it into a tub, and set it by until it is wanted. 
 
 While you are engaged in preparing the above solu- 
 tion, the silk must be colored in a cold keep to a hand- 
 some light blue, and after being rinsed in a stream, 
 wring and steep it in the "Above-mentioned alum liquor; 
 work it well therein*for two hours, then take it out, 
 wring it and lay it by wet for further use. 
 
 Lastly, put four pounds of Quercitron bark into a ket- 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ASPINWALL, NATHAN, and MS services, is, ie. 
 
 ATTENDANTS, necessary fora million of worms, 41 ; do for an 
 
 kcre. 35. 
 AUTHORITIES consulted, 3. 
 
 B 
 
 IK5UNTIES, 13, 16, 17, 18. 
 BRANDF.GEE, Mrs. 18. 
 IWCHANAN, WILLIAM B, 3, 16. 
 UU DOING, 28. 
 
 C 
 
 CABINS, or hedges for the worms to spin on, 46, 50. 
 CALCULATIONS of profit, &c. 18, 19, 31, 32, 33, 34,35, 36, 37. 
 CHRYSALIS?, how to kill, 52. 
 CLEANLINESS, essential, 45. 
 CLKANING and ungtimming, 61. 
 CLIMATE and soil, 1C, 24, 25, 31. 
 COCOONERIES, 18, 19, 38, 39, 40, 41. 
 COCOON'S quantity in a pound of silk, 37 
 number in do. do. 37 ; 
 do. in do. cocoons, 37; 
 yield of, 34 ; 
 
 how to form hedges or cabins for, 46, 50 
 quantities of, 51 ; 
 how to judge, 51 ; 
 how to gather, 51 ; 
 selection of, for eggs, 52 ; 
 proportion of to eggs, 52 ; 
 how to kill the chrysalis in the, 46, 52. 
 COMPANIES formed, 17, 18, 19 ; 
 CONNECTICUT and the culture, 10; 
 
 great value of the manufactures in, 17 ; 
 factories in, 17 ; 
 societies in, 17 ; 
 
 legislative encouragement of the silk culture, 17. 
 CULTIVATION of the mulberry, 20, 28, 30. 
 
 CUTTINGS how to multiply by, 29 ; new method of propagating 
 by, 70 
 
 D 
 
 DANDOLO'S laboratory, 38. 
 
 DELAWARE, 16. 
 
 DICKINSON, Grace, 15. 
 
 DUSTANCES-table of, 37. 
 
 DISEASES and cures of the worms, 53, 54. 
 
 DISBANDING of the silk from the reel, 61. 
 
 DYING SILK-the whole process of, 62, to 68. 
 
 E 
 
 EGGS number in certain quantities of cocoons, 37: 
 
 number laid by a female moth, 37 ; 
 
 mode of hatching, 42 ; 
 - cocoons for, 52 ; 
 
 preservation of, 52 ; 
 
 proportion of cocoons to, 52. 
 F.NEMJES of silk worms, 45 , 53 
 ENGLAND her endeavors to introduce the culture into America, 
 
 12, 16. 
 EVANS, Dr. Cadwallader, 15. 
 
 FACTORIES, 17. 
 
 FEIJDING care to be observed in, 49. 
 FISHER, Grace, 15. 
 FLAX, Sirs. 16. 
 FRANKLIN, Dr. 15. 
 FOLIAGE time of gathering, 31; 
 yield of, 31, 32, 33, 34; 
 supply of, 38 ; 
 
 quantity required, 32, 34, 37, 47. 
 FOOD for worms early supply of, 22, 29 ; 
 
 to be kept dry, 38 ; 
 
 when leaves may be gathered for, 31,38 
 
 quantity of, on an acre, 34; 
 
 apportionment of, 47. 
 FUMIGATION, 53. 
 
 G 
 
 GEE, Joshua, extracts from, 13, 14. 
 
 GENERAL RULES and observations, 47, 49. 
 GEORGIA and the culture 15 10 
 GRAFTING, 23. 
 
 H 
 
 HATCHING the eggs, 42 ; time for, 42. 
 
 HEDGES, how planted, &c. 27, 28; distance of, 27,28; divis- 
 ion, 29. 
 
 HEDGES or cabins for the worms to spin on, 46, 50. 
 
 HISTORY of Silk sketch of the, 9; introduction of the culture 
 into China, 10 ; do. into Greece, 10 ; do. into Rome, 10 , do! a- 
 mong the Persians, 11 ; do. into Europe, 11 ; do. into England, 
 11 ; interesting incidents connected with the Lombes, 12; in- 
 troduction of the culture into America, 12 ; do. into South Ca- 
 rolina. 13. 
 
 HORRY, Mrs , 15. 
 
 HURDLES, or frames, 39, 40, 41, 
 
 I 
 
 ILLINOIS and the culture, 19. 
 INDIANA and the culture 19. 
 INTRODUCTORY remarks, 9. 
 
 JAMES I. and the silk culture, 12, 13. 
 
 K 
 
 KENTUCKY and the culture. 
 
 LABORATORIES, 18, 19, 38. 39, 40, 41. 
 LABORERS, expense and number of, 35, 41 
 LEA VES when they may be fed, 31, 38 ; 
 
 early supply of, 29; 
 
 calculations concerning the supply of, 32, 34, 38; 
 
 quantity consumed by given numbers of worms, 33. 
 34 37; 
 
 mode of gathering, 37 ; 
 
 yield of, 31, 32, 33, 34; 
 
 mode of picking, preparing, &c. 49. 
 LAYERING, 29. 
 LIVE FENCES, 29. 
 LOMBES, the Messrs., 12. 
 
 M 
 
 MACAULEY, Catharine. 15. 
 MACHINERY, 15,60. 
 MAINE and the culture, 19. 
 MANUFACTURES, &c. 15, 16, 17. 
 MARYLAND and the culture, 14, 16. 
 MAUKETS for selling raw silk, 61. 
 MASSACHUSETTS and the silk culture, 18 - 
 legislative bounty, 18 ; 
 great product of 4 acres in, 18. 
 MODES of MULTIPLYING, 28, 29, 30, 68, 69. 
 MULBERRY CULTURE, varieties of, &c. moral and political 
 effect of, 20, 68 ; 
 
 adaptation of certain states for, 14, 69 : 
 proBts of, 18, 19. 31, 33, 34, 35, 36,37; 
 me hoil of sowing seed) 26 ; 
 theMoRUS NIORA, 21 ; 
 the MORUS ALBA, its culture, fitness to the climate. 
 
 &e. 21,25, 26, 69 ; varieties of, 26 ; 
 tlie MORUS MULTICACLIS, its value, adaptation, har- 
 diness, c. 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 41, 69 ; G B. Smith's 
 opinion of, 69 : his mode of managing cut- 
 tings, 70 : 
 
 distance of planting, 28. 
 MULBERRY ORCHARDS-roots to be cultivated In, 31. 
 
 R 
 
 NEW HAMPSHIRE and the culture, 19. 
 
 NEW JEHSEY and the culture, 15. 
 
 NEW YORK and the culture, 19. 
 
 N ORRIS, Mrs. Keziah, 16. 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA and the culture, 16, 21. 
 
 O 
 
 OHIO and the culture, 19. 
 OKCHAHDS planted, 18. 
 
PENNSYLVANIA and tha culture, 14, 15, 16. 
 
 FHILADELPHIA and the culture, 15. 
 
 PLATE representing the worms in their different ages, 6 : explana- 
 tion, 7. 
 
 PLANTS, number at certain distances on an acre, 32, 34, 37. 
 
 PREFACE, nnd authorities consulted, 3. 
 
 PREMIUMS granted in America, 13,16, 17, 18. 
 
 PRODUCT and profit of the Mulberry culture, 18, 19. 31, 33, 34 
 35, 36, 37. 
 
 PRUNING, time of, 28: method of, 30. 
 
 PURE AIR necessary, 45. 
 
 R 
 
 RAPP, Mr. and the silk culture, 16. 
 
 REARING and treatment of the worms, 42, 43, 44,45,46,47,48,49, 
 
 REELS, reeling, <S-c. Gay's, 15, 60. 
 
 REELING simplification of, 15 : process of, 55, 56, 57 ; machinery 
 
 frr, 60. 
 
 RIPKA, Joseph. 10. 
 RHODE ISLAND and the culture, 19. 
 ROOM essential to the worms, 49. 
 
 SEEDLINGS opinions of, 30. 
 
 6EKD mode of saving, 26 : mode of testing, 2G : directions for 
 Fowinu, 26 : time of sowing, 26, 30 : supplies of, 30. 
 
 SEWING SILK mode of making, 15, 50 : do. of twist, 59. 
 
 BILK, mode of cleansing and ungumming. 61 : boiling 62 . sulphur- 
 ing 62 : aluming 62 : mode of reeling, <S-c. 55 : mode of dying, 02 
 to 68 : preparation of waste, 59 : do. of waste white, 59 : how 
 to organzine, 59 : markets for, 61 : method of spinning inferior 
 qualities of, 59. 
 
 61LK CULTURE, its profits, magnitude, &c. 17,18,19,31,33,34, 
 35, 36, 37: Judge Spencer on the, 17, 69. 
 
 81T,K COMPANIES, 17,18,19: do. manufactures, 16,17: great 
 value of, in Connecticut, 17 ; quantity raised on an acre, 33, 34 
 35 
 
 SILK WORMS definition of the name of the, 10: early history 
 and introduction into Europe and America, 10, 13: adaptation 
 of certain states for the culture of, 14 : method of feeding the, 
 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47. 48 : enemies of, 53 : diseases of, 53, 54 : va- 
 fietiesof, 54. 
 
 I SMITH, Gideon B. 3,16,42,09 ; his plan of a laboratory, 41 : his plan 
 of feeding the worms, &c. 44: his viewof the Morus Multicau- 
 lis, 28, 69. 
 
 SPENCER, Judge opinions of the Bilk culture, 17: Interesting ex- 
 tract of a letter from, 69. 
 
 SOIL and situation, 24, 25, 31. 
 
 SOLUTION for soaking seed, 27. 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA and the culture, 14, 16. 
 
 SPECIMENS of American silk, 17. 
 
 STATES adapted to the culture, 13, 14, 15, 16. 
 
 STANDARD TREES management of, 27, 31 : distance apart, 28 r 
 32,33 
 
 SUCKERING method of, 29. 
 
 SUPERIORITY of American silk, 15. 
 
 TABLES, sbcwins the profits of the culture, 33, 36 : do. of distan- 
 ces of plants, 37 : do. of measures, 37. 
 TEMPERATURE, 42, 43. 
 TOMPKINS, J. Y., 16. 
 TREES, number on an acre, 34, 37. 
 TURKISH mode of managing the worms, 47. 
 
 VALUE of the silk culture in Connecticut, 17. 
 
 VARIETIES of silk worms, 54. 
 
 VERMONT and the culture, 19. 
 
 VIRGINIA introduction of the culture of Bilk into, 12 : prop-ess 
 therein, 13 : premiums by the assembly, 13 : interesting anec- 
 dotes concerning, 13 . Gee's opinions of, 14 : adaptation to the 
 culture, 16. 
 
 w 
 
 WASTE silk, 59. 
 
 WHITMARSH, Mr., his plan of a cocoonery, 41. 
 
 WORMS number which can be ftd.on an acre, 34: plate repre- 
 senting the different ages of, 6 : quantity of leat cs consumed by 
 certain numbers, 32, 37 : mode of hatching and rearing the, 42 : 
 do. feeding, 42 to 49 : rising of the, 46, 50 : various stages and 
 appearances of, 50 : enemies of, 53 : diseases of the worms, 53, 
 54 ; mode of feeding detailed, 47 : mode of feeding in the east- 
 ern states, 43, 47 ; do. in Turkey, 47. 
 
 WRIGHT, Susannah, 15. 
 
 ERRATA. In the 7th line of the first column of the Historical Sketch, insert "as" instead of "w/ucft," so as 
 to read "as were accessible to him." 
 
 In the 37th page, last line of the second column, after the word cocoons read "2,400," instead of "24,000." 
 
 Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year 1835. 
 
 BY EDWARD P. ROBERTS, 
 In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the District of Maryland. 
 
This book is due on the last date stamped below, or 
 
 on the date to which renewed. 
 Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. 
 
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