No. 63.] 389 



which their own ingenuity and good sense will from time to time sug- 

 gest, they can show their fondness for domestic industry. But silk 

 culture, in particular, opens before them an extended field for the 

 profitable exercise of their skill and talent. The Committee were 

 gratified to have evidence that in Rensselaer county this department 

 of domestic labor is receiving attention, and it gives them pleasure to 

 speak in commendation of the specimens of silk in this branch of 

 industry which came under notice. 



They would fain hope the time is not very far distant when this 

 subject will receive general attention — when we shall have orchards 

 of mulberry trees as we now have apple trees, and when our ladies 

 will be dressed in silks of their own manufacture. It can scarcely 

 be questioned that our soil and climate are both propitious for the 

 growth of the mulberry; we certainly have skill and industry equal 

 to the enterpise of cultivating the tree, growing the worm, and ma- 

 nufacturing the silk. And it is hoped these will soon be regarded as 

 necessary appendages of a well regulated farm. On this subject, the 

 ladies will give us the liberty of addressing to them a few words of 

 special counsel. It is in our power to become a great silk growing 

 community, and that such a consummation is exceedingly desirable 

 cannot reasonably be doubted. But for securing this result we must 

 call to our aidyema/e influence^ the lever that has been wielded with 

 such potency for the accomplishment of benevolent and useful enter- 

 prises. To us it seems a duty and privilege of every mother in the 

 nation, to endeavor to call forth and guide the ingenuity of her 

 daughters — giving it such a direction that it shall elevate our national 

 character, and by diminishing our dependanceon foreign nations form 

 the independence of our own. Are the females of our country infe- 

 rior in point of taste and invention, to those of Francel They cer- 

 tainly are not, though they have as certainly seemed to vie with each 

 other in their servile dependance on French fashions and finery — to 

 the positive injury of the nation in the consequent extravagant im- 

 portations of French silks and fancy articles for their use. But 

 would it not be far more independent, noble, and in every respect 

 more becoming, for our fair countrywomen to employ their leisure 

 hours in preparing dresses from materials of domestic growth and 

 manufacture, after patterns harmonizing with their owm refined tastes, 

 and better suited to our climate than those of ihe French? 



Let the ladies, then, adopt the position that growing and reeling 

 of silk must become a prominent object of household industry. Let 

 them employ their influence with their husbands and brothers to pro- 

 cure and set out the mulberry before the next county fair, and them- 

 selves, as soon as possible, begin the work of growing the silk. No 

 work could be more appropriate for them than this — as it is periodi- 

 cal, «nd allows of long intervals of rest — and the reeling is an employ 

 ment at once easy, social, and accordant with feminine fingers and 

 habits. If information be needed as to the required process, procure 

 " Dennis' Silk Manual " and it will be obtained. 



Labor bestowed on the silk culture certainly will not be in vain, for 

 no department of agricultural labor yields more ample remuneration 



