No. 85.] 513 



information we get from your valuable reports, together with our ex- 

 perience, will linally prevail, and we become a great silk growing and 

 manufacturing country. 



Shaw and Weston, Burlington^ Vt. — We have been engaged in 

 the silk business three years. The quantity of land and number of 

 trees used is uncertain, as the leaves used by us in feeding, were col- 

 lected from scattered trees in many different places. 



Whole capital invested in lands and permanent fixtures, .... $400 .00 



Amount of cocoons in pounds, prior to 1844 740 



Amount of cocoons in pounds in 1844 470 



Cost of cocoons, $118.00 



Value of cocoons $171 .00 



Add State bounty of 20 cents per pound, 94 .00 



$265.00 



Our cocoonery and fixtures are sufficient for feeding at least four times 

 the number of worms fed in 1844, and there should consequently, be 

 added to the $118, only six dollars for interest on the capital invested, 

 making the whole cost of our cocoons for this year $124. We have 

 one acre of very flourishing multicaulis trees, principally from cut- 

 tings planted last spring, and intend to plant ten acres more next 

 spring, with a suitable proportion of other varieties for early feeding. 



In feeding the present year, we have used lime very freely, and 

 with most satisfactory effect, our worms having been remarkably 

 healthy. Our cocoons from worms fed without artificial heat, have 

 averaged 194 to the pound ; while those from worms hatched from 

 the same ki.nd of eggs, and fed in rooms kept uniformly warm by ar- 

 tificial heat, averaged 275 to the pound. A great part of this differ- 

 ence, however, was occasioned by greater attention and regularity in 

 feeding the former lot of worms. 



Alexander Smith, Fredonia^ Chautauque co., JV*. Y. — I hatched 

 and fed about 10,000 worms, which were remarkably healthy, and 

 made fine cocoons ; I have made about twelve thousand skeins of sew- 

 ings, and some twist ; besides having thrown some silk for wea- 

 ving. 



The present aspect of the silk business in this region is just 

 this : 



There are many beginners, and as is the case in the commencement 

 of every other new pursuit, they are the subjects of numerous difficul- 

 ties, and occasional failures. 



They generally expect too great profits from the means employed. 

 Most of the cocoons are worked into sewings in the families where 

 they are raised, and on no better machinery than the common reel 

 and wheel, and cannot be induced to secure any thing better. If 

 people could be induced to get good silk reels, and reel their cocoons 

 as they should be, it would be better for all. 



Many are deterred from commencing the business for want of a 

 ready market. I purchase all I can get, but no man can fit up a fila- 



I Senate, No. 85.] Hh 



