No. 85.J 516 



I know of but one fact in support of this question, in addition to 

 my former letter, I gave this fact to the public, through the columns 

 of a paper devoted to agriculture and its kindred branches — the South 

 Western Farmer — published by N. G. North, in Raymond, Miss., 

 but will give you the particulars. The lady of my nearest neighbor, 

 W. R. Gibbs, commenced last yearto rear the silk-worm ; being fond 

 of experimenting, she resolved to try whether the trouble of feeding, 

 fires, &c., might not be avoided. 



She procured a covering to defend from rain, and birds ; this was 

 done by the aid of an old worn out umbrella, and some netting such as 

 we use for mosquito nets ; the worms were placed on a multicaulis 

 tree and the protection placed over them. I visited them several 

 times, and know that the worms were thus exposed to all kinds of 

 weather, and whilst they were there we had a severe rain storm, and 

 two exceedingly cold days — wind blowing quite keen from the south- 

 west, yet with all this, these worms were larger, and spun their 

 cocoons earlier than those fed in a building kept warm by means of 

 artificial heat. The experiment of this lady proves most conclusive- 

 ly to my mind that worms will bear any degree of cold, that we have 

 in our climate, during the season of feeding. We fed a few worms 

 for the purpose of preserving egg^ for future use ; and as usual in an 

 airy room, gathering our foliage in the morning while the dew was 

 yet on them. We cleaned our frames oftener than usual, using no 

 lime, and have been more successful than heretofore. 



Of Mr. Benton's success, his letter to me will fully set forth better 

 than I can. I send you specimens of my own silk, not prepared for 

 the purpose of exhibition. You will make due allowance for our 

 never having seen the operation of reeling or twisting, and have no 

 machinery except ordinary plantation reels, a common large wheel, 

 and a wheel used for hanking thread. We use the silk we make, for 

 manufacturing into fishing lines, and other purposes — find it far 

 superior to that we purchase of foreign make. Our machinery is too 

 rude to offer in competition with your northern articles, nor do I in- 

 tend it, my object being to give you something that will show the 

 strength, and that my adopted State should be represented hadly^ 

 rather than not at all. In my letter of last year, which you honored 

 by thinking it worthy to be incorporated with your proceedings, (see 

 pages 258, 201) of State edition, friend I. R. Barbour, makes a 

 note that he thinks " Gill's tent and cradle is better" than our gin 

 houses. I agree with him, but as our gin houses are already built, 

 are large and airy, and as all expenditures that can be avoided, should 

 be in new undertakings, I beg to still recommend the gin house. 

 My house is two stories high, 62 feet long and 22 feet wide ; the 

 lower story (framed) about ten feet high, earthern floor, and not 

 weather-boarded : the second story same size and about eight feet 

 high, weather boarded with thin plank, windows and large doors 

 which would render them as airy as necessary. The specimens sent 

 you, are a few cocoons of the peanut variety ; the eggs presented us 

 as such by Miss Emma Montgomery of Oktibbeha county, Miss. ; these 



