No. 85. J 505 



There is no market in this part of the country. I am satisfied that 

 the business can be made profitable. I have two acres ; all multi- 

 caulis. 



Wm. R. Massey, Esq., Alexandria^ D. C. — In 1841 I fed about 

 30,000, which produced me some five or six bushels cocoons, the 

 worms fed were of the small sulphur variety, and were entirely healthy. 

 I believe I did not lose one worm in one thousand. I recollect dis- 

 tinctly that but eight worms were found dead after they had gone be- 

 yond their third moulting. There was no expense incurred during 

 any of the above seasons ; I gathered the leaves and fed them my- 

 self. In 1842, Mr. McCormick and I concluded to try an experi- 

 ment on a larger scale ; we purchased five ounces eggs, of the mam- 

 moth sulphur kind, and these produced us thirty-five bushels cocoons, 

 all good ; we fed in a large room, forty-five by one hundred feet, 

 which had been quite empty of any thing attractive to vermin, for a 

 considerable time ; of course that season we lost but few worms by 

 them. We purchased five ounces peanut eggs, but they proved not 

 good, and therefore we took no account of them in our crop of that 

 season. I reeled myself, the cocoons yielding about twenty-five 

 pounds raw silk, exclusive of those reserved for eggs. Encouraged 

 by our success, we embarked more largely in the business in 1843, 

 and hatched fifteen ounces eggs at once, from which we got about 

 forty-five bushels cocoons ; the mice by this time had found their 

 way into our feeding room, and destroyed, I think, fully one-third of 

 the worms. In the same room we were feeding last season at least 

 the worms from thirty ounces eggs, by far too many for our room, 

 unless much better ventilated than it was or could be ; yet the worms 

 were remarkably healthy, and we should doubtless have made over 

 one hundred bushels cocoons, but for the rats and mice, which beset 

 us in unusual numbers, and destroying two-thirds of our crop. We 

 gathered about forty bushels cocoons. 



Experience has taught us much in relation to the silk-worm. First 

 that there needs not to be so much ado, about houses to feed in, or 

 costly fixtures to feed on. Early feeding, in open tents, I am sure is 

 far preferable ; having tried many experiments, I readily conclude 

 that light, (until the time of winding,) and air, are the chief requi- 

 sites for the health and yield of the worms. Cold, I am very sure, 

 is not so injurious to them as heat, and a close atmosphere. Tents 

 can be so constructed as to give the whole family of worms a con- 

 stant supply of fresh air, antl the fixtures may be so arranged as to 

 prevent access by vermin. Cocoons, we think, may be raised at an 

 expense not to exceed one dollar per bushel ; we prefer the mam- 

 moth sulphur, because the worms are more hardy, and the cocoons 

 reel more freely. 



P. S. — We feed the morus multicaulis, of which we have suffi- 

 cient to feed a million and a half of worms. 



Clark Avery, Perrym7/e, Madison county, JV*. F. — Pursuant to the 

 published request of the trustees of the American Institute, I forward 

 to you an account of my operations and success in the silk business. 

 My labor is done by myself and family, in connection with farming 



