No. 85. j 503 



cession of crops in New-England, where the trees are cut down in 

 the spring, early shoots cut and fed to the worms, and later ones 

 constantly springing up, suitable for feeding. 



That the United States are at no distant period to become a great silk 

 growing country, is more than probable ; that New-England will show 

 largely in the product is not so certain. While the foreign produ- 

 cers and others interested, are watching with eagle eyes, the progress 

 of silk culture in this country, at all times prepared to overstock our 

 market with raw silk, and constantly doing so for the express purpose 

 of checking its culture here ; while not one in five of our citizens 

 who engage in it are remunerated for their labors and other outlays, 

 while thousands of mulberry trees in this and neighboring towns, 

 have been dug up, and thousands more destined soon to share the 

 same fate, and while the whole subject requires systematic investiga- 

 tion and revision as well as simplification, it cannot be reasonably 

 expected that individuals, without assistance from government, will 

 make the necessary advances to compete successfully with such 

 formidable obstacles. Indeed it requires no prophet to predict, that 

 should no aid from government be speedily given, the silk culture in 

 Massachusetts will soon be numbered among the things that were. 



Dr. B. Blakesley, JVewark, l^ayne co.j JY. Y. — Your silk circu- 

 lar came duly to hand, and having no remark to offer that will be in- 

 teresting or useful, I simply forward an answer to your inquiries. It 

 will be seen that I have eight acres of land devoted to trees ; but I 

 have not used the fourth part of them for feeding worms. I intend 

 to enlarge my operations so as to use the whole. 



No. of years engaged 4 



Acres of land employed 8 



No. of trees, about 200,000 



Capital invested, (only half employed) f 1 , 000 



Pounds of cocoons prior to 1844 581 



do in 1844 334 



Cost of the same in 1844 $50 



Value of the same $75 



Bounty on same $50 



G. W. Fargo, South Solon^ Me. — Having perused whatever fell 

 in our way on silk, we caught a little of the fever. We had a few 

 years before planted a few white mulberry trees, out of mere curios- 

 ity. We used their foliage last year with the best success. This 

 greatly increased our zeal. Have enlarged our operations this year. 

 Our first hatching was on the 1st of June; our second, the 20th of 

 July. The first wound in thirty days ; the second, in fifty-five, after 

 hatching. The cause of the difference was extremely cold weather 

 during the last feeding, especially the nights ; the thermomter seldom 

 rose to 70° at mid-day. Our experience convinces me : 



1st. That the white mulberry (in this State) is best, and other va- 

 rieties as per the following order: 1st, Broosa ; 2d, Canton; and 

 lastly, the multicaulis. 



2d. That worms will live and grow, wind and make good cocoons, 

 on any variety of the mulberry, with proper attention. 



