No. 85.] 495 



received orders for a parcel of genuine Canton, for shipment this fal 

 to Lima, South America. Third, I do not know how many trees 

 I have, too many however, to take the trouble to enumerate. They 

 are chiefly of the Canton and Asiatic. Fourth, The capital invested 

 consists of the land, trees and buildings ; some of the land being near 

 the central part of the village of Northampton, is very valuable, and 

 as a whole might be worth $10,000. Fifth, No stated account of the 

 quantity of cocoons raised from year to year, the great object being 

 to show that the business was practicable. 



6th. The same reply as the preceding may be made for 1844, 

 with the addition that considerable expense has been incurred, by 

 outlays for building, fixtures &c., and that the returns did not equal 

 the expectations, (see ninth answer.) 



7th. The whole expense incurred in, and about the premises for 

 labor, and material, on an additional cocoonery, hurdles, cradles and 

 other incidental expenses for 1844, amounts to about $250 ; but it is 

 hoped that the proceeds may cover the expenses. 



8th. The value as a whole is not depreciated by the outlay, the 

 whole now being in good order for some enterprising person, to show 

 what can be done in coming years. 



9th. The feeder for the present year, not having been accustomed 

 to a large establishment, undertook the feeding of too many worms 

 at a time; having plenty of foliage, over crowded them and hoped to 

 get his $800, but did not accomplish it; with the aid of two or three 

 children, attempted to feed 800,000 at a time ; ought not to have had 

 over 500,000. 



10th. Remarks. This year's experience sustains the position, that 

 all things considered, early feeding is the most safe to ensure a good 

 crop; but to have this result, constant and faithful attention, and an 

 equal distribution of feed is requisite, day by day, or the result would 

 be like the sample exhibited on the card, being fed on the same shelf 

 at the edge or outside. The longer worms are kept on feed, the less 

 silk will be produced from the same number of worms. 



Worms carried through under thirty days, are estimated to yield 

 25 per cent more silk, than those kept on feed forty days or more. 

 The way to produce the best result, is to feed the worms faithfully 

 and equally, especially while young, and then they will be likely to 

 pass safely through every change to the cocoon. Gill's ventilating 

 cradle, is an admirable contrivance for the silk-worm, and is emphati- 

 cally a labor saving and health saving machine, calculated to produce 

 a fine circulation of pure air among them, and expel the impure, aris- 

 ing either from the excessive perspiration of the worm, or from the 

 offal. Nothing offensive, should be allowed in or about the co- 

 coonery. One great advantage of the cradle system is, the worms 

 cannot be crowded as on shelf feeding. The silk grower being fur- 

 nished with plenty of the genuine Canton for leaf feeding ; and the 

 Asiatic for branch feeding ; and using the peanut variety of worms, 

 with due attention, may reasonably expect a good return of cocoons. 

 The present year's observation on the early production of foliage, 

 from the different varieties of trees, has resulted in the fact, that ihe 



