490 [Senate 



COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE CONVENTION. 



1. The committee have pursued the same general plan in the 

 arrangement of these communications, that was adopted in the last 

 report ; omitting tlates, introductions, conclusions, &c. No separate 

 place has been assigned to the letters of manufacturers, but they have 

 been thrown in promiscuously with those devoted more particularly 

 to the culture. -^'' ■ , ' 



2. A number of these letters were directed to individuals, and not 

 originally designed for this convention. 



3. One striking characteristic of these letters, and one which every 

 reader will observe, is the extensive use of the "common reel and 

 wheel," for converting cocoons into sewings, &c. • operations requir- 

 ing the most perfect machinery. It is unnecessary for me to remark, 

 that all such efforts at manufacturing silk, act directly against the real 

 interests of the cause, and should be discountenanced. We have 

 some specimens before us of sewings made in this way, which are 

 really beautiful. Still the same cocoons from which these samples 

 were made, had they been used properly, might have furnished a 

 fabric of tenfold more value. 



^ The cause assigned by the writers of very many of the letters is, 

 that they have " no market" for their cocoons ; and all seem to be 

 united on the importance of well regulated local filatures and markets 

 as a remedy for this evil. A remedy, it is believed, which would 

 have the desired effect. 



4. I have been obliged to copy all the proceedings and letters, and 

 as they were placed in my hands only eight or ten days before the 

 manuscripts were needed to accompany the annual report of the 

 American Institute to the Legislature, have been obliged to make the 

 preparation in the greatest possible haste, and it would not be strange 

 if it should be found attended with some imperfections. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



Geo. Fitch, South Bridgeton, Me. — Have fed a few worms for six 

 years past, generally with good success. This season we have fed 

 about 16,000 worms — had 49 lbs. cocoons : one building is thorough- 

 ly ventilated. I have about three-quarters of an acre of white mul- 

 berry trees, and a few hundred multicaulis, which afford much more 

 foliage than the white, though I think worms fed on the white make 

 the best silk. The ladies of one family have manufactured our co- 

 coons into sewings, with nothing but our common household machi- 

 nery. 



Henry Lord, Hubhardsion, Vt. — I have been experimenting some 

 for five years, — I use the morus multicaulis. Good success. Usu- 

 ally expose my eggs about the first of May, and feed several crops — 

 about ten days apart — feed on solid shelves, and clean every moult- 

 ing — can feed some ten days earlier here on the multicaulis than the 

 white. Manufacture our cocoons into sewings and twist, and have 

 made some cloth and hosiery from floss and poor cocoons with the 

 addition of a little cotton, which are considered good : all done on the 



