484 [Senate 



To individuals now engaged in the Silk Culture : Press forward,— 

 extend your operations as rapidly as possible, — and use every exer- 

 tion in your power to induce others to follow your example. 



To Legislatures^ State and County Agricultural Societies : Offer 

 liberal bounties and premiums, for the encouragement of the produc- 

 tion of cocoons and reeled silk. 



To CAPITALISTS convinced of the feasibility and importance of our 

 undertaking : Invest some of your means to render productive the 

 experience and skill, now possessed by many whose pecuniary re- 

 sources are so limited as to prevent their employing them to advan- 

 tage. 



We would not fail here to call attention to the all-worthy ex- 

 ample of the Hon. Myndert Van Schaick, who has so nobly led the 

 way, by contributing $1,000, to be used by the American Institute 

 for the encouragement of the manufacture of silk. 



Instead of adding further to our remarks, we have appended a 

 valuable communication from Dr. Daniel Stebbins, of Northampton, 

 which, by some mistake, was not included in the report of last 

 year. All of which is respectfully submitted. 



A. C. VAN EPPS, 

 I. R. BARBOUR, 



> Committee. 



To the Trustees of the American Institute : 



Gentlemen — It might be amusing to speculate upon the early 

 development, rise and progress of silk culture, which succeeded the 

 fig leaf and sheep skin clothing of early times ; but we have better 

 evidence than the most fanciful imagination can devise. 



The most ancient history of the world, has frequent notice of silk 

 and the silk tree ; and the most eminent linguists suggest that the 

 Hebrew words, "^/ie^A" and " mwAi," might be rendered either, 

 cotton, fine linen, or silk. Whether the Jews, at their dispersion, or 

 any other time, carried with them the knowledge of silk culture, or 

 whether it originated wath the Chinese, and by stealthy measures was 

 introduced into Europe, is not needful for us to contend about. De- 

 sirable as it might be to review the past, it would be more pleasing 

 could we lift the curtain and ken what changes will take place within 

 the present century. Great and important changes have taken place 

 within a few years. Most of us remember the disastrous tree specu- 

 lations, succeeded by almost a total apathy in the silk cause, until re- 

 cently, when public sentiment is waking up, to establish the silk cause 

 on a firm basis. Within the last year, great and essential improve- 

 ments have been devised and put in operation by intelligent silk 

 growers, more, it is hoped, for the general good than private emolu- 

 ment. 



Among the early pioneers of our country, in the silk culi:ure, we 



