No. 85.] 483 



parts of the country, met in this place one year ago. The proceed- 

 ings at that time were of a most important and interesting character. 

 The information collected and embodied in their published proceed- 

 ings has told most happily on the cause we seek to advance. The 

 superiority of our soil and climate for rearing the worm and cultivat- 

 ing the mulberry, and the adaptation of American skill to the manu- 

 facture of the finest fabrics, were then the subjects of consideration. 

 That the views then entertained on these points were correct, and 

 that silk may be produced to advantage, either on an extensive or 

 a limited scale, the experience of another year has been making con- 

 stant and valuable additions to the evidence then in our possession. 



The system of open feeding, there reported upon, mostly as an ex- 

 periment, has this year been adopted by hundreds, and not a single 

 failure has been reported to this convention. From the frosty re- 

 gions of Maine to the sunny plantations of Georgia, but one voice 

 reaches us, — that of universal confidence, and universal success, — by 

 all who have fed on what may appropriately be termed the New 

 School System. It should here be remarked, however, that in pro- 

 nouncing all parts of our country adapted to the production of silk, they 

 are not equally so. A distinction should be made between the nor- 

 thern, middle, and southern portions. 



At the north, the feeding season is short, in consequence of un- 

 timely frosts, — seldom commencing before the first and the middle of 

 June, and rarely continuing later than the first of September, with fre- 

 quent interruptions by cold and chilly nights and mornings. 



In the middle sections, (embracing some parts of New- York, and 

 the entire valley of the Ohio, and the adjacent country,) the feeding 

 may be commenced much earlier and continued much later, with cor- 

 responding profit : but the southern portions of the Union exceed 

 any other parts of the known world, for the successful prosecution of 

 this work, and may be made to yield a better return than cotton^ to- 

 bacco, or any other crop. 



These conclusions are mainly based upon the communications of 

 growers in these several sections. All have not met with equal suc- 

 cess, — as some still continue their attachment to the Old School Sys- 

 tem, notwithstanding all the evidence against its practicability. We 

 have proof, however, that they are becoming convinced of their er- 

 rors, by their want of success 3 but even in close feeding, some are 

 successful ; in fact, some of our most successful feeders, feed in this 

 way ; but the labor and expense are, in all cases, materially increased. 

 Plantations have, this year, been much enlarged, and many new 

 cases are reported. The number and variety of manufactured silks 

 now exhibiting at the Fair, indicate a corresponding increase and 

 improvement in this department of the business ; so much so, that, 

 although many thousand pounds of raw material have been produced 

 in this country, our manufacturers are obliged to import, in large 

 amounts, inferior foreign material, in order to keep their machinery 

 in operation. 



In view of the foregoing conclusions, and the facts upon which 

 they are founded, we would say — 



