SILK CULTURE, &c, 



Report made at the request of J. P. Beekraan, President of the 

 New-York State Agricultural Society, on the "Autograph Sketch" of 

 D. Stebbins, Esq., Northampton, Massachusetts, received at the An- 

 nual Fair at Poughkeepsie, September, 1844. 



The author of this " Sketch " is well known as having for several 

 years past devoted much time and attention to the silk culture. The 

 statements of no individual respecting it, have been given with more 

 candor and strict regard to facts, or more justly claim the confidence 

 of the public. He here exhibits some of the valuable results of his 

 long continued experiments and careful observation, which cannot fail 

 to be highly appreciated. While exhibiting some of the lessons taught 

 by his own experience, he shows himself awake to inquiry and inves- 

 tigation in regard to the subject, and in search of light from whatever 

 quarter it can be obtained. The facts which he exhibits furnish strong 

 proof of the practicability and great importance of the silk business, 

 and conduct us to his own position, that " by the use of such mul- 

 berries and worms as are now approved of, aided by American skill, 

 ingenuity and perseverance, with such encouragement as government 

 might afford in the shape of bounty" — we may, in this business, hope 

 to compete with any silk growing country on the globe. Perhaps 

 the author of the " Sketch" could make it convenient to present in 

 more full detail the results of his practice in the production of silk. 

 A practical essay from his pen, embodying more fully the results of 

 his varied experience in this business, and the best methods of prose- 

 cuting it, would be regarded with much favor, and published, in the 

 shape of a tract on the silk culture^ would undoubtedly be produc- 

 tive of much good. Wide spread regions of our country are admira- 

 bly suited to this business. Southern Ohio, western Virginia, Ken- 

 tucky and Tennessee, are districts that seem destined to become cele- 

 brated for the production of silk — though favorable for the growing 

 of wool — still, in the opinion of persons acquainted with those districts 

 of our territory, they contain wider tracts adapted to the profitable 

 production of silk than of wool. And it is now greatly to be desired 

 that those who are beginning to turn their attention to the silk busi- 

 ness, may have the full benefit of the experience of such men as Mr. 

 Stebbins, and be prepared to make their experiments with the fairest 

 prospects of success. His communication deserves a place in the pub- 

 lished transactions of the society. And should it be his pleasure to 

 comply with the suggestion already given, he would no doubt receive 



