No. 85..] 291 



?canty wages given in other silk growing countries. Even this con- 

 sideration, though it may retard for a while the complete success of 

 this home department of productive industry, will not prevent its ul- 

 timate success." 



Another gentleman, under date of August 11th, 1844, writes from 

 the far west, 



" That the soil and climate of the western and southwestern states 

 are admirably suited to the growth of the mulberry and raising 

 silk worms ; and that eventually, the two great staples of exports 

 from the western and southwestern states will be silk and wool. 



Recent information has been received that rags are never used for 

 making paper in the East Indies or Islands, but always made of some 

 vegetable, and no doubt that the foliage of the mulberry is used for 

 that purpose, and the inner bark of the mulberry for manufacturing 

 purposes, as testified also by M. Frassenet, in France. 



Paper has been made of the foliage in America, and the bark is in 

 process of carding and spinning. 



A quantity of unbleached mulberry paper has been made in this 

 town, for the special purpose of millers, depositing their eggs thereon. 

 The paper being of a dull color, is adapted to the purpose, and proba- 

 bly congenial to their habits. 



I am now having gathered the genuine Canton foliage, which re- 

 tains its verdure in greater perfection than any other, even to the 

 autumnal frosts — for drying and bleaching, to make writing paper. 



It has been experimented in this place, by skillful operatives, and 

 by certain tests in proof, that the pongee silk, so called, of foreign 

 make, is a vegetable production, and probably made of the inner 

 fibre of the mulberry bark, and was never operated upon by the silk 

 worm. 



Very favorable accounts have been received from silk growers in 

 different sections of the country, all showing that silk has, and can 

 be raised, of a good quality. To promote which, however the aid of 

 government is needed to stimulate many to engage in an untried en- 

 terprise. 



We are now the consumers of foreign silk to an immense amount 

 annually, and in part contribute to the support of foreign enterprise 

 and industry ; whereas we ought to be the producers ourselves, not 

 only to supply our own market, but for exportation. 



Some ten or twelve years since I commenced experimenting in the 

 silk business, in the full belief that the business could be made useful 

 to our citizens, and have never lost sight of the great object. Every 

 year's experience and observation is in evidence that we have not la- 

 labored in vain, or spent our strength for nought. 



Much time and money have been expended without all the good 

 returns which might have been desirable ; nevertheless, we have the 

 approbation of our own, and the opinion of many good men and true, 

 that great good will result from what has been done ; and that the 

 silk business will eventually be numbered among the best products of 

 ourc suiL 



D. STEBBINS. 



