THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. SS- 



The forepart of last November I paid M. Boissiere a visit, as I was 

 interested in this novel enterprise just started in a neighboring State. I 

 found him sitting at an immense table with all the ojDeratives, partaking 

 in common of a j)lain but substantial meal. He is a bachelor of some sixty 

 years of age ; a philanthropic, intelligent man — a man of plain habits,^ 

 and with such broad democratic views that he originall}^ came to this 

 country in sheer disgust of ]Sra])oleo-n III. He is fully imbued with the 

 fact that there should be no conflict between capital and labor, and intends 

 to make the colony self-supporting; but to form eventually a co-operative 

 society, with equitable distrilnition of profits, mutual guarantees, association 

 of families, integi'al education and unity of interests — something after the- 

 plan proposed b}^ Mr. E. T. Grant, in a work on Co-operation, issued from 

 the office of the New York Tribune. So soon as the organization is effected 

 he intends to donate to the association all the capital invested by himself up 

 to that time, reserving only the right of as many votes as the capital will 

 rejjresent. 



I found the looms in the factory idle for reasons which need not affect 

 the ultimate success of the enterprise, and the samples of velvet ribbon and 

 silk trimmings Avhich had been made from French and Japanese silks, and 

 which may be seen at Carson Bros., 121 Locust street, St. Louis, sufHciently 

 attested the capabilities of these looms. Other looms have already been 

 ordered from France. I shall await with much interest future developments- 

 in this colony, for upon its success very much depends. That it will suc- 

 ceed as a colony I have little doubt, but whether it will do so as a silk 

 settlement, time only will tell. If it becomes a .sitccess in this last sense, it 

 will form the nucleus of a new and important industry in the Mississippi 

 Yalle}' ; for I cannot help thinking that there are localities innumerable, 

 and plenty of them in our own State, where such colonies could be foi-med 

 with better commercial facilities, less severe climate, and especiall}' where 

 there would be less annoyance from severe cold winds, which, as M. Boissiere 

 informed me, prevail there to a remarkable degree in the spring, and bid 

 fair to form the most serious obstacle to the rearing of the worms. The 

 State of Kansas, if it looks well to its OAvn interests, will not let the under- 

 taking fail for want of encouragement; for when an individual embarks in 

 some new enterprise, the success of which is of so much importance to the 

 State, he deserves encouragement from the Legislature, if it is necessary. 



SILK GROWING IN MISSOURI. 



I cannot find that the Silkworm has ever been raised in any considerable 

 numbers in this State. I have raised them under a variety of circum- 

 stances during each of the last four years, having employed three white 

 and yellow races from Eqin, China, received through the]^Department of 

 Agriculture; and three rather inferior European varieties.*^. They have also 

 been raised, at my request, bj' several different persons near St. Louis, by 

 Judge J. P. Wielandy of Jefferson City; Wm. R. Howard of Forsyth, and 

 J. L. Townsend of Columbia. These trials fully warrant the assertion that 



