35 



Congress, says ' In one acre of land there are 43,560 

 square feet, on which may be planted 3000 mulberry 

 trees, (from 4 to 3 feet apart.) These will yield, at the 

 age of seven years, 90,000 pounds of leaves, 30 pounds 

 to a tree producing 7,500 pounds of cocoons. At 

 25 cents per pound, these cocoons would sell for $1,875; 

 at 40 cents, $3000 ; at 50 cents, $3,750.' 



In Fessenden's American Gardener, page 272, it is 

 said, ' one ounce of seed will produce about 40,000 

 worms, who consume about 1000 pounds of leaves, and 

 produce from SO to 100 pounds of cocoons ; and 12 pounds 

 of cocoons give about one pound of Silk.' In the Franklin 

 Journal, vol. II, pages 22, 94 and 139, Count Dondola 

 says, 'The quantity of leaves actually consumed by 

 200,000 worms, is, in the first age, 20 Ibs. second, 55 Ibs., 

 third, 215 lhs. f fourth, 620 Ibs., fifth, 3,820 Ibs., making 

 in all, 4,731 Ibs. of leaves ; and that where trees are 

 convenient, two persons will attend and feed 240,000 

 worms, until ten days from spinning, when five or six ac- 

 tive children are necessary.' It is also known, that four 

 or five weeks, where the worms are well fed, completes 

 the time of feeding. The Massachusetts Journal, of 

 1828, Vol. X, No. 2, page 137, says, A single acre plant- 

 ed with the mulberry, will produce from 5 to 600 pounds 

 of raw silk,' but the number of trees is not mentioned. 



According to the above calculations, 240,000 worms 

 will consume 6000 pounds of leaves, requiring the time 

 aad attention of two women, for five weeks, which, at $3 

 per week each, including board, is $30; and 6 children, 

 ten days each, at $2 per week, is $17, making the cost 

 $47 for 6000 pounds of leaves. At that rate, 90,000 



