59 



For the three first weeks after the worms are hatched 

 one woman who is acquainted with the business, or chil- 

 dren who would be equal to such a person. 



For the next twelve or fourteen days, five hands or 

 what would be equal to five if performed by children. 

 In this period two men with other help would be employed 

 to better advantage than all women and children. This 

 period finishes with the worms. For picking of the balls 

 and reeling the silk, it will require about the same amount 

 of labor for the same length of time as the last mentioned 

 period, which may all be performed by women and chil- 

 dren. The aforesaid labor and board may be estimated 

 at eighty dollars ; spinning the silk at thirtyfour dollars; 

 forty pounds of silk, at the lowest cash price is worth two 

 hundred dollars, which makes the following results. 



40 pounds silk at $5 per pound ... $200,00 

 Labor and board - 80,00 



Spinning 34,00 



114,00 



Net profit per acre $86,00 



The principal part of the labor may be performed by wo- 

 men and children. But when the business is carried on to a 

 considerable extent, it is considered more profitable to em- 

 ploy some men for the last period of the worms. 



COST OF RAISING SILK BY MR J)'HOMERGUE. 



Four ounces of eggs, each ounce containing about 

 35,000 eggs, making, in all, 140,000 eggs. 



