244 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



plants just imported from Europe, orj their way to those 

 States, and which, I learn, have been subsequently trans- 

 planted and are growing finely. 



The plant has been cultivated in Brazil, France and 

 Algiers, for many years, but it has succeeded only in the 

 former country, to much extent. The soil of Algiers has 

 been found too dry and the climate too hot ; while in France, 

 little attention has thus far been devoted to it. 



SILK. 



This valuable product has been more or less an object of 

 attention in this country, since its early settlement. It was 

 raised on a limited scale in the then southern provinces, 

 long before their separation from Great Britain ; and for 

 more than a century, good sewing silks have,been made, to 

 a small amount, in various places in New England. Occa- 

 sionally, strong, domestic silk fabrics have been manufac- 

 tured, which had the merits of comfort and almost perpe- 

 tual durability, but with little pretension to style or conven- 

 tional taste. 



The enormous importations of silk into this country, in 

 1836, exceeding $20,000,000, awakened the attention of 

 our countrymen to the great value of this material ; and a 

 speculation in the morus multicaulis mulberry, at that time 

 thought to be the best species for the silk worm, was the 

 result, which, for a time, almost rivalled the tulip mania of 

 Holland. The general effect, however, was beneficial. It 

 scattered the material for the support of the silk worm 

 throughout the country, and induced an attention to the 

 rearing of this useful but humble servant of the pride and 

 luxury of mankind, that might not have been realized to 

 the same extent for many years subsequent. There is a 

 large and increasing attention to this subject, but I regret 

 to add, the production of our raw material is far below the 

 demand in this country, while the manufactured article is 

 largely imported. 



My limits will not admit of minute directions for the 

 management of a cocoonery, nor is this essential to a suc- 

 cessful result. Moderate intelligence and skill, with close 

 attention, will enable almost any one to produce the raw 

 silk to a profit. 



Varieties of the Mulberry for feeding. The kinds of 

 trees best suited to the health of the worm, and the weight 

 and value of its product, are the Alpine and Canton. The 



