AN ESSAY 



ON THE 



CULTIVATION OF THE MULBERRY, 



AND THE 



REARING OP SILK WORMS. 



There can now be but little doubt that the silk cul- 

 ture is destined, at no distant day, to become one of 

 the grand resources, and silk one of the great staples 

 of the United States. A little antecedent to the 

 American Revolution, the people of the Colonies 

 went heart and hand into the cultivation of silk ; and at 

 the instigation of Dr. Franklin, a silk filature was es- 

 tablished in Philadelphia. Large trees of the White 

 Mulberry, (Morus Alba,) are still standing in Connec- 

 ticut and other New England States, which were 

 then used for the propagation of that interesting in- 

 sect, the silk worm. 



The first account, however, that we have of the 

 cultivation of silk in this country, was in the reign of 

 King James, who was a great patron of that elegant 

 employment ; and who granted a certain number of 

 acres of land to any settler, or emigrant, who would 



