1837] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



67 



siipjiosed to be of dilli ailt peril)nn»nce, Iins be- 

 come sf) faniiliiirized, liuit iiiiiliiren |>erli)rm it with 

 skill and d.-xterily. in l''.)reii>-!i cuusilne.s, where 

 pilk is exleiisively grown and manufactured, the 

 b isiness of rcelinjr is kept, to a iireat extent, dis!- 

 tinct fron) the growing-; but I think it desirable ti)r 

 ■every grower in this country to acquaint, hinisell" 

 and "laniiiy with the art, as the value of the silk is 

 more easily and accurately ascertained, and is less 

 Hable to injury in transportation. Thus far, the 

 production and manuliicture of silk may be carried 

 ■oi\ in the f.unily of every fanner, and at a profit I'ar 

 beyond his expectations. 



"From all the iiicts in my possession, I am satis- 

 fied that every (iirmcr may devote a portion ot his 

 tarm and attention to the growth of siik, and there- 

 bv mucii increase the value ot" its products. The 

 galherinir ol' tlie loliage, and the feeding of the 

 worms, niav be performed by the children, and 

 such other members of the family as are incapa- 

 ble of more arduous labor; and who, if not thus 

 employed, would spend their time m idleness, or, 

 what is worse, mischief. If productive labor is a 

 principal source of wealth, both to nations and in- 

 dividuals, it is desirous it should be increased lo its 

 greatest possible extent. This can only be done 

 by seekinix out obiects to which the labor of the 

 young, old, and infirm, is adapted; and, among 

 these, I know of none more ap[)ropria.te than the 

 culture of silk. The same remarks are substan- 

 tiallv true with respect to its manufacture. 



It has also been erroneously supposed that the 

 manufacture of silk was artended with extraordi- 

 nary difiieuliies; that it required much complex 

 and expensive machinery, and a skill which Ame- 

 ricans were inca|)ab!e of acquiring; but it has been 

 found to be as simple as tiiat of cotton or wool, and 

 requiring a liir less expenditure in buiidinirs, ma- 

 chinery, and fixtures. The weavinijof silk fiibrics 

 on power-looms has been attempted, and the suc- 

 cess that has resulted fi-om the experiment is of the 

 leost flattering character. Fabrics for gentlemen's 

 wear, cravats, &c., have been woven on power- 

 looms, which, lor beauty of" texture, fall but little, 

 if any. b'Mow those of loreisn manufacture. In 

 this respect, we are already in advance ot" the silk 

 nianufiictnrers of" Europe and India; and it is be- 

 lieved that the advantage the American manufac- 

 turer will derive from the aid of" labor-saving ma- 

 chines, will more than counterbalance the advan- 

 ■tage the fbreiirn manuiacturer does or can derive 

 from the reduced price of labor in countries ol"a 

 more dense population. Hence it is believed that 

 this country can successfully compete with other 

 countries, both in the culture and manufacture of 

 eilk. 



The importance of introducing this species of 

 manufacture maybe Estimated by the fact, that 

 the importations of manufactured silks, during the 

 year endinrr the 30th of September last, amounted 

 to .$ 17,497,900, beina nearly a million more than 

 the previous j-ear. Most of this enormous amount 

 is consumed in this country, and is an annual tax 

 upon the consumers. It is also to them and the 

 country a total loss; for it is believerl there are in 

 the country a sufficient mtmber of laborers to pro- 

 duce and manufacture the whole amount, who are 

 unproductively or unprofitably employed. If this 

 be so, it follows, as a necessary consequence, that 

 we sustain an annual loss of double that amount 

 in our unemj-.loyed and misapplied labor. This 



amount will also be astonishingly increased, if we 

 aiid to it all the evils of" crime and pauperism, 

 which are the legit nnate and unavoi(iabi<> conse- 

 quences ol" idleness and unproductive labor. The 

 connection between idleness and poverty has not, 

 and never will be dissolved, so loni!; as the relation 

 between cause and eli'ect exists; and though crime 

 may not be a necessary concomitant, yet it is a 

 common attendant. The same is true, though in 

 a less degree, in regard lo misapplied labor. The 

 t"ruits of unproductive labor are poverty and wretcli- 

 edness, and those are often the remote, if not the 

 immediate, causes of" crime. I'he importance, 

 therefore, of the culture and manufacture of silk, 

 both in a pecuniary and moral point ol" view, is 

 immense. 



Our independence also urges ns to encjage in 

 the culture and manufacture of" silk. Fabrics, of 

 which silk is the whole, or a component part, are 

 indispensable. In the early ages of the world, 

 when the customs and fashion of society were 

 rude and unpolished, silk was considered a luxury 

 which none but princes could indulge; and even in 

 them it was supposed to be unpardonable extrava- 

 gance, for it was among the enumerated prodigali- 

 iies of Heliogabalus, that he had a garment made 

 wholly of silk. The Emperor Aurelian, also, two 

 hundred and seventy years afterwards, rel"used his 

 empress a silk robe, merely because he could not 

 incur the expense. In still later timi^s silk has been 

 considered luxurious, for it is said ofjames I, before 

 his accession to the English throne in 1603, that he 

 was compelled to borrow a pair oi" silk hose of" the 

 Earl of Mar, when he first appeared before the 

 ambassador. But the customs and habit of" soci- 

 ety have since underirone an astonishing change. 

 Silk is no longer considered a luxury, but an indis- 

 pensable article. So common has it become, that 

 it forms a considerable part of our wardrobes, and 

 enters more or less into almost every garment, both 

 of male and icmale dress. However unnecessary 

 and extravagant silk may have anciently been con- 

 sidered, it cannot now be dispensed with, neither 

 can its consumption be confined to the v/ealthy. 

 Time was, and now is in some countries, when 

 different orders in society, growing out of rank and 

 wealth, existed; but this state of tilings no longer 

 continues in this country. Wealth and descent 

 are no longer the thermometer of respectability, 

 but industry, frugalitj', and the practice oi" the 

 moral and social virtues. The poor as well as the 

 rich must be clothed in silk: and why should they 

 not? they are as meritorious, and often more so. 

 The question is, therefore, settled, that there can 

 be no diminution in the consumption of siik; and 

 unless measures are taken to encom'age its culture, 

 we must be forever dependent on foreign labor for 

 its production. Thongii foreign laborers may be 

 dependent on us for the consumption of their pro- 

 ducts, yet it detracts much from our independence 

 to be dependent on them for necessarj^ articles of 

 clothing. It is true, while our amicable relations 

 with foreign countries continue, we shall be sup- 

 plied; the advantage they derive fi-om tliis item of 

 our commercial dealing will ever afford us a guar- 

 anty awinst want in times of peace; yet our in- 

 tercourse may be interrupted b}" war, and we be 

 thrown upon our own resources ibr the production 

 of this staple article of' consumption. Cut if this 

 state of" things cannot be reasonably anticipated, 

 our love of independence, and, aliove all. n pru- 



