68 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 



dent national economy, should prompt us to pro- 

 Becute a branch of imlustry which promises such 

 important resuhs, and the practicability or leasibil- 

 ity of which is no longer a problem. 



"The importance ol'this branch ofrural economy 

 is also much increased, by the laciliiies it atibrds 

 to all to attain competeuce and wealth. There is 

 probably no other business, in which the same 

 amount of capital will yield an equal amount of 

 income. It will not be expected that 1 shall go 

 into an accurate calculation of the product and 

 profit of a plantation and cocoonery; yet, perhaps, 

 I ou^ht to say, that, wilhin the range of my own 

 observation, "there can be no better investment of 

 capital. The small amount of capital necessary 

 to a commencement of the business is also a fa- 

 cility which no other branch of business, within 

 ray knowledge, holds out to the enterprising. A 

 few acres of land of ordinary fertility, and a few 

 dollars in money for the purchase of seed and 

 plants, will enable a silk grower to lay the foun- 

 dation for a plantation on a considerable scale. 



Another iaciiity peculiar to the business is the 

 ease with which operations are extended, without 

 a corresponding extension of capital. The ratio 

 in which the morus muUicaulis may be multiplied, 

 by means of cuttings and layers, is truly astonish- 

 ing. Experiments have proved that, with a little 

 labor and attention, they may be more than quad- 

 rupled every year. This will enable the farmer in 

 moderate circumstances to compete with the capi- 

 talist, and prevent monopolizers from engrossing 

 the whole of the business and its profits. To the 

 individual of limited means, and a large family of 

 children dependent on him lor support and educa- 

 tion, the culture of silk holds out encouragement of 

 extraordinary promise; while, at the same tune, it 

 aflbrds ampfe opportunity lor the capitalist, or the 

 incorporated company, to make large investments 

 with the moral certainty of success. 



The culture and manufacture of silk must also, 

 for a long time at least, be tree from the depres- 

 sions and embarrassments which, at times, are 

 thrown upon other species of manufiicture by en- 

 terprise and competition. Before the present pri- 

 ces can be materially reduced, an amount of do- 

 mestic silk equal to the large amount annually im- 

 ported must be produced; and this cannot be ex- 

 pected, while enterprise antl labor have so many 

 objects on which to expend themselves, as the va- 

 rious sections, climates, interests, and pursuits ol 

 this exiensive country present. The dispropor- 

 tion also which has existed for the last twenty or 

 thirty years, between the increase in the consump- 

 tion of silk, and the increase of population, and 

 which is becoming greater every year, will, it is 

 believed, prevent the American silk growers, with 

 all the aid and encouragement which may be ex- 

 tended to I hem by the national and state legisla- 

 tures, from produeinti; the raw material in sufficient 

 quantities to supply the demand, for at least another 

 century. 



A good beginning, however, has been made, 

 and the business commenced under the most fa- 

 vorable auspices. In the month of Septe.mber, I 

 caused a circular to be prepared, propounding 

 twenty-six interrogatories to silk growers, manu- 

 facturers, and other gentlemen interested in the 

 Bubject. Several hundred were circulated; and 

 many have been returned with answers to the in- 

 quiries. It isj howQVQr, to be regretted they were 



not forwarded at an earlier day, as a more punc- 

 tual and general return would have been the con- 

 sequence, and a greater amount of inibrmation col- 

 lected. The facts, however, as tar as they have 

 been collected, (and they are as numerous and 

 circumstantial as under the circumstances could 

 he expected,) are of the most flattering character. 

 From the answers to the interroo-atories, the com- 

 munications of gentlemen in different par;s of the 

 country, and such other means of inlormaiion as I 

 have been favored with, I am enabled to give the 

 Ibllowmg exhibit of the progress and .prospect of 

 both branches of the business. The staiem^nts 

 being made fiom correct data, may be relied on, 

 as approximating to accuracy, as far as they go: 

 but it is reasonable to suppose that the view is 

 imperfect, as the business has probably been com- 

 menced in many parts of the country, fi'om which 

 no information has been received. Thb^se,ofcoursey 

 are not embraced: and the business is, no doubt, fur- 

 ther advanced, and in a more prosperous condition, 

 than will be exhibited. 



Kew England States. 



The six New England States are, more or less, 

 engaged in the culture and nuinuliicture of silk ; 

 and lour of them are encouraging the business by 

 legislative bounties. In Maine, a bounty of five 

 cents on every pound of cocoons grown, and fifty 

 cents on every pound of silk reeled, is paid from 

 the state treasury. The growing of silk has also 

 been commenced in several towns in difierent parts 

 of the state, and the experiments which have 

 been made confirm the belief that the climate is 

 no obstacle in the way of the silk grower; espe- 

 cially fiorn the foliage of the Italian mulberry. In 

 Newport, Fryeburg, Saco, Hiram, and Liming- 

 ton, nurseries have been planted, and are said lo 

 be in a flourishing condition, esj.ecially in the first 

 mentioned town. This town is situated at about 

 equi-dislance between the Kennebec and Penob- 

 scot rivers, and within a few miles of the 45th de- 

 gree of latitude ; and yet the young plants with- 

 stood the severity of the last winter unin]ured. A 

 gentleman in Fryeburg has 10,000 or 12,000 Ital- 

 ian mulberries, four years old, and several thou- 

 sand more in his nursery. He fed the last season 

 5,000 worms, which produced about the usual 

 quantify ofsilk. His confidence is so strong in the 

 success and profit of the business, that he intends 

 to extend it asliisl as his means vvilladn)il. About 

 forty dollars worth ol" silk was made in Hiram the 

 last season, and manufactured into sewing silk ; 

 the quality of which is said lo be eipial to the best 

 Italian. A few pounds were also made in Lim- 

 ington of excellent quality. 



In New Hampshire, the business has been be- 

 gun, and is prosecuted with considerable spirit, 

 though no |)ublic encouragement is given. At 

 Concord, there is an incorporated company, with 

 a capiial of i575,000, for ihe growth and manufiic- 

 lure of silk. 'J"he company have purchased a 

 fiirm of 250 acres, and are stocking it with both 

 kinds of the mulberry as fist as circumstances per- 

 mit. Individuals, also, in most parts of the state, 

 are planting the mulberry, preparatory to feeding 

 the worm. In the vicinitj' of Portsmouth many 

 ijentlemen are engaging in the business. Expe- 

 riments have also been made in South Weare, 

 Newport, DunbartoUj Warner, llopkinton, Keene, 



