1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



259 



August, that the trees may have opportunity to 

 form wood; and the location must be so elevated 

 and dry as to be out of the way of water setting 

 near the plants. 



Respectini^ the value of an acre set with mul- 

 berry, itdepends on the price of the mulberry and 

 number of trees set therein. II" the trees are set 2.^ 

 feet apart in the rows, and the rows 3 feet apart, 

 an acre would take 5,808 trees, which at 25 cents 

 each, would be worth ^1,452. Some prefer to 

 have the rows 4 leet apart, and 2 li^et apart in the 

 rows; in this case it would require 5,445 trees to 

 the acre. But provided an acre of ground shall 

 beset with cuttings, the rows 2 feet apart, and 

 1^ foot apart in the rows, 14,520 cuttings might 

 be set in an acre, which at ,^30 cost per 1.000 or 3 

 cents, would amount to $453 60, to stock an acre. 

 It may be understood that a purchaser wishing to 

 stock an acre of ground, the trees and cuttings 

 could be purchased at a less price than above 

 stated. 



Taking into consideration the number of trees 

 the most proper for an acre, and a reasonable 

 price for the trees, the average price of an acre 

 of land set with mulberries, including the land, 

 might be worth from 750 to 1,000 dollars invest- 

 ment. 



The cultivation of an acre of mulberry would, 

 of itself, be no more than that of an acre of corn; 

 but, including the gathering the leaves, /ecc/i?7g the 

 worms, and reeling the silk, need not exceed 2^0 

 dollars. The profits of an acre of mulberry would 

 depend upon the fidelity vvith which the worms 

 are fed, and the quantity of raw silk made from 

 the cocoons. 



Some cultivators assert than an acre of ground 

 set with mulberry will, the second j^ear, produce 

 foliage sufficient to feed 1,000,000 of woTns, and 

 that number of cocoons will make 333^ lbs. of 

 silk. I have no personal knowledge of one acre 

 having been set apart for that purpose; but from 

 experiments made vvith certain number of trees, 

 in proportion to the acre, it has been ascertained 

 that 100 lbs. of raw silk may be made from an 

 acre the first year of setting out; and if the roots 

 can be preserved without removal during the 

 winter, a much greater quantity of foliage would 

 be furnished, and, of course, a greater quantity of 

 silk might be made the second and third year; so 

 that the maximum might be 300 lbs. or more of 

 silk to the acre. But assuming the minimum 

 quantity, (100 lbs. from an acre,) it would yield 

 the cultivator a greater profit than from any other 

 product fi-om the soil. 



The last year I requested several cultivators to 

 make thorough experiments to ascertain the cer- 

 tain profits of an acre. Only one, however, met 

 the application with the precision desired. He, 

 by strict economy of time, labor, and expense, al- 

 though he gave three dollars per week and board, 

 to two experienced females, as teachers in gather- 

 ing foliage, feeding worms, and reeling sillc^ found 

 that his silk cost him only two dollars' \he pound, 

 and estimates his silk worth at least six to seven 

 dollars the pound, on account of excellency of the 

 reeling, for which he has the liberal bounty of the 

 state, and also a premium from the Agricultural 

 Society. The quantity and value of silk depend 

 on the skill and perfection of reeling. 



The value of American silk far exceeds the im- 

 ported raw silk, not only in lustre, but etrength of 



fibre, and the small comparative waste in the 

 manufacture; and is probably worth 25 per cent, 

 over the imported article of raw silk. 



The same cultivator informs me that, the last 

 year, being a year of experiment, attended with 

 loss of time and expense, which he can avoid an- 

 other year, he feels confident that he can hereaf- 

 ter make raw silk at igl 50 per pound. 



5. Respecting the most valuable silk worm : 

 Perhaps the large gray or black one-crop worm 

 on all accounts is equal to any other. There sre 

 several varieties of worms — one called the two- 

 crop worm; but one good yield is worth more 

 than two poor ones, vvith imperfect cocoons. 



In China, where several crops are taken in suc- 

 cession, from hatching eggs of the preceding 

 crop, it has been found that the quality of each 

 succeeding crop of silk is deteriorated, and that 

 silk grown in the elevated or northern regions of 

 China, uniformly commands or obtains 20 per 

 cent, more for any quantity of silk, than for silk 

 grown in the warmer latitudes; and for the same 

 reason that American silk is superior to that im- 

 ported. It has been thought that the Chinese 

 seldom or never export the silk grown in the cool 

 regions, but that it is retained for the superior fa- 

 brics. Eggs, to be ot good quality, must have 

 the maturity of age. The usual time of hatching 

 the first parcel of eggs, in this climate, is from the 

 I5lh to the 20ih of June, or as soon as the mul- 

 berry leaves have a size to commence gathering. 

 3000 worms, (or even 2000 or 2400, if well at- 

 tended,) will make cocoons sufficient for one 

 pound of silk. 



The quantity, quality and value, and market of 

 cocoons, depend very much on the attention of 

 feeding the worms, ventilation and cleanliness of 

 the cocoonery; in cold seasons the worms do not 

 make so perfect cocoons as when the weather is 

 mild during the time of feeding. 



As to a market for cocoons, the several silk fac- 

 tories and reeling establishments will readily pur- 

 chase or reel them on hire; and that the producer 

 should receive the benefit ofgood cocoons, instead 

 of purchasing by the pound, a fair price would be 

 given for any quantity yielding a pound of silk. 

 The cultivator must, therefore, see the propriety 

 of so faithfully feeding the worms as to produce 

 hard and sound cocoons. 



But the cultivator would derive the greatest 

 profit by reeling his own cocoons, as every family- 

 might do with very little expense. 



6. The legislature of Massachusetts give a ge- 

 nerous bounty to encourage the growth of silk 



about sufficient to cover all the expense of gather- 

 ing the leaves, feeding the worms, and reeling 

 the silk; so that every pound of silk raised and 

 made in Massachusetts may be considered a clear 

 profit to the cultivator; rent of the land, taxes, 

 and interest of investment not included. Never- 

 theless, even these items may be overcome in a 

 very short time. 



The legislature of Massachusetts offer a boun- 

 ty, on the manufiicture of beets into sugar, of 

 three cents on the pound— probably sufficient to 

 cover the expense of manufacture. 



Finally. On the subject of mulberry and silk, 

 although it has engrossed much of my time and 

 attention under the most anxious solicitude for its 

 success, and with the persuasion that it would ul- 

 timately be found the most lucrative business 



