487 



For Feeding. 



One lad, 16 or 17, first two ages, . 

 Two lads " third age, . 



Three " " fourth " . 



Five " " fifth " . 



Gathering and curing cocoons, . 

 Interest on 2,000 feet hurdles, worth $40, 



" " apartment and fixtures. 

 Reeling 35 lbs. of silk, 75c, 



Net income for one year, 



86 00 



6 00 



10 00 



25 00 

 5 00 

 2 40 

 4 00 



26 25 



$114 74 



$77 76 



The farmer must bear in mind that this sum is over and above a 

 handsome compensation for labor, in fact, that if his daughters perform 

 the reeling, every dollar will remain with his family. Can persuasion 

 be wanting to induce him to see if these things be so ? Here is no 

 competition to frighten him ; the consumption of the article is truly en- 

 ormous, and no product of the soil finds a quicker market. I will not, 

 however, weary you with further comments, but will close this long 

 letter by expressing my belief, that the enterprize of cultivating silk in 

 the United States will speedily make its way against the tide of preju- 

 dice and derision which now sets so strongly against it, and that silk will 

 become one of the staple products of our fruitful land. 



I am, dear sir, respectfully. 



Your ob't servant, 



JAMES DEANE. 



Letter II. 



Greenfield, 20di Oct. 1841. 

 Mr. Colman, — 



Dear Sir, — I take pleasure in acquainting you with a very success- 

 ful experiment in raising silk, made by Mr. Benjamin Barton, of Gill, 

 which I deem to be so conclusive, that its publication is well calculated 

 to dispel the prejudice which exists against this important branch of ag- 

 riculture. The silk worms were reared by an invalid member of the 



