Leaders. 



57 



But it would seem there are silk-worms native to this 

 country, from which gut far superior in every way to 

 that of the Chinese worm not only can be, but actually 

 has been, made. 



At least three of these greatly exceed the Chinese 

 worm in size, and in the quantity of silk they secrete. 

 That they have not attracted the attention of silk manu- 

 facturers to a greater extent, is probably due to the dif- 

 ficulty experienced in reeling the silk from the cocoons, 

 an objection which, however serious it may be to him 

 who would substitute these to feed machinery adapted 

 to work the cocoons of the Chinese worm, is of no 

 weight to one who seeks to utilize the silk sacks of the 

 insect prior to its spinning as would be done in gut- 

 manufacture. 



For many reasons, that worm known to the entomol- 

 ogist as the Attacus cecropia is most worthy of our at- 

 tention. It produces the largest quantity of silk of any, 

 and that of great strength. Its habitat is co-extensive 

 with the United States. It is indifferent to the vicissi- 

 tudes of our climate, and will flourish anywhere in the 

 open air. It is an omnivorous feeder " as easy to raise 

 to maturity as young ducks or chickens " and finally 

 from it gut has been drawn " eight and nine feet long, 

 and strong enough to hold a salmon " " quite round, and 

 all an angler could desire." 



I am largely indebted for my information in regard 

 to this worm to Dr. Theodatus Garlick, of Bedford, Ohio, 

 justly celebrated as the father offish-culture in this coun- 

 try, and to Dr. E. Sterling, of the city of Cleveland in 

 the same State. 



The former gentleman, from a bed of sickness and 

 pain, in his eightieth year, responded with alacrity to 



