110 SILK GROWER'S GUIDE. 



pound of reeled silk is not far from the truth, as even a less 

 number he has found sufficient. 



Mayet has stated, that ten pounds of cocoons of supe- 

 rior quality will produce a pound of reeled silk. At Ce- 

 vennes, where the finest silk is produced, and where the 

 cocoon is cast out, when seven eighth parts are reeled, 

 but thirteen pounds of cocoons, of a thread of four or five 

 cocoons, are required for a pound of the purest silk 

 in the world. 



Count Hazzi states, that seven to ten pounds of co- 

 coons will make a pound of raw silk. In France some- 

 times even twelve have been required; while in Amer- 

 ica, eight pounds of cocoons will frequently produce a 

 pound of reeled silk; and Mr. Cobb has stated that eight 

 pounds avoirdupois yielded from sixteen to eighteen 

 ounces of silk, six to nine cocoons to the thread. 



In 1814, which was considered a season extremely 

 unfavorable for silk-worms, Count Dandolo obtained fif- 

 teen ounces of very fine silk from 7 pounds of cocoons, 

 and from the same weight of refuse cocoons he obtained 

 thirteen ounces. These instances shew the result of 

 right management. 



Let us look at the surprising fact which is stated by 

 Judge Comstock, the author of the valuable " Treatise 

 on the Culture of the Mulberry Tree and of Silk." These 

 cocoons were produced in 1835 by Mr. Lyman Atwater, 

 of New Haven, and reeled at the factory of the Connec- 

 ticut Silk Manufacturing Company in Hartford. Judge 

 Comstock was on the spot. He states, that " from the 

 books of the company, it appears, that from 34 Ibs. of 

 cocoons, nine pounds and three ounces of which were 

 damaged, 6f pounds of silk were reeled. By this state- 

 ment, it will be seen, that about five pounds of cocoons 

 yielded a pound of reeled silk. " Part of the silk was reel- 

 ed on Mr. Cobb's, and part on Mr. Dale's reel, by Miss 

 Ann M. Benton, of Windsor, a very careful and skilful 

 reeler." I can see no room to doubt a word of this 

 statement. It will not therefore be deemed extravagant, 



