PRODUCE OF LAND, &C. 117 



have allowed largely, as this is 120 pounds of leaves to 

 the pound of reeled silk. Even 100 pounds of leaves to 

 the pound of reeled silk has been found sufficient, with 

 economy in feeding, as Count Dandolo and others 

 have proved. See also page 111, where in M. Tilloy's 

 experiments, and in each of the two cases, but fifteen 

 pounds of leaves were required for 500 silkworms. My 

 estimate is founded on the calculation of a single crop of 

 leaves only, during a whole season. But in our favore 

 climate and with our prolonged summers we must ca*~ 

 culate on successive crops in a season ; on more tha n 

 one single gathering, or harvest. 



This is the calculation of the produce of an acre of 

 young trees of six or seven years of age ; but an acre, 

 in its prime, must produce an amount much greater. 

 According to Count Dandolo, 198 pounds is estimated 

 as the produce of an acre of large trees. Citizen 

 Genet, of New York, and formerly the Minister of 

 France, has made an estimate of the produce of an acre 

 in hedge form at 666 pounds. Mr. Daniel Bradley, in- 

 deed, considers that 1,000,000 silk worms may be fed 

 from the acre of hedges in its prime. I had arrived at 

 the same conclusion, and believe this estimate cannot be 

 very far from truth. 



I have stated that 3000 cocoons would produce a 

 pound of fine reeled silk, consequently 1,000,000 co- 

 coons would produce 333 pounds. I have also in the 

 beginning of this section put down the days of labor, on 

 good authority, at 378 for this number of silkworms. 

 According to these statements, it will be easy to calcu- 

 late the nett profit which may be expected from 1,000,000 

 silkworms. If the silk is reeled well it will bring $4 

 a pound, making the whole amount of $1332 as the 

 produce of an acre of trees in its prime. But if reeled 

 as at Cevennes, it will bring a great deal more. From 

 this gross amount we must deduct the labor, which at 

 75 cents a day will amount to $284, a high estimate for 

 the labor when we consider it is so easy as to be chiefly 



