EXTRACTS FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 157 



siderable attention to the production of silk ; but, as the climate 

 is so much colder here, and in Maine and New-Hampshire, than in 

 any other New-England states, they are less favorably situated for 

 the business. It is, however, increasing, and among other things 

 on this subject, it is stated that several thousand dollars worth of 

 the eggs of the silkworm have been sent to the West Indies. There 

 is a bounty given by the state government ; and one person ex- 

 presses his opinion that "five acres of trees, of the age of four 

 years from the seed, will produce more net profit than can be rea- 

 lized from 200 sheep, or a dairy of 20 cows; and he adds, "I 

 trust the day is not far distant when the raising of silk will be 

 considered as profitable a business as that of raising wool." 



In New-York, the number of persons who are waking up to the 

 importance of this subject is increasing. At the fair of the New- 

 York State Agricultural Society, the crop of nineteen persons in a 

 single district of the country was 2,150 lbs. In Monroe county, the 

 quantity offered for the state bounty was said to be 2,256 lbs.; the 

 year before, it was 1,695 ; in 1841, 1,539 lbs. 



There are two or three fine establishments for the manufacture 

 of silk in New- Jersey, and for some time there was formerly pub- 

 lished a paper relative to this subject in this state. 



Pennsylvania formerly gave a bounty on the production of co- 

 coons or silk, but the law, it is said, has been repealed. This has 

 exerted some unfavorable influence, and probably prevented the 

 progress of the crop as much in this large state, as would have 

 been the case had the encouragement been continued. The fol- 

 lowing statement shows what has been the progress of the silk 

 culture at Economy, in five years, commencing in 1838 : 



Years. No. of lbs. of cocoons. 



1838, 1,400 



1839, 1,800 



1840, 2,400 



1841, 4,400 



1842, . . , , 5,500 



In five years, 15,500 



The largest crop raised at one establishment in Europe, 200 

 years after the culture of silk was introduced, it is said, was 3,000 

 lbs. 



In Maryland are some ardent friends of this object ; and though 

 some have been unsuccessful in past years, in respect to the mul- 

 ticaulis, yet the belief is expressed that the silk business is yet 

 destined to do well. 



For the southern states this business of silk culture is admirably 

 adapted, and yet comparatively little has been done with regard to 

 it there. The climate is so much milder, and the means of taking 



