158 (QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



care of the worms are so abundant, that there is every facility for 

 raising large crops. On this subject we have the opinion of some 

 residents in that part of the country. One of them writes thus : 

 " The great difficulty in all matters of improvements in the south, 

 is, it is too small a business — too much trouble, or too long to get 

 the return. My own opinion is, that it is to us of the south the 

 greatest business that has ever presented itself. An old negro, 

 competent to feed young children or chickens, with the aid of a 

 few small chaps from four to eight years of age, can make as much 

 as grown hands can in the field, and this without any expense of 

 gin-house and machinery." " It seems to me a business peculiar- 

 ly appropriate for the south. We can commence feeding on the 

 20th of April, (this year on the 16th — last year on the 24th.) 

 We can feed without taking our field hands, or any extra building ; 

 and what is done thus is entire gain." In Georgia we are inform- 

 ed to this effect : " One family has made thirty yards of beautiful 

 silk, and has made it up into ladies' dresses, and it is not inferior 

 to the best Freiich or English in appearance." One of the mem- 

 bers of Congress from this state also informs us that he has a suit 

 of silk of the manufacture in South Carolina. An experiment is 

 mentioned as commenced in Louisiana, at Baton Rouge, by a gen- 

 tleman from France, which seems to promise success. The amount 

 of silk cocoons the past year in Tennessee is estimated by one con- 

 cerned in the manufacture at from 20,000 to 25,000 lbs. In 1840 

 it is said that there were raised in that state but 1,237 lbs. A fine 

 manufactory here, under the superintendence of an experienced 

 silk-weaver from London, is said to have produced splendid speci- 

 mens of satin. It is also said that one hundred hands could now 

 be employed in manufacturing the quantity of cocoons produced ; 

 and the opinion is expressed that " ultimately no other business 

 will equal it." Governor Jones, of that state, has been presented 

 with a full suit of domestic silk, by the silk-growers there, in ac- 

 knowledgment of his efficient services to the cause of American 

 industry. 



In Kentucky we notice, in one of the journals, that five hundred 

 skeins of beautiful sewing silk have been manufactured in one 

 family ; and it is evident that the attention to it is greater than 

 formerly. 



Ohio has one of the finest establishments in the country, which 

 manufactures one thousand bushels of cocoons annually, with a 

 capital of $10,000, and employing from forty to fifty hands. The 

 amount of cocoons produced in the Ohio valley is estimated " at 

 least sufficient to keep two hundred reels in operation." 



Much attention likewise is paid to the silk business in Indiana ; 

 and the success experienced justifies the expectation that the cul- 

 ture of silk will hereafter become a <ireat business there. 



