No. 108.J 39 



The committee recommend the first premium on cheese, to be 



awarded to the lot presented by Mr. S, Perry of New-York. 



The second premium on cheese, to be awarded to the lot exhibited 



by Mr. A. B. Ludlam of New-York. 



All which is respectfully submitted. 



LUTHER TUCKER, ) . , 



ALEXANDER WALSH, } ^ • ^d^ T * 

 A D FRYE \ Dairy Products. 



JYew-York, Oct. 20th, 1842. 



Report on Raw and Manufactured Silk. 



The committee appointed by the Managers of the Fifteenth An- 

 nual Fair of the American Institute, to examine and report on raw 

 and manufactured silk, beg leave to submit the following report: 



They were much gratified to observe a greatly increased number 

 of specimens, including those which w^ere presented for competition, 

 as well as objects of curiosity, exhibiting the ingenuity of the pro- 

 ducers. Among the former are many articles well wrought, display- 

 ing great skill, and evincing ability on our part, with more experi- 

 ence, ultimately to compete with any part of the world. Even now 

 our cocoons and raw silk, and some of the manufactures of the ar- 

 ticle, might easily be mistaken for those of Italy, with its centuries 

 of experience in the silk culture. From this addition to the exhibi- 

 tion over former years, the committee are pleased to infer that practi- 

 cal silk culture did not expire with the speculation in mulberry trees. 

 That mania which was predicted by the opponents of the silk busi- 

 ness in this country, as fraught with great evils, has not been with- 

 out its benefits; instead of filling our fields with useless roots, which 

 the plow could not eradicate, a valuable shrub has been introduced, 

 acclimated and diffused into the remotest corners of our land; which, 

 in its results will realize to us the fable of the Golden Fleece — pro- 

 duce as great a revolution in the agricultural products of our coun- 

 try, as the introduction of the cotton plant: and probably in as short 

 a period, will the article of raw silk form an important item in the 

 exports of this country to Europe. With this firm belief, the com- 

 mittee beg leave again to call the attention of the Institute, and 

 through it to recommend silk growers to use great care in the selec- 

 tion of cocoons for seed, and again repeat that no cocoon has been 

 brought to their knowledge which exceeds the Peanut variety. Of 

 that variety the worm is hardy, feeds well, comes early to maturity, 

 and produces a large amount of silk of a very desirable quality. 

 And, in respect to reeling, has a decided preference to any other 

 cocoon which the committee have examined. Some few specimens 

 are exhibited at the Fair, but the committee do not advise that any 

 other notice be taken of them than to call the attention of silk grow- 

 ers to the Peanut variety, and recommend them to raise no other. 

 They would also caution silk growers against crossing other kinds 

 with this variety, as the effect is to produce a less valuable kind; and 

 the interest of the silk grower is to improve the breed instead of in- 



