40 [Senate 



troduclng new and inferior varieties. Even the Peanut silk vt^orm 

 may be improved by selection and care, and it is hoped all who are 

 interested will take every precaution to prevent deterioration. 



A very little care is necessary to produce a great crop of silk, and 

 as it has been demonstrated repeatedly, that silk can be made in this 

 country with hired labor, and at the price of American labor, (pro- 

 verbially hii^h, and may it long continue so,) for $2.00 per pound, 

 including all actual expenses of raising and reeling, we may reason- 

 ably expect an increased product from year to year, until it shall be 

 brought to the Fairs in bales instead of skeins. 



The committee desire to call the attention of silk growers to the 

 propriety of sending, even now, larger parcels for exhibition. A 

 large parcel of uniform quality ought to be entitled to the highest 

 premium of the Institute. Many small samples are exhibited. One 

 parcel now presented to the committee, containing about 5 ounces, 

 has four or live different qualities, and although handsome, has evi- 

 dently been so prepared for this exhibition, and is not intended as a 

 sample of the whole crop. Its want of uniformity is objection, an 

 even if this were so. The committee respectfully recommend that 

 at the next Fair of the Institute, a special premium be offered for the 

 largest parcel of reeled silk, of uniform quality, of American growth, 

 produced in the season of 1843, by one family or individual; and 

 also, that competitors be requested to accompany each parcel or 

 article presented for competition, with a written statement of the 

 cost of production, and any other facts which they may wish to 

 make known, or think may be beneficial to the Institute and country. 

 The specimen of raw or reeled silk which meets the approbation 

 of the committee, and is by them classed as best^ is No. 359. It 

 consists of one and a half pounds in three skeins, which is a part of 

 a parcel produced by a person who has never fed worms until this 

 season, who was induced to use the peanut cocoons from the recom- 

 mendation of the Institute at the Fourteenth Fair. This silk is well 

 reeled, having in each skein half a day's work, reeled upon the Peid- 

 montese reel, very even and uniform, with a round thread, well 

 adapted to the present state of the silk manufacture in this country. 

 This silk would be more valuable if reeled finer, but the operator 

 would not probably have made it as uniform or as valuable with her 

 slight experience in reeling. These facts alone speak emphatically 

 in favor of the simplicity and feasibility of the silk business. The 

 committee are informed by the agent of this, that the silk producer 

 raised it at a profit, and is preparing to extend the business largely 

 next season. 



The specimen of reeled or rav»' silk, denominated as second best 

 by the committee, is marked No. 1,221, (exhibited by A. S. Marvin 

 of Long Island,) and is a larger parcel than the last mentioned; 

 rande from the peanut cocoons, but not as well reeled; it is however, 

 deserving of notice. The cocoons exhibited with the same parcel, 

 are badly selected, having among them a large number of dupions. 

 If these were reeled together, as is very probable, the cause of the 

 uneveness of this silk is apparent. To show the importance of at- 



