No, i24.j mi 



General would advise his couiiiryraen to enter into this enterprise with, 

 vigor, to go to work like patriots, and to improve the advantages 

 which God and Nature had put into their hands for the production of 

 a new staple, and one that it was fully demonstrable, must eventually 

 tuin out a rich source of national wealth. 



He took occasion to say that it had been proved to his satisfaction 

 that with care, two crops of cocoons could be obtained in one year, 

 and made some interesting suggestions to this end, in the matter of 

 feeding. He expressed a decided preference for feeding with branches 

 over the leaf. 



General Talhnadge, in conclusion, explained his meaning in the 

 speech lately delivered at the Institute, with regard to the custom in 

 France of women hatching the worms from the egg, on paper placed 

 in contact with the skin. One of the papers had reported him to have 

 said that this was a coercive process, imposed by the employer. He 

 had not intended to give any such idea. He had represented this 

 mode as one among the many adopted by the people in that country 

 for the hatching of the eggs by artificial means. 



The business committee then presented a great number of letters 

 from persons engaged in the silk business, from a large majority of 

 the States in the Union, containing a host of very instructve and valu- 

 able facts, based on the experience and observation of the writers in 

 the prosecution of the work. 



A communication from a large New-England convention, recently 

 held at Northampton in Massachusetts, tending to produce the same 

 impressions in the public mind, was also read by the first vice-presi- 

 dent. This communication was ordered to go upon the files, and to 

 be published wuth the doings of this body, and is as follows: 



The second annual meeting of the New England silk convention 

 convened at Northampton, Oct. 4, 1843. 



The convention was duly organized by choosing the officers desig- 

 nated by a nominating committee. Hon. Edward Dickinson, of 

 Amherst, Mass., was elected President; Dr. Daniel Stebbins, of 

 Northampton, and Rev. Joseph Field, of Charlemont, Vice-Presi- 

 dents; Henry Kirkland, W. A. Hawley and A. W. Thayer, of North- 

 ampton, Secretaries. Dr. Daniel Stebbins, Treasurer. 



The letters which had been received from persons residing in widely 

 distant parts of New-England, and beyond the limits of New-England, 

 all express one sentiment and one opinion in regard to the importance 

 and feasibility of the silk culture. These letters were numerous and 

 highly interesting to silk growers, expressing full confidence in the sys- 

 tem of early and oj^en feeding, and the most firm conviction that the 

 silk cause will be crowned with complete success. 



Several gentlemen addressed the meeting, detailing their own expe- 

 rience since our last meeting, and fully sustained the leading opera- 

 tions of the year — open and early feeding. 



Dr. Daniel Stebbins, Professor Adam, and A. W. Thayer, were ap- 

 pointed for the purpose of procuring an address to be delivered at the 

 next anniversary, if in their opinion it should be thought expedient. 



Dr. Daniel Stebbins, and J. R. Barbour, Esq., were appointed a com- 

 mittee of supervision, for the year ensuing. 



iSenate No. 124.1 X 



