182 [SEN'ATlt 



year — each year just about doubling on the preceding year. With 

 still higher measures of satisfactionj he would refer them to the docu- 

 ments lying on the tables of the convention now in session — docu- 

 ments detailing the careful experiments of from one to two hundred 

 men from about all the States in this Union ; and showing that hun- 

 dreds of bushels of excellent cocoons have been grown the present 

 season, upon our own soils, and under our own suns and showers. 



Can we then make silk 1 Yes by the testimony of the past, by 

 the testimony of the present, the fact is established beyond cavil or 

 dispute, that we can raise silk and manufacture it too. (Cheers.) 



My second remark, said Mr. B., is that our silk in the state in which 

 the worm leaves it, ov when properly reeled, is a decidedly superior 

 article. 



Dr. Franklin first proclaimed the superior quality of silk of Ame- 

 rican growth, and subsequent experiments have fully corroborated 

 the assertions of that noble man. This fact is proved from the high 

 value which well reeled American silk enjoys in the market over 

 foreign silk. You have it also in the testimony of American and for- 

 eign silk manufacturers, as embodied in the first report of the New- 

 England silk convention. You will see the same fact abundantly at- 

 tested in the returns to this convention now lying in that pile upon 

 our table, and which will soon be given to the public in our report. 



But what does this well established fact prove ? Why, surely, it 

 proves the superiority of the climate and soil of our country ior the 

 silk culture. (Cheers.) Yes, it is climate and soil which determines 

 the characters of all our productions, our vegetables, our grass, our 

 grain, and our Green Mountain boys ! (Cheers ) 



I remark, then, that in open field culture, you cannot get a pro- 

 duct of first rate quality, only where soil and climate are congenial. 



Try it in regard to all our grains, wheat, corn, rice, oats, &c.; try 

 it in regard to vegetables, in regard to flowers, in fr-jits, in regard 

 to grasses ; in fine, in regard to every thing that grows on the face 

 of the eartl), and you will find it an immutable law of the physical 

 world that soil and climate determine the quality of the product. So 

 much so, that where these are unpropitious, no measure of science or 

 skill can supply the want. 



In this connection, I reinark, also, that the climate of our country 

 approximates closely to that of China, in the same parallels of latitude 

 — our geographical position is similar to that great country — the boun- 

 daries of our sea and land are like theirs, and our prevailing winds in 

 the summer, are like theirs — land winds. The dry, warm atmosphere 

 of both countries, is well adapted to the growth of silk. In fact, to say 

 a great deal in a few words, this and China are the only legitimate silk 

 growing countries. (Cheers.) In Europe, artificial means can only 

 give to the eggs the forwardness which the natural atmosphere here 

 gives. Throughout Europe (he question is, how shall the eggs be 

 hatched? Here it is, how shall they be kept back until we are ready 

 for them ? (Cheers.) I refer to these general facts to show you on what 

 the guarantee of the silk grower is based in this country. 



My third general remark said Mr. B., is that under a wise arrange- 



