No. 124.] 193 



Dr. Steebins then called the attention of all present to the subject 

 of the manufacture of paper from the leaves of the multicaulis. He 

 has had several reams already made, which satisfy him that with 

 some improvements an excellent article can be produced. He has a 

 ton of leaves prepared ready for the manufacturer's hands, and hopes 

 b'efore the meeting of the next convention to be able to write them 

 a narrative of his experiments on a sheet of multicaulis letter paper, 

 which will be equal, if not superior to the best hot-pressed linen 

 paper now used. He further adverted to the matter of obtaining 

 silk for coarse goods, from the inside bark of the mulberry — already it 

 had been tried with success, and the only thing wanted was some 

 cunning Yankee invention wherewith to strip the bark from the tree 

 and separate the fibres. His remarks were listened to with much in- 

 terest, and without doubt, much good will result from the action of 

 the present convention, and many of the simple and unconnected re- 

 marks thrown out in the course of the conversations will be matured, 

 and bring forth ripe fruit in due season. 



The following are the resolutions adopted by the convention, as 

 giving their views on the several questions before them. 



1. Resolved, That the full establishment of the silk business, as an 

 integral part of the ordinary industry of this country, is an object 

 claiming the early and high regard of every patriot and philanthro- 

 pist. 



2. Resolved, That in the history of past experiments in growing 

 silk in the early settlements of Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, 

 in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, immediately pre- 

 ceding the revolution, and subsequently, and especially in the larger, 

 more general, and more successful efforts of the past few years, we 

 have ample grounds for augmented confidence in all the great princi- 

 ples on which the business is based. 



3. Resolved, That in regard to all agricultural products, there is a 

 broad and well defined distinction to be observed between transient 

 and permanent causes of failure or success — that the permanent 

 causes are soil and climate; and that wherever these are known to 

 be favorable to any such product, we should never be discouraged 

 by transient causes operating against success — knowing that these 

 causes operate in like manner in regard to all such products. 



4. Resolved, That as American silk, in the state in which the 

 worm leaves it, has long been known to be of first rate quality, it is 

 adequate proof that the soil and climate of our country are eminently 

 congenial to its culture, inasmuch as these two things are the perma- 

 nent causes that control the quality of every agricultural product. 



5. Resolved, That the silk culture demands for its successful 

 prosecution, essentially the same climate, and the same kind of 

 seasons, and the same kinds of upland soils as are required for Indian 

 corn ; and, as this crop is successfully cultivated in all the States and 

 territories of the Union, there is nothing to forbid, but everythino- to 

 encourage, the co-extensive cultivation of the silk crop. 



6. Resolved, That inasmuch as in America and China, the mulberry 

 tree is found in the native forest, it is a manifest indication of Divine 



[Senate No. 124.] Z 



