No. 124, J 203 



There is much silk raised in this county. We have suffered for want 

 of good reelers. I have now surmounted this difficulty, as well as 

 other difficulties in raising silk, and experience both pleasure and 

 profit in the business. I should be very glad to receive orders from 

 manufacturers for my silk now reeled, or I will reel to order. 



I began in the silk business in 1839, and have increased as follows: 



1839 made 40 lbs. cocoons, 



1840 " 165 " " 



1841 " 534 " '•' 



1842 " 856 " " 



1843 " nearly 1,800 " " 



I have used different kinds of leaves, but never found any differ- 

 ence where the trees were cultivated alike. They must be cultivat- 

 ed and kept clean, otherwise it is useless to try to make silk. It is 

 also useless to try to feed after harvest where the old leaves have not 

 been taken off the early part of the season. 



I have fed for two seasons out of doors, in open shantees^ after the 

 worms had passed the third moulting, and fed altogether on branches. 

 It IS a very grent saving of expense and labor. 



James Hamilton, 2rf, Bridport, Mdison Co., Vt. — Sir : — It is 

 four years since I commenced feeding worms. The first year had 

 but few, fed them in a tight chamber before an open window, did 

 well. The next year fed many more in the same chamber, but not 

 with as good success. Those that stood back where the air did not 

 circulate so freely, became diseased. We placed them in the centre 

 of the room a week before w^indmg, yet it did not prevent the dis- 

 ease. The third and fourth seasons I fed in my corn- house, with a 

 door open at each end,- which gave a free circulation of air, closing 

 them only in cool weather, or in case of high winds. 



At one time, in a very heavy shower, with high wind, the doors 

 and windows were open, and the shelf of pea nuts near the windows 

 was completely drenched in the torrent, and I thought los>. As the 

 water drained off, however, they revived; fresh leaves were given 

 them, and they came forth with renewed vigor. We have not had 

 any trouble with diseased worms since we commenced feeding in 

 the corn-house. 



As to the variety of worms, I should prefer the pea nuts and sul- 

 phur for beauty and texture, but the orange for weight. I feed on 

 the white mulberry and the multicaulis. I feed on swing shelves to 

 prevent the ants destroying the worms. Clean them by moving them 

 on fresh leaves, so as not to disturb them when moulting. I have 

 generally fed two crops and of the same kind. The last are from 

 one to nine days longer in coming to maturity than in the fore part 

 of the season. It is more difficult reeling the cocoons. 



