204 [Senate 



Dr. Joel Rice, Bridportj Addison Co.j Vt., — Sir : In the spring 

 of 1839 several individuals of us in this town were induced to en- 

 gage moderately in the mulberry speculation, and as in most other 

 cases, our expectations of profit from the sale of trees were cut off; 

 but we did not therefore come to the conclusion that the trees were 

 worthless, but have continued to propagate them to some extent, with 

 the expectation that silk would ere long become an important staple 

 of our country, with an adequate protection by our government. 



We have fed worms for four years, mostly on a small scale, — two 

 individuals have made about 50 lbs. cocoons the past season, — have 

 generally fed in rooms too confinedj — two or three persons have used 

 buildings for feeding that were well ventilated, and have succeeded 

 better ; worms more healthy and cocoons larger. We use mostly 

 the multicaulis : those that we design to plant the next season we take 

 up in the fall, put them in sand in the cellar, or bury them in the 

 field ; those that we wish to make permanent trees, we let stand, I 

 have multicaulis trees which have stood three winters, have greatly 

 increased in their foliage every season, and appear to endure the 

 frosts as well as the Alpine or Italian. 



We have fed early and late, and have succeeded much better with 

 the former. 



We have had no experience in the manufacture of silk, except sew- 

 ing silk. In this we have succeeded tolerably well. We have as yet 

 had no apparatus but that in common domestic use. 



The names of those who are cultivating the mulberry in this town 

 are — Rev, Dana Lamb, Messrs. Kuther Ferre, Royal Gay, Asa Rice, 

 Henry Jones, Jonas Rice, Josiah Barrows, James Hamilton, 2d, Gor- 

 don Searl and George Gale, and we hope soon to enlist many others in 

 an enterprise which we consider feasible, and one that will result in a 

 profitable and permanent branch of American industry. 



A. C. Van Epps, Auburn, JV. Y.. — In answer to the first inquiry 

 proposed, viz : " How long have you fed?" &.C., I answer — as a busi- 

 ness, I have engaged in it only one year. My health failing so that I 

 could not pursue my profession, (teaching) I engaged a cocoonery in 

 1842, A gentleman here had a quantity of eggs, saved by himself in 

 1841, from eggs sent him by his son, Rev, Mr, Pease, missionary to 

 Cyprus, consisting of the following varieties, viz : Broosa, Lapithas and 

 Paphos — considered among the best ever introduced into this country. 

 I knew them to be from healthy stock and supposed my prospect good. 

 I called on him early in June — and found them in a close box in his 

 cellar, and on opening found all hatched or nearly so. In my igno- 

 rance I considered this a favorable commencement. I took over 30 

 ounces, and proceeded at once to the business of feeding. The result 

 any novice can guess. Disease raged from the beginning ; I spent 

 much of my time in procuring and studying a silk library, to ascertain 

 the disease and administer remedies. Enough, however, lived to near 

 the fourth moulting, to require 3 or 4 men to cut and supply them with 



