206 fSENATB 



cocoons out. of 5 oz. of eggs, than I had from one-sixth — not many more 

 certainly. I have neither made, nor witnessed any experiments in con- 

 verting the mulberry leaf into paper. I have now on hand about 8 or 

 9 acres of multicauHs from 3 to 5 years old, very heavy — sufficient to 

 plant out 20 acres next spring. The original, or -panic cost of these 

 was not less than 814,000. But I must refer, before closing, to the only 

 point on which 1 feel at a loss to speak, and that is the preservation of 

 the eggs. I deem this the most important of all — and at tlie same time 

 least understood. 1 trust the experience called into the convention, will 

 present to the country something on this point which may be relied 

 upon. 



Hon. Wm. Woodbridge, Detroit, Michigan. — 1 am honored by 

 the printed communication you were pleased to transmit to me, on the 

 part of the managers of the American Institute, relative especially to 

 the culture and manufacture of silk. 1 am sorry that it is not in my 

 power, individually, to add any thing to the general fund of informa- 

 tion, which, so greatly to the benefit of the country, the Institute is 

 collecting relatively to this subject. I do not hesitate, however, in ex- 

 pressing the opinion, imperfect as may be the data upon which that 

 opinion rests — that complete success will ultimately crown the efforts of 

 those who are now so patriotically seeking to introduce among us, the 

 culture and manufacture of silk. The almost infinite variety of soil, 

 climate and aspect, which the broad surface of our immense and fertile 

 canmtry exhibits, cannot, I think, leave a doubt upon the minds of our 

 intelligent citizens, but that, with a steady and reasonable protection on 

 the part of government, these efforts must succeed — and to the immea- 

 surable benefit, ultimately, of the nation. The peninsula of Michigan 

 is hardly yet sufficiently reclaimed from its wilderness state, to have 

 furnished any experiments of a conclusive character — and yet I have 

 understood that some individuals among our farming citizens have 

 turned their attention and efforts to this object, with very flattering re- 

 sults so far. And with a view to encourage and fix still more the at- 

 tention of our agriculturists here to the subject, I this day send your 

 printed communication, together with the beautiful specimen of sewing 

 silk which was contained in it, to the " Washtenaw Agricultural So- 

 ciety," of which the place of meeting is at "Ann Arbor," some forty 

 miles in the interior : — near which place one of our enterprising fellow- 

 citizens has already produced some beautiful specimens of silk, which 

 he has himself grown. 



[With great pleasure we give room for the following neat little case 

 from a young girl, 13 to 14 years old. J. R. B.] 



Miss Angela A. Bryant, Mansfield, Mass. — My father, who 

 had the pleasure of conversing with you on board the Cleopatra, informs 

 me that you wish to collect as full an account of the silk culture as pos- 

 sible, including the smallest essays, and mine is such. 



