]So. 124.] 213 



7. I consider the diseases of silk worms strictly miasmatic, pro- 

 duced by vicissitudes in the weather operating upon the moist efflu- 

 via from the worms and the litter. The remedy is the fiee circula- 

 tion of air, and the free use of lime. Lime operates by absorbino- 

 the moisture, and neutralizing, by chemical affinity, the matter from 

 which the noxious exhalations arise — thus purifying tlie atmosphere. 



What silk we make, is entirely done by my wife and daughters, and 

 the younger children, without hindering my sons who are able to 

 plough. We use the Piedmontese reel, and the twisting is done on the 

 old fashioned flax-wheel. The raw silk enclosed, is a specimen of ten 

 pounds reeled this season, and the cloth was woven on the common 

 loom, and dyed with red oak bark* — my daughters are clothed in it. 

 They have another piece of 40 yards in the loom, of a finer thread 

 intended for pocket-handkerchiefs. Our raw silk is intended (o be 

 worked up into sewing ; but without more ample protection from the 

 tariff, our labor will be far from profitable. 



Were we to judge from our own experience, of the culture and man- 

 ufacture of silk, we should think it entirely feasible; and that even in a 

 domestic way, as a branch of family industry, industrious females, ac- 

 customed to manufacturing home-made clothing, can woik with silk as 

 easily and profitably as with wool, cotton, or flax. The raw silk can 

 also be produced with as much ease and profit as w^ool, coiton, or flax. 



I should like to receive your re[)ort, whether this be contained in it or 

 not ; and be assured, that if I live, the sqlk culture will not be aban- 

 doned by my family, unless we meet with greater discouragements than 

 we have hitherto met. 



Charles L. Wardsworth, Hiram, Me. — Some of my family 

 have fed a very few worms for three cr four years — use of the while 

 mulberry — have a few multicaulis and mean to increase them. This 

 year have fed 60 lbs. good cocoons, large peanut variety — eggs obtain- 

 ed of Mr. Morris, Burlington, N. J. — hatched June 20ih— began to 

 spin in thirty-two days — a very few died alter they began to spin, but 

 in generr.l they were very liealihy. 



I use an out-building 20 by 15 feet, covered originally witli green 

 boards, and the cracks would now average one inch in width — a loose 

 grotmd floor, and none above. One large door at one end, and a win- 

 dow at the other — use noariificial heat — and no lime — feed on branches 

 altogether. The door and window were kept closed in high winds 

 and cold spells. At other times fully open. 



During our feeding, the thermometer varied very nmch. One day it 

 ran from 55*^ to &o°. One day from 60*=' to 92°. One day fiom 50* 

 to 80°, and one day from 50° to SS°. One thing I w ish to mention 

 particularly. After they began to spin, I found the thermometer one 

 morning down to 44°, and the next morning down to 46°. The worms, 

 of course, were torpid, dormant and stiff: I thought it was a gone case 

 with them, but they revived wiih returning warmth, and went on with 

 their wonderful labors, to all appearance not essentially injured by their 

 temporary interruption, and brought out the results' as "above stated. 



• A fine specimen of household industrj'. — J. E. 



