No, 124.] 217 



since, was induced to try the plan of open or shed feeding, and has con- 

 tinued it for the last two seasons with every desired success. 



Martin Phelps, Preble, Cortland county, N. Y. — Have fed worms 

 two seasons — business entirely new — every thing to learn by experience. 

 The first season hatched 12 to 15.000 worms — much trouble about 

 leaves, but after all carried them through in 38 days — had good cocoons, 

 and 4 lbs. good raw silk, which my daughter has made into sewings. 



This season had some trouble about eggs, but finally got and hatch- 

 ed three-fourths of an ounce. They were very healthy, and brought 

 out good results again — how much silk I shall have I cannot yet say. 



We have this year the peanut variety. The cocoons are very large 

 and handsome, more so than they were last year when we fed two 

 months earlier — we fed in a low one story building, 24 feet long by 14 

 wide, enclosed tight, but no ceiHng, with four windows and two doors — 

 we use a box stove. We use the morus multicaulis — have one-eighth 

 of an acre that was planted a year ago last spring, in rows about two 

 and a half feet apart — hoed them well three times ; they grew finely 

 and yielded well. We cut them in the fall and left the roots in the 

 ground over winter. Almost all lived and came forward ten days ear- 

 lier than those planted out this spring, and yielded near double the leaves 

 through tbe season. The lops that I cut oflf I put in boxes and filled 

 them with dry sand, and kept them in the cellar. They came out this 

 spring fresh and good. I planted them in furrows about three feet apart 

 — I took a great deal of pains in covering them, and should think al- 

 most every bud grew. Some I took up, roots and tops together, and 

 buried in a dry place. They kept well, I set them outstanding. They 

 have done well, but do not think it is the best way. I shall have all 

 my roots in the ground this winter. I have now about half an acre, 

 and if they grow as thrifty as they have this season, I can feed 50,000 

 or more. 



Thomas Mellen, Madison, Madison county, N. Y. — It would give 

 me much pleasure to attend the Fair and Silk Convention, but the state 

 of my health forbids. I attended the late Fair of the State Agricultural 

 Society at Rochester, as one of the committee of judges on silk and silk 

 fabrics ; the weather being warm and favorable. The exhibition of 

 cocoons, raw silk, sewing silk and twist, and various silk fabrics, was, 

 upon the whole, large and encouraging, and the exhibitors quite nume- 

 rous, and the most of them quite satisfied with their experiments, and 

 encouraged to progress in the culture of silk. The greatest defect I 

 noticed was a want of skill in reeling. But to proceed to answer the 

 interrogatories contained in your circular. And first, I have fed silk- 

 worms six successive years besides the present, and first : in 1837, a 

 cold year, I fed a small crop, or brood. They were a longer time in ma- 

 turing than usual, but healthy, and made good cocoons. 



In 1838, I fed two small crops, the summer was hot and dry, or 

 mostly so ; the worms were healthy, matured and wound in six weeks. 



[Senate No. 124.] Cc 



