224 JSenate 



4. Have raised the peanut worm, and two kinds of sulphur, one 

 much better than the other. I prefer the best kind of sulphur (the 

 mammoth sulphur I suppose they are) ; they are a more healthy 

 worm than the peanut, and make a good and large cocoon. 



5. I use multicaulis trees — hoe them in the early part of summer, 

 or spring, as farmers do corn, and cut them down near the ground in 

 the fall, and plough a furrow on each side of the rows, turning the 

 earth upon the plants to preserve the roots of the trees alive through 

 the winter. 



6. I have, and find early feeding much the most certain and profit- 

 able in its results. 



7. Some have injured their worms by feeding tender and succulent 

 leaves after the fourth moulting, and some by changing from the 

 finer varieties of mulberry to the coarser and more juicy, after the 

 fourth moulting. One man destroyed a crop of worms by curing 

 cocoons with camphor in the cocoonery, and I have heard of one who 

 poisoned a crop to death by smoking tobacco in the cocoonery. 



8. I have not. 



9. I have not. 



[The three last named gentlemen unite in presenting the following 

 very just and sensible remarks. — J. R. B.J 



We beg leave to subjoin a few general remarks applicable to the 

 several foregoing reports, and expressive of our united experience 

 and practice. We have heretofore made the raw material into sew- 

 ing silk of a very superior quality. We find no difficulty in com- 

 peting with the Italian in our home market. Mr. Irish presented 

 some at 'ihe State Fair last month, and took the second premium on 

 manufactured silk, or in other words, the highest prize on " sewings" 

 in the State. As to management of worms, &c., eggs should be 

 saved from the best cocoons of the first crop j they may ha kept in 

 any cool, dry cellar, or in a chamber without fire till spring, and 

 then should be buried till wanted. A cocoonery should always be 

 kept perfectly sweet, and well ventilated. None but mature leaves 

 should be given to worms after the fourth moulting, and if the leaves 

 are changed, it should. always be done gradually, and from the coarser 

 to the finer varieties of mulberry. All dead worms should be 

 removed at once — the cocoonery should be kept as quiet as possi- 

 ble — care and experience are requisite in order to generally succeed 

 in the business. We do not think the culture and manufacture of 

 silk will be a giant speculation, pouring wealth in mighty floods upon 

 the careless and indolent ; but we do think silk is destined to become 

 a great staple, and the business will be as profitable as other depart- 

 ments of industry. 



Whenever we have failed, we think we can trace it to some mis- 

 management on our part, .and believe experience will enable us to 

 prosecute the business successfully and profitably. 



