No. 124.] 243 



least never below 70° and whenever practicable, ranging at about 

 76°, especially when the worms are moulting and spinning. The 

 leaves of the mulberry trees before mentioned, have at no time during 

 the season been exhausted; and I think with good tillage they would 

 during the season have afforded sufficient foliage for at least 250,000 

 worms. One thought more : it is this. Whoever engages in this 

 business without experience, and makes the necessary arrangements 

 for a single season, with the expectation of making, during that time, 

 a fortune, or even of gaining a full remuneration for his time and ex- 

 penditures, will be likely to be disappointed. Still, if it be perseve- 

 ringly and judiciously prosecuted, I entertain an unshaken and set- 

 tled confidence in the ultimate and triumphant success of the silk 

 business in this country. I cannot doubt that the business is destined 

 shortly to become a great and important branch of national industry, 

 and a vast and inexhaustible sourr,e of national wealth. 



Pliny Safford, P. M., Westminster ^ Vt, — I have fed silk-worms 

 in a very small way for two or three years past. I have a few mul- 

 berry trees, partly multicaulis and partly Alpine. I feed about two 

 weeks on multicaulis leaves ; after which, or after the second moult- 

 ing, I put them on the Alpine. My cocoonery is apart of my barn, 

 which I use for a carriage-house. When the feeding season comes, 

 I clear it out and put up shelves, on which I feed. My worms are 

 what are called the six weeks sulphur. They feed about five weeks. 



On the 27th of last May, I took some eggs from the ice-house and 

 placed them in a cool room. They hatched June 21st, 22d, and 23d. 

 The eggs that were left on the third day of hatching I put into the 

 fire. 



On the 4th day of August I took down 18 pounds of cocoons, 

 which yielded one and a half pounds of reeled silk. 



July 1st, I took some eggs from the ice, which came out on the 

 I3th, 14th, and 15th. Sept. 1st, I picked 15 pounds of poor co- 

 coons, which reeled half a pound of silk. 



My first crops were healthy, but the second were sickly. 



RoswELL Rice, Charlenwnt^ Franklin Co.^ Mass. — We consider 

 the silk business a noble one, therefore if we can, by sending in our 

 statement, small though it be, yield any assistance or encouragement, 

 we gladly do it. In answer to questions : — 



1st. We have fed worms six seasons, and our labors each year have 

 been crowned with success. 



2d. Feed in a close building, regulate the temperature by artificial 

 heat, the mercury standing at 75*^ or 80°. 



3d. Have never fed in an open tent or shed. Did we live in a 

 latitude where no chilly blasts were ever felt, but all were warm and 



