244 |Sknat£ 



pleasant as a sonny tfay in July, we might feed in tents j but we 

 think the rigors of this, our northern clime, are too severe for the 

 silk-worm to endure. 



4th. We prefer above all other kinds, the peanut "wovm j consider 

 Ihe texture finer, and the yield greater. 



5th. We use the muhicaulis and white mulberry. The white ia 

 the early part of the season, before the others are grown. Cut the 

 tops from the multicaulis trees in the fall, and leave the roots in the 

 ground. 



6th. Have fed both in the early and late part of the season, and 

 our success in each is equally good. 



7th. As to the causes of bad success in feeding, we know no need 

 of having bad success. We always keep our room warm, feed as 

 often as the worms will take leaves, and attend well to cleanliness ;, 

 and by so doing, the worms are all in the bushes to wind in four 

 weeks from tiie time of hatching. If this seems in any degree incre- 

 dible, please try it and see. 



8th. Have not tested the use of the mulberry leaf for paper^ ouff 

 means are small and inadequate.. 



9th. We have never tried to .separate the bark from the- young: 

 shootSy to convert it into paper or fabrics. 



Our only crop this season amounted to 180 pounds of cocoons. I 

 consider the silk business one well worthy the attention of our New- 

 England fanners, and I believe it is one which will yield a much 

 better profit than ordinary agricultural productions. To my brethren 

 silk growers, I would say, — Onward! — be not easily discouiraged. 

 " Perseverance overcometh all difficulties." 



Francis D. Wait^ CantweWs Bridge^ Ddaware. — I am a silk 

 grower, and will proceed to answer the first series of your questions.. 

 I should be extremely happy had I funds to spare, to come on to- 

 your city, but am too poor — the fate I am afraid of many growers. 

 I was induced in 1838, by representations made on every side, of 

 the great profits resulting from the culture of silk, to enter upon it, 

 and have fed worms every year from that time to this, in increasing: 

 quantities. The past season I raised nearly 600 pounds of cocoons. 



In answer to the second question, I will state that in — 38, T put 

 up a building 25 by 28 feet — two stories high, and a good cellary 

 which is absolutely indispensable. I fed two or three years at the 

 natural temperature; since then I have used artificial heat, I think to 

 great advantage. I have a furnace in the cellar, from which heated 

 air rises through the building, above, as well as below stairs. A 

 gradually increased temperature is particularly necessary in hatching 

 the eggs. In this way eggs may be hatched in two, and not exceed- 

 ig three days, whereas, at the natural temperature, several days more 

 will be required, and one year I recollect the eggs ceased hatching 

 in consequence of a cold northeast storm, when a great reduction of 

 temperature took place. 



