No. 124.] Mo 



To the third question I have nothing to say. The last four years 

 I have used only two varieties of ■worms — the sulphur and the pea- 

 nut. The first year I raised some of the mammoth white and the 

 two-crop, and rejected them both. With regard to the first two va- 

 rieties, I have to state, that in 1842, when I first noted the difference, 

 it took 4,400 peanut cocoons to make a bushel, and 2,200 of sulphur 

 to make a bushel. From the first, I obtained 22 ounces of raw silk, 

 and from the last, fourteen ounces of raw silk. The peanut cocoons 

 >per bushel, weighed 15 lbs., the sulphur per bushel, weighed 9 J lbs. 

 It took about 300 peanuts to weigh a pound, and about 240 sulphur 

 to weigh a pound. From these facts you perceive, that worm for 

 worm, I obtained more silk from the sulphur than I did from the 

 peanut. The 4,400 peanut cocoons yielded 22 ounces of law silk, 

 and the 4,400 sulphur, yielded 28 ounces of raw silk. The past sea- 

 son the cocoons were about in the same ratio. With regard to the 

 product in silk, I cannot say, for I have not reeled them. 



I use the multicaulis tree nearly altogether. I have a hedge of 

 white mulberry trees, upon which I feed the worms during the first 

 age, but very fine. The past season, as well as before,' I cut down 

 the trees, took them to the cellar, and there strip them when I feed 

 with leaves, otherwise cut off the branches and feed with them, which 

 is far preferable. In feeding with leaves I use the paper net, which 

 is far superior to every other contrivance. Nearly all the worms 

 will ascend through them the first feeding, so that you change them 

 every clay at farthest. Feeding on branches, however, is preferable 

 on every account. Less expensive, less trouble, worms more healthy, 

 and of course obtain more silk. 



The experience of silk growers, so far as I have ascertained, is in 

 favor of early feeding. I believe, however, that two good crops can 

 be raised, particularly if you have artificial heat, which is more espe- 

 cially demanded at the beginning of the first crop. My first crop 

 was hatched on the 23d and 24th of May, and consisted of 5 ounces 

 of eggs, wound up in 32 days, obtaiied 413 lbs. of cocoons, ought 

 to have had, and should have had 500 lbs. could I have have fed at 

 9 o'clock P. M., as I always had done, but was prevented for fear 

 that my boys would set the straw which I used as a bed for the 

 worms, on fire. On the 4th of July, on going to the ice-house to 

 take out my eggs for the purpose of hatching, I found that they were 

 already hatehe(l, and some of them had been hatched several days ; 

 but in this unfavorable condition I took them out and fed them, and 

 gathered 153 lbs. of cocoons. I received some eggs on the 17th of 

 August, which had been left in an ice-house. On the 18th they be- 

 gan to hatch. I suppose that I had as many worms as I had at my 

 second crop, but obtained only lOi lbs. of cocoons. They nearly all 

 died, still I had some as good cocoons as I ever had. 



To the 7th question I reply that I am the only one feeding in this 

 part of the country. To the 8th and 9th questions I have nothing to 

 say. 



I have generally obtained 100 lbs. of cocoons from an ounce of 

 eggs. 



