268 [Senate 



at the amount produced this year, but it must be larii;e, from what I 

 can learn from different parts of Ohio. 



I should like to be with you, but it is not possible. You have my 

 best wishes for the success of your undertaking. I saw your Circu- 

 lar for the first time yesterda) . 



Doctor Daniel Stebbins, Northampton^ Massachusetts. — 1 give 

 the following answers to your several questions: 



1st. I have fed worms for 7 or 8 years, with the sole view of show- 

 ing that it could be done. This year made 25 to 30 lbs. silk. 



2d. This season I erected a new cocoonery, in the midst of a mul- 

 berry patch 42 by 20 — posts 8 feet out of ground. Roof covered 

 with boards and battened, the sides and ends covered with slats 3 

 inches wide, and half an inch apart, extending from the eaves 

 to the ground. Floor of earth. The interior apparatus consist of 4 

 sets of tables for feeding — extending from end to end. two of which 

 are 4 feet wide, the other tw^o, 2 J each ; these tables consist of frames 

 with slats across, one inch wide and half an inch apart (should be 

 only J.) The tables are two tiers in height leaving passages to pass 

 between of sufficient width; a third tier in height might be added, so 

 as to accommodate half a million of worms ; through every stage no 

 artificial heat is used, but to exclude caloric the whole exterior is 

 whitewashed. 



Adjoining the above is a tent wholly covered with bass matting ; 

 through which the rains had a free passage. The success of the tent 

 was superior even to the cocoonery. 



3d. Have fed for several years in an open shed, in the barn-yard, 

 but nothing to exclude birds and fowls — in other respects, the experi- 

 ment was successful. 



In former years, when the litter and branches were removed, worms 

 were frequently carried out with the rubbish, and after several days' 

 exposure to the open weather and rains, the worms have been taken in 

 and did will. 



4th. For making silk, the peanut variety has the preference, being 

 less encumbered with Ho^s — less gum — more length, lustre and strength 

 of fibre than other varieties as testified by a skilful silk dyer, at a court 

 appointed for taking depositions to be used in a trial pending in Nan- 

 tucket, Mass. 



olh. Having the black, white, Canton, Asiatic, Broosa, Miiltican- 

 lis, and some oth^r varieties, I have not found any to excel the Canton 

 for its foliage, and the Asiatic for its abundant branches. The foliage 

 of the Canton continues to the latest season in greater perfection than 

 any other — and experience has demonstrated, that the woims not only 

 prefer it for food, but being fed exclusively upon it, have attained a larger 

 size, and made larger and heavier cocoons. 



That our soil and climate, or both, are peculiarly adaptetl and more 

 congenial to the growth of the Canton mulberry, than even China, its 

 native soil, was suggested by Dr. Parker, when recently in the United 



