No. 124.] 269 



States, on being shown, at my office, the foliage from my plantation, 

 the stock of which was sent me f otn China as the very best used in 

 China for making their best silk. 



The tree grows more rapidly in this continent than in China. In 

 Jamaica, where it was taken by Mr. Whitmarsh, it attains the height of 

 15 to 20 feet in one season, unless headed dow'n every three months, 

 as is there the practice. But in China it is represented to attain only about 

 4 feet in tiie season ; with us, some have grown 6 lo S feet in a season, 

 after being headed (iown in thesprinus and growing in dry soil enriched 

 by the decomposition of the foliage on its surface. I do not know of 

 any compost so enriching as the foliage of the Canton mulberry ; the 

 foliage of the other varieties may be as rich, but I have not had the ex- 

 perience of it. 



6th. An early crop of worms is preferable to a late crop — the succes- 

 sion of crops is an American notion to rival warm climates, or a device 

 to use up all the foliage, which becomes abundant the latter part of the 

 season, but is very unfit for the worms, being too rancid or deprived of 

 its richness by drenching, or long continued rains. The same is true 

 with tobacco or grass, unless remedied by sunshine and fair weather. 

 By early feeding, the depredation of vermin or insects may be avoided, 



7th. Bad success in feeding may result from numerous causes ; among 

 which are eggs spoiled by indiscreet management, or negligent feeding. 

 The present season I have iiad evidence that there is one-third differ- 

 ence, or even more, betw^een the product of worms faithfully and atten- 

 tively fed, or fed with negligence and in a careless manner. 



8lh. It was my expectation and intention, to test the use of the mul- 

 berry foliage, both in its green and dry state, for making paper ; and for 

 that purpose had sent a quantity to the paper mill, but cannot have the 

 experiment fully tried at present. 



9th. It is hoped that another year will enable silk growers (o render 

 a good account of mulberry foliage for making paper — and of the bark 

 of the young branches for the same purpose, or for making silk fabrics. 



These objects being accomplished, together with the well established 

 improvements for feeding worms, and the multiplication of the silk 

 tree, to meet the present destitution, of the country, — then shall we be 

 prepared to make ready, take aim, and fire away at the silk target of 

 50 millions set up for the next ten years. 



10th. Would the silk cause be promoted by introducing it to the no- 

 tice of foreigners, flocking to our shores for agricultural purposes ? With 

 this object in view, a nursery of Canton mulberries is located atFrench 

 Creek settlement in Lewis Coui^t}^, Western Virginia : where the soil, 

 water and timber, are of the best quality, and the climate decidedly as 

 healthy as any part of the United States. For a similar purpose, a 

 large nursery of Asiatic mulberry is located at Rochford, in the north- 

 ern part of Illinois, by Charles J. Horseman, Esq. 



Upon the request of a gentleman residing in the county of Lewis, 

 Virginia, I sent him silk-worm eggs. He remarks, that the farming 

 interest requires some adflltional crop, which would at all times com- 

 mand cash, and in tqe production of which there would be no danger 

 of competition or overstocking the market j and he considered silk 

 to be that crop. 



