276 [Senate 



Ira Howland, Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y. — In answer 

 to your question, I have had but little experience before the present 

 year. I had calculated on feeding several crops, but the frost we had 

 in June injured my multicaulis to such a degree, that I was under the 

 necessity of cutting them down and hoeing them out, which prevented 

 me from hatching my worms before 28th June. I then hatched about 

 40 or 45 thousand. I fed them the first three weeks on the Italian, the 

 remainder of the time on multicaulis. When about three weeks old, 

 they were too much crowded in consequence of not having my feeding 

 frames finished in season to separate them, which produced disease 

 among them before I was aware of it ; by the free use of lime I soon 

 checked it. I had about 35 thousand which wound very well ; com- 

 menced winding in four weeks from the time they hatched, and pro- 

 duced 101 lbs. of cocoons. 



The building used was a carriage-house, 20 by 24 feet ; it was ventilated 

 by three lattice window blinds, two at the north and one at the south. 

 I use no thermometer. I never have fed in an open shed. I fed the 

 mammoth peanut — that kind, I believe, is generally preferred. I have 

 a nursery of Italian mulberry trees about seven years old ; they are 

 planted in drills about six feet apart. I have two acres of multicaulis, 

 which contain about 20,000 trees ; half of them are set in rows 1^ feet 

 by 4, the remaining half are planted in drills ; they are from three to 

 six years' growth. 



David S. Hoyt, Deerfleld, Franklin County, Mass. — 1st. I have 

 assisted in feeding worms nearly every year since 1828. 



The general results were favorable; our worms being usually 

 healthy, and producing good cocoons. 



I however recollect one very hot season, when the worms, being kept 

 in a very close chamber, were unhealthy ; and the cocoons that were 

 made, although they appeared well, would not produce a single miller. 



Another season, a healthy crop of worms were just ready to wind, 

 when a very violent thunder shower came on, one night, with more 

 vivid lightning and louder thunder than usual. The next morning at 

 least nine-tenths of the worms lay entirely motionless, from which slate 

 they never recovered. We supposed this effect was caused by electricity, 

 but never have heard of a similar case. [ Was the room closed ? — J. 

 R. B.] 



The 20th of July, this season, I hatched half an ounce of eggs of 

 the peanut kind. 



2d. Kept them in the house for the first eight or ten days, and then 

 removed them to the granary or corn-house, a building boarded tight on 

 three sides, and quite open on the west, with a large door on the south. 

 The temperature was not regulated at all. 



The half ounce of eggs produced two and a half bushels of excellent 

 cocoons. 



3d. I never have fed in an open shed or tent, but I am satisfied that a 

 tent with the sides down during cold rainy days and cold nights, would 

 be sufficient protection for the worms. 



