No. 124] 289 



paying as much for the leaves as I would reasonably expect to get 

 lor my silk, when brought to market. 



But I am fully persuaded that the silk business is practicable, and 

 I would be glad to enter into it with some one who has the means 

 and would enter into it in the right way, and be satisfied with a rea- 

 sonable profit. We have a silk weaver here who says our silk is bet- 

 ter than silk he used to weave in London, where he wove for twenty 

 years. 



I will now proceed to answer your questions in the Circular, as 

 far as 1 can; and those I cannot, I will leave a blank. 



Three years. Satisfactory. 



Open shed. Atmospheric temperature. 



Yes. Result, successful. 



Probably the peanut is best. 



Mons Alba — cut off the limbs. 



Yes. Early feeding is best. 



Answered in the boily of my communication. 



No. I will ask our manufacturer to do it. 

 I should be glad to meet you at the convention, and exhibit a mo- 

 del of ray silk-worm frame and hurdle, if I could ; but misfortunes 

 have pressed hard upon me, and I am not able to meet the expense. 

 I should be glad to receive a copy of the anticipated report; and if 

 any one at the convention wishes an active partner in the silk busi- 

 ness, I would be glad that he write me on the subject. 



Joseph Belcher & Sons, Richford^ Tioga Co., JV. Y. — In the 

 spring of 1839, we procured 3,000 multicaulis mulberry trees from 

 the State of Connecticut, and planted them in this town, from which 

 we reared a few worms of the sulphur kind, and manufactured the 

 silk into sewings that sold well in market. We have steadily in- 

 creased our stock of trees and of silk. Last year we raiseil about 

 ],000 lbs. of cocoons. This year, owing to some cause unknown to 

 us, we have not made quite so much, but have still found it much 

 more profitable than other branches of farming. Our building is 36 

 feet by 50, three stories high. We have only occupied the two lower 

 stories. We are now using, and are much pleased with Morris' feed- 

 ing and winding frames, particularly the latter. We regulate the 

 temperature by stoves in the rooms, with pipe to conduct the heat 

 through the apartments. We have not fed in open tents. 



After three years ot careful experiment, in the same room and with 

 the same care, we have come to the conclusion that the peanut worm 

 is altogether the best, and have changed our entire stock for that va- 

 riety. 



We use the multicaulis altogether, and till the ground as we would 

 for corn ; then plant in drills, by laying a continuous line of trees, 

 root and body, until this year ; and this year, the body only, which 

 was severed near the ground last fall, and buried in the open field, by 



[Senate No. 124.J Mm 



