No. 124.] 309 



bers of the convention, silk in the gum, raw, and in its various stages 

 ot iiianufactare, before gcing into the hands of the dyer. 



Wm. a. Haynes, Secretary of the JYashville Silk JManufactur- 

 ing Co.., jXas/iville, Tenn. — At a recent meeting of the Tennessee 

 Manufacturing Silk Company, I was instructed by the Board of Di- 

 rectors to make out, and forward to your convention, a statement of 

 the progress of the culture and manufacture of silk in this State. 



The history of the culture of silk in Tennessee is a brief one. 

 With the exception of a few families, no attention was given to feed- 

 ing silk-worms prior to the years 1839 and '40 ; since that time the 

 culture of silk has rapidly progressed. 



In 1840 there were raised in Tennessee 1,237 lbs. of cocoons. Evi- 

 dence of the rapid increase of the culture, is found in the fact, that 

 4,500 lbs. of cocoons have been sold in this city during the present 

 year. Not more than half the quantity raised in Middle Tennessee 

 has been brought to this market. From the reports in East and West 

 Tennessee we are satisfied that the production of cocoons in this 

 Slate the present year does not fall short of 20,000 or 25,000 lbs. 



A. D. .Garden, agent for the Silk Company, has raisetl the largest 

 crop of silk-worms in the State, ],430 lbs. at three feedings, in an 

 ope7i house, made for the purpose; on Mr. John W. Gill's system of 

 tent and cradle feeding, (the worms all healthy.) 



The farmers are going at it in earnest in this State. The climate 

 and soil are just what the silk-worm wants. Many of our farmers 

 believe they can raise cocoons at one dollar per bushel by this open 

 feeding with cradles, better than they could in the old way at three 

 dollars. 



The Silk Co. has engaged a superintendent Mr. Wm. Turner, an 

 experienced silk weaver from London. He has iwo looms in opera- 

 tion, one weaving satin, (see sample enclosed) irom silk grown in 

 this city. 



[The sample enclosed is splendid. It cannot be excelled in any 

 part of the world. J. R. B.J 



Wm. TuPvKer, Superintendent of the Silk Manufacturing Co., 

 Js'ashville, Tenn. — I will confine my remarks to Tennessee silk, not 

 knowing" much about silk grown in other parts of the country. 



As a manufacturer, therefore, I say unhesitatingly, that Tennessee 

 silk, well reeled, is decidedly superior, both for strength and lustre, 

 to any foreign silk I have seen, and is worth 25 per cent over the 

 imported articles of raw silk. 



As to the quantity now grown in this reijion, I cannot form a very 

 exact opinion. I will however say, that I feel entire confidence in 

 the opinion that one hundred hands could now be employed in its 

 manufacture, diffusing wealth to the State, and that ultimately no 

 other business will equal it. 



