No. 124.J 311 



silk, accompanied by your note of the 14th inst. If anything could 

 heighten the estimation in which 1 hold this kind and undeserved 

 mark of regard from my personal friends, it is the cbnsideraiion re- 

 ferred to in your note, that it also proceeds from " the friends and 

 advocates of the culture and home manufacture of silk," and that the 

 suit itself is the produce of this truly interesting and important 

 branch of industry. 



I fear, gentlemen, you over-estimate my services, humble and inef- 

 ficient as I know them to be, in promoting the cause of domestic 

 manufactures. If my ability were equal to the heartfelt interest, 

 which, in common with the great body of my fellow-citizens, I feel 

 in this great cause, I could then flatter myself that your compliment 

 was deserved: in the absence of such ability, I beg to transfer to the 

 truly distinguished and experienced champions of American industry 

 all the credit which your kind partiality would award to my poor 

 services. 



Suffer me in, conclusion, gentlemen, to repeat to you, and through 

 you, to the friends you represent, my gratelul acknowledgements, 

 with assurances of the warm personal esteem of 



Your obedient friend, 



JAMES C. JONES. 



Messrs. G. W. Martin and others of the committee. 



John W. Gill, Mount Pleasant, Jefferson Co.j Ohio. 



Questions on growing silk. 

 Answer to question 1. I have fed worms for 5 years p;ist — results 

 various, owing to the various fixtures used, and experinifnts tried, 

 attention or neglect of the ieeder. I never had a lot of warms become 

 diseased, or die, if from a healthy slock of well kept eggs, without 

 being able to trace the cause, which was always local, and easily reme- 

 died. 



2. I use both one and two story buildings, built of brick and also 

 of wood — have used stoves and also fireplaces with chimneys; prefer 

 fireplaces on account of their drawing off impure air. I think arti- 

 ficial heat beneficial in cold damp weather, especially when worms 

 are spinning. My cocooneries are ventilated by openings, with shut- 

 ters near the floor, with ventilators from each story throuoh the 

 roof. 



3. I have fed in open sheds and tents with complete success. I 

 fed this year four several successive crops, and gathered the cocoons 

 from the same cradles. 1st crop fed them in June, last crop in 

 September, both perfectly healthy and made superior cocoons. 

 Scarcely a dead worm, imperfect or double cocoon among them. 



4. The salmon peanut is the best, white peanut next ; gold peanut 

 3d ; Piedmont, 4th, Mammoth varieties are also good. Have no 

 faith in any two-crop varieties whatever, after 5 years experimenting 

 with all kinds recommended, but would observe that those who wisH 



