312 [S 



ENA TE 



eggs to hatch, must select the pure white cocoons from the first lo^ 

 fed to 2"et millers to lay eggs for the second crop. 



5. White mulberry and multicaulis. I cultivate them as I do corn, 

 and replant the multicaulis every 3 years. 



6. Previous years my first crops of worms fed early in the season 

 have always been the best. The cause of failure of late fed lots, is 

 in feeding tough, hard, full grown foliage in which there is but little 

 silk gum. 



In consequence of the severe drought this season my trees were 

 almost defoliated in August. We then had plentiful rains. The 

 trees threw out an ample supply of young leaves, full of silk gum, 

 and my last lots of worms, fed the last of August and first of 

 September, are equal to any I have ever raised or seen. 



7. 1st cause is eggs saved from unhealthy stock. 2d is eggs being 

 improperly preserved. 3d. Irregular feeding and unwholesome food. 

 4th. Changing the worms while moulting. 5th. And most frequent 

 cause, want of pure air and neglect to remove the excrements im- 

 mediately from the worms. 6th. Letting the mice eat them during 

 their last age and while they are winding their cocoons. 



Questions on manufacturing silk. 



1. Between 5 and 6 years. 



2. Since we commenced have made almost every variety of staple 

 silk in use, as velvets, satins, 30 varieties of vestings, 20 of dress silks 

 for ladies' wear, hat and coat plushes, broche, lustrings, levantine, 

 serges, florentines, flag silks, stage dresses, umbrella and parasol silks, 

 handkerchiefs, scarfs, cravats, aprons, gloves, socks, stockings, shirts, 

 drawers, sewings, tassels, twnst, buttons, &c., &c. 



3. About 1,000 bushels cocoons annually. 



4. " $10,000. 



5. " from 40 to 50 hands. 



6. " equal to the best I ever examined. 



7. The quality of the silk is owing to the kind of worm that spins 

 it. The quantity may be owing to the kind and quality of foliage 

 fed. W^orms fed on the native tree make more floss and less silk 

 than those fed on Italian or multicaulis, but the silk, what there is 

 of it, is as good as from the same worm fed on the other varieties. 



8. I think, to protect American labor, there should be a duty on 

 all silks imported by weight, and also say 20 per cent duty on its 

 value in the United States, both on the raw and manufactured article. 

 The duty by weight on the raw article protects the producer, and an 

 ad valorem duty protects the manufacturer. This would prevent^the 

 surplus unsaleable silks of Europe from being thrown into our markets 

 and sold here at auction, at any price, having the effect to break down 

 or discourage our citizens from commencing in the business, draining 

 us of our coin, and relieving their own market of goods, the sale of 

 which would conflict with the regular profit on their fashionable and 

 saleable goods. This is necessary to protect this new branch of 

 American industry from being thus assassinated while it is now in its 

 infancy. In a few years it will become full grown, and will supply 



