314 (Skhatk 



sommer^ which obliged us to resort to the native leaf for about 10 daya.^ 

 They were hard and dry, and injured the lot then feeding very much. 

 Those fed entirely on shelves nearly all died, and of those in the 

 eradles about one- half, occasioned by starvation. They could not eat 

 these leaves. From middle of August up to date, except three very 

 cold rainy days, the weather has been favorable^ with refreshing 

 showers of rain. Foliage canae on abundantly and our worms have 

 done well. 



I think our cocoons will average 20 oz. silk per busliel. The cost to- 

 me this year for producing them will not exceed $2 per bushel. 



I am completely satisfied that my system of shed, or tent and cradle^ 

 and branch feeding, will produce more awoons than any other method 

 yet introducad, at half the usual expense, during 3 to 4 months each 

 feeding season. Cold weather in early and late feeding may lelard the 

 worms some in eating, and lengthen their time some little in spinnings 

 causing, however, no other iryjury, and for warm sultry weather, noth- 

 ing can supersede them ; (I find the fans over the cradle entirely unneces- 

 sary.) Many others have used them and advised me of their complete 

 success. 



There has been a large amount of cocoons raised in the Ohio valley 

 this year, far more than we shall be able to manufacture. I should think, 

 from my correspondence, at least sufficient to keep 200 reek in constant 

 operation. It is of the greatest importance that filatures should be started 

 in various parts of the country, to lake in the small lots of cocoons and 

 reel them; and that all large feeders should procure White's compound 

 reel and throstle which prepares organzines, or sewings, or at least 

 should get the common Piedmontese reel, and reel their own cocoons. 

 It would render the crop both safe and profitable, and add much to 

 their profits and the aggregate value of the silk crop. From neglect of 

 this part of the business, I think at least one-third of all previous silk 

 crops have been lost to the producer. The convention, and friends of 

 silk culture, should take this part of the subject under their serious con- 

 sideration ; and by getting the State Legislatures to give liberal bounties 

 for reeling silk, and the convention giving premiums for the best reeled 

 silk, they would soon cause filatures to be established and get the 

 grower to reeling. I do not see why more filatures have not yet 

 been established. The cost to run, say 10 or 20 reels would be small^ 

 and the silk could be sold as soon as sent to market. The art of reel- 

 ing is very simple and easily learned. We have learned probably 50 

 girls in our establishment, any of whom could reel 2J to 3 lbs. of fine 

 even silk of 6 to 8 fibres per week, w^orth ^5 per pound. They become 

 expert in a few weeks. Then why is it that after a good lot of cocoons 

 has been raised they are suffered to get old — mice and moth eaten, and 

 finally lost for want of simply reeling them. 



Anotlier operation of importance is spinning up the cut-out and 

 imperfect cocoons, floss, and reeler's waste. I have a number of 

 persons employed spinning it at their homes, on the common 

 spinning wheel, and it makes a valuable thread for shirts, stockings, 

 &,c., and after paying well for all labor bestowed, netts something 

 considerable for the raw material. 



I am pleased with the brightening prospect of the silk culture and 

 manufacture. All elementary questions are now settled by carefully 



