492 [Senate 



quainted with.) On the following day, (June 1st,) we planted part 

 of that seed in regular rows in several well prepared beds. In about 

 ten days the seed came up finely, and as the weather was favorable, 

 and no weeds suffered to grow with the young trees, they progressed 

 beautifully and vigorously, so that on the 1st of August we were able 

 to commence feeding a small lot of worms on the foliage of them ; 

 and as both trees and worms continued their growth in good proportion, 

 the quality of the leaves was always very suitable to the age of the 

 worms. On the 26th of the same month they commenced winding, 

 and produced a small lot of very fine and good cocoons ; the greater 

 part of which we reeled, spun, twnsted, colored and manufactured into 

 a ribbon ; the rest we kept for seed and other purposes, samples of 

 which I send you with the other silk goods. They may be exhibited 

 as a representation of the entire silk business, as performed in one 

 season ; and after the Fair, the worthy Institute will please accept 

 them as a present. Said samples are put together in the following 

 manner : 



1st. Some Canton mulberry seed, gathered May 30th, 1844, con- 

 tained in a vial. 



2d. Three Canton mulberry trees, raised from that seed, sown June 

 1st, taken out of the ground September 23d, measuring without roots 

 from three feet four inches to three feet six inches. 



3d. A leaf from those trees. 



4th. Three cocoons from worms fed on the foliage of said trees, 

 hatched August 1st, spun August 26th. 



5th. Three cocoons perforated by the moth, September 20th. 



6th. Some silk-worm eggs produced by these moths. 



7th. Two skeins of raw silk, two skeins of colored silk, and four 

 yards of ribbon, manufactured from those cocoons. 



We have now feeding on the leaves of the same trees another lot 

 of worms, which look exceedingly well and will commence spinning 

 about the 1st of October. A third and larger quantity is feeding on 

 the foliage of a quantity of young Canton trees, raised from seed of 

 last year's growth, sown on the 10th of May last, many of which are 

 now over five feet high and full of excellent leaves. 



From what I have said, it will likely be inferred that we give the 

 preference to the Canton mulberry tree. We do so, for several rea- 

 sons ; and if we were to be limited to any one kind, we should un- 

 hesitatingly choose the Canton. But as the white Italian variety 

 stands the winter best, we should not like to do without it, and every 

 silk grower should be provided with a quantity of the same. We 

 have about nine acres of common and Canton mulberry trees, and 

 about the same number of acres should be covered with the Italian 

 and Broosa, if those which were scattered were joined to those which 

 are planted in regular orchard form. 



We commenced the raising and manufacturing of silk on a small 

 scale in 1826, and increased it gradually as our trees, experience and 

 knowledge increased. Of the amount of cocoons prior to 1838, we 

 have no correct memorandum. The total for six years previous to 

 this present is 20,766 pounds ; showing an average of 3461 pounds 



