506 [Senate 



and domestic matters, and hence I cannot make a full report ; but, 

 such as it is, I forward to you. 



1st. I have raised about eighty pounds of cocoons this year. 



2d. Have raised about three hundred and forty-three pounds prior 

 to this year. 



3d. Have about one acre of land employed in the business. 



4th. Have been engaged in the business five years. 



I think branch feeding, after the third moulting, is better than feed- 

 ing leaves ; it appears to be natural and agreeable to the worms, se- 

 parates them from one another, and secures a free circulation of air ; 

 and when they do not all moult at the same time, feeding those that 

 are not moulting, raises the pile above those that are, and leaves them 

 in the pile, where they are undisturbed until they have moulted, and 

 then they immediately come to the top to partake of the foliage. 



Experience has taught us that a cocoonery should be well ventila- 

 ted, and the freer the circulation of air, the better. I reel, spin, and 

 make what I raise into sewings and twist, in my own family. We 

 use the Piedmontese reel, and spin it on a common wheel, and make 

 an article of such quality, that it drew the second premium, ($10) 

 awarded to " Manufactured Silk " at the recent State Fair ; also the 

 highest premium was awarded to our cocoons, on reeled silk, and on 

 sewing silk, at our late county Fair. I intend continuing in the bu- 

 siness, and enlarging my operations. 



Jeremiah Upham, Dudley. — I received your silk circular, soliciting 

 facts from silk growers. In reply, I would say, 



1st. My operations have been small, yet I have been more or less 

 acquainted with growing silk for twenty years ; a few pounds each 

 of the last four years. 



2d. My experience testifies decidedly in favor of early feeding, also 

 in favor of an abundant circulation of air. We have much more to 

 dread from heat than from cold, especially sultry, damp weather ; 

 hence the necessity of having our worms, especially in the last stages, 

 in some tent or open place, where they can have a free circulation of 

 air. 



3d. With plenty of foliage, and good eggs, and a suitable place for 

 feeding, accompanied by proper care and attention, there is no diffi- 

 culty at all in making silk of first rate quality, and with as much pro- 

 fit as we realize from any of our ordinary farm crops. 



Enoch Bacon, Southhridge^ Mass. — Commenced feeding in 1842, 

 and produced four pounds two ounces of silk, and some eggs. 



In 1843 produced about the same quantity, and in 1844 sixty-one 

 pounds of cocoons. 



Samuel Gates, Highgate, Swanton P. 0., Vt. — Commenced by 

 answering the questions contained in the circular. 



No. of years engaged, 5 



Acres of land employed, 1 J 



No. of trees, 51,000 



