508 [Senate 



four or six feet apart. I shall try the business a year or two longer, 

 with the hope of doing better. 



D. Mack, Secretary JYorthampton Association, Mass. — Below I 

 have endeavored to answer the inquiries, and -comply with the wishes 

 of the trustees of the American Institute, as expressed in their circu- 

 lar. 



Number of years engaged 5 



Acres of land employed 30 



Number of trees 145 , 200 



Whole capital invested $1 , 000 



Amount of cocoons in 1844 1 , 500 



Cost of the same per bushel $2 



Value of the same, 150 lbs. silk, at $5 per lb $750 



Though we have thirty acres employed, we have fed all our worms 

 from the trees grown on one-half of the lot. We use and prefer the 

 Alpine, imported by Mr. Whitmarsh,some of which have grown this 

 year between seven and eight feet high, with some leaves six by eight 

 inches. We have a large quantity of well rooted trees of this variety 

 for sale. 



Our cocoonery is 100 feet long by 25 wide ; enclosed with boards, 

 several of which are moveable, for ventilation. In order to prevent 

 noise, and to save expense, the floor is the bare earth, which we 

 occasionally sprinkle in order to prevent dust. Ventilation is also pro- 

 moted by raising the sills on posts, and by fourteen scuttles in the roof. 

 There are two rows of feeding racks the whole length of the building, 

 five tiers high with a wide alley between the rows, and narrow ones at 

 the sides. Next year w^e intend to excavate a cellar to keep the foliage 

 moist when we have a large supply on hand. 



The greatest obstacle to the complete success of the silk enterprise 

 in this country, has arisen from defective reeling. Well reeled 

 American silk is worth more than any foreign silk in market. To 

 reel well on any reel in common use, requires considerable practice, 

 more than can be obtained in reeling the small lots usually raised in 

 families. It would therefore greatly benefit the cause to establish 

 filatures where the producer can find a certain market, and from which 

 the manufacturer could be sure to obtain well reeled silk. We have 

 established such a filature, and will reel good cocoons for $1 per 

 bushel, or as we are manufacturing sewings, will purchase the cocoons, 

 or the silk after it is reeled, at a fair price. Good cocoons must be 

 well cured, assorted, and transported. The best means of curing 

 them is to sprinkle them with alcohol, at the rate of about one gill to 

 a bushel. Steam, or coal gas, are also good. 

 In sorting the cocoons; class them as follows : 

 1. Quality consisting of perfect cocoons, or such as are firm, com- 

 pact, and free from all stains or spots. 



2d. Such as have one end terminating in a point, but are otherwise 

 firm and sound. 



3d. Large, and free from spots, but thin and less compact than the 

 first. 



4th. Double cocoons. 



