522 [Senate 



the most valuable lumber ; and it requires not, as in colder regions, 

 the labor of one-half of the year to provide for the other. ^ When all 

 these things are considered, in connection with the fact', that East 

 Florida already produces three of the most valuable staples in the 

 world, — Sea Island cotton, rice, and sugar, — it will, I think, be readily 

 acknowledged, that few new countries, if any other, has ever offered 

 advantages to immigrants superior to those now offered by East Flo- 

 rida. But I crave your pardon, — you only asked for some account 

 of my operations in the silk culture, and I have spun you out what I 

 fear will be deemed a tedious article. 



I am, sir, yours, &c., 



THO. DOUGLAS. 

 Hon. Davis Let^y, 



City of Washington^ D. C. 



I. R. Barbour, Oxford, Mass. — I have been engaged in the cul- 

 ture of silk eight years. During this period, I, as w^ell as others, have 

 had many difficulties to contend with. We have had every thing to 

 learn, and many things taught us during the high noon of the mul- 

 berry speculation ; we have had to unlearn many of the views and 

 theories inculcated in French and Italian publications on the silk cul- 

 ture, which were thrown before the American public, which are either 

 unnecessary, or positively unsuited to the soil and climate. At any 

 rate, my own experience abundantly proves two or three things to be 

 all that is essential to the successful rearing of silk worms — good 

 eggs, ample food in a suitable state, regularly administered, ample 

 room, ample ventilation, and entire cleanliness. It is extremely inju- 

 rious to give immature leaves to worms far advanced, and equally in- 

 jurious to allow the air to be confined or at all tainted. For the last 

 two years, in order to secure a perfectly pure air, I have hatched and 

 fed my worms in my cocoonery until the third moulting, and then 

 removed them to ray tent, open on all sides. In this way my worms 

 have been healthy — not losing five per cent by disease — and the co- 

 coons (Nankin peanuts,) large and firm, yielding from twenty to 

 twenty-two ounces of reeled silk to the bushel. This year the wea- 

 ther was cold and dry during the last ten days of one of my crops. 

 Several times we found the thermometer in the tent in the morning 

 as low as 50°, and one morning as low as 47° ; of course the worms 

 were torpid and inactive, and there was a loss of time in getting them 

 through. But this was the only loss. They came out as above stated. 



When in the cocoonery, I prefer picking the leaves for my worms. 

 When in the tent, I cut up the bushes. On this plan of tent and 

 branch feeding, I think we can make silk at about one-half of the ex- 

 pense supposed to be necessary, and actually necessary, upon the old 

 plan. In my communication to the convention last year, I spoke of 

 my location as being in a frosty valley, and as having been for two 

 years thrown forward late into July before I could feed. I am com- 

 pelled to say that this season in like manner, has been unpropitious to 

 me in this respect. My neighbors upon the hills wex£ from three to 



