182 [Assembly 



the rot is making greater or less ravages. My late planted crop is 

 almost totally destroyed. That is the kind on which I relied for fa- 

 mily use. I allude to the Mercer. My Merino potatoes are but little 

 affected with the disease — scarcely worth naming. I find what were 

 planted for early use — the few that remained undug of the Mercers — 

 are little affected ; and it has given rise to the question, whether plant- 

 ing would not measurably obviate the difficulty. This question your 

 facilities for collecting facts have or will determine. 



Mr. E. S. Bartholemew, of Portland, Chatauque county, N. Y,, 

 under date Oct. 2d, in anticipation of the convention, says : 



I learn by the last number of the Cultivator that a silk convention 

 is to be held in connexion with the approaching anniversary of the 

 American Institute. It, would be highly gratifying to me to meet with 

 you on that occasion, and participate with the friends of home indus- 

 try in their deliberations upon this great and important national enter- 

 prise — the growth and manufacture of silk. I am a silk grower, and 

 it affords me great pleasure to see institutions of so high standing and 

 character devoting a portion of their lime to collect and disseminate 

 information upon subjects of direct interest to the nation. 



I commenced the growing and manufacturing of silk in 1844. In 

 the spring of 1833, a gentleman having a nursery of Italian mulberry, 

 wishing to eradicate them, gave them to me. I transplanted them, 

 7000 in all. In the spring of 1844, I put out an acre of mullicaulis, 

 and on the last of May commenced feeding. I raised 58 lbs. of co- 

 coons, which, after deducting one bushel for eggs, yielded me 6 lbs. 

 1 oz. reeled silk ; this I made into sewings, for which J found a ready 

 sale. 



This season I have grown 150 lbs. 14 oz. of cocoons. First crop 

 weighed 12 lbs. 8 oz. to the bushel ; never have seen larger worms. 



Before commencing I obtained one of the reports of the silk con- 

 veniion of 1843, and read carefully all the letters detailing the expe- 

 rience of the many who corresponded with the convention of that year. 

 I came to the conclusion that the nearer I approached dame Nature 

 in the treatment of the worm, the better. Following up this conclu- 

 sion, I erected me a cocoonery 20 by 24 feet, with large doors cover- 

 ing the entire sides, hung on hinges at their upper edge, so as to swing 

 outwardly, and form an awning. I leave these open all the time while 



