SILK CULTURE. 



83 



Heart shaped indentation, and 1 have often I number, when the cocoonery is near (as 

 found on measurement their breadth to be it should be) the mulberry orchard. In 



ten inches, and their length 12 and over; 

 they are curled or convex on their surface, 

 of a deep glossy green and perfectly beau- 

 tiful. The characters which distinauish 



ten days from spinning, five or six active 

 children are required. And here is ano- 

 ther very important consideration, that 

 these very children will here find employ- 



th is tree from the other species are, the : ment part of the summer in gathering 

 remarkable property the roots possess of leaves, which must otherwise be spent in 



throwing up numerous flexible stalks with 

 out forming a principal trunk, the great 



idleness, perhaps in crime. 



Silk worms are liable to various disea- 



length these stalks assume in a very short : ses in their different ages, especially in 



time, the peculiar developement which the 

 tender and soft leaves soon acquire, and 

 the quickness with which they are renew- 

 ed, and the extraordinary facility with 



their fifth, which all agree to be most cri- 

 tical. Such diseases generally are produ- 

 ced from want of room and air, and their 

 food being damp, and want of cleanliness, 



which the stalks and branches strike root, I proper attention and care: the fermenta- 

 as cuttings, before they have acquired a | tion of litter, dampness, bad air, and three 

 ligneous consistence, and it is easy to mul- , or four thousand on a hurdle, are the most 

 tiply them by thousands from the roots, i frequent causes of mortality among them, 

 by layers and cuttings of a single eye. Therefore, in order for their help and be- 



Cocoons fed on leaves of this tree only, ' nefit, the diseased worms must be thrown 

 are heavier, and the quality of the silk bet- away, their position changed, and more 

 ter. A doubt no longer exists, that two jcare bestowed. Chloride of lime and soda 

 crops of silk may be raised in a single sea- have been used in some places with good 

 son. effect to purify the air. 



Such are the advantages of the IVIorus Often is the question asked, what spe- 

 Multicaulis over every other Mulberry, cies of the worm makes the best silk? but 

 and however the wise and intelligent cul- we all know that it is the food of the worm 



tivators of New Hope may wish to see it 

 prostrated on a level with the Paper Mul- 

 berry^ and thus delay the silk culture in 

 America, in order that his flax may take 

 the place of the silk, or however desirous 

 /* Truth," is to see "this mad specula- 

 tion'' share the same fate of Merino sheep, 

 1 can assure both of these very enlighten- 

 ed, patriotic, tiscfal, enterprising Ame- 

 ricans, that all their "Truths" which have 

 not the shadow of foundation, can have no 

 effect in prostrating the efforts a mighty 

 people are now making for the prosperity 

 of their Commonwealth. Our countr}'^ is 

 destined not only to be the successful 

 competitor in the silk market, but will ere 

 long, after the country is well stocked 

 with this valuable tree, have her factories 

 on a larger scale, and with machinery less 

 complex than those at Lyons or Naples. 



The silk worm consumes vast quanti- 

 ties of leaves. It is said that 210,000 

 worms, in the first stage, consume 20 lbs. 

 per diem, in the second, 55, in the third, 

 215, in the fourth 620, fiflh, 3820 lbs; 



that is to produce the best. If 1 had been 

 asked the question, my reply would have 

 been, the white mammoth fed on the 

 leaves of Morus Multicaulis: this is a 

 beautiful species of the silk worm; there 

 is nothing revolting in the sight of this 

 pretty little worm, busily engaged in eat- 

 ing; but there is something very inter- 

 esting in so humble an object, day to da}-- 

 occupied in eating its verdant meal, until 

 the end of its creation is fulfilled, when it 

 disappears from the sight, iand presents_a 

 ball of beautiful silk; there is nothing dis- 

 gusting to the most sensitive mind, but all 

 is in perfect unison with the great archi- 

 tect of even the little silk worm.- 



Often have I watched them with delight 

 from day to day, and who can form a right 

 estimate of the debt he is under to this lit- 

 tle worm, when he takes into considera. 

 tion, that He who clothes the humble wild 

 flower in raiment of his own inimitable 

 perfection, also has endowed the silk 

 worm with the power of being of gre>t 

 benefit to mankind; and while the heart 



making in all 4,731 lbs of leaves, and two I glows with gratitude for the thousand un- 

 persons can attend and feed more than this ! deserved favours He has been pleased to 



; bestow upon a thankless world in days that 



