AND SILK MANUAL. 



THE SIIiK CULTURE. 



The following letter, written by the venerable 

 Jud^e Spencer, of New York, relates to a subject 

 of growing importance to the people of this coun- 

 try, and one for which the same eminent and en- 

 lightened citizen labored, though unsuccessfully, 

 to obtain the fostering aid of the Government 

 when his State had the honor to be represented 

 by him in Congress. — Argus. 



CULTURE AND MANUFACTURE OF SILK. 



Albany, April 7, 1835. 

 From a long acquaintance, and as I believe, a 

 reciprocal esteem and friendship, I have thought 

 that I could not better employ a leisure hour, 

 than in addressing you on a topic which I regard 

 as of high importance to our fellow citizens. 

 You will not suspect me of insincerity or flat- 

 tery, when I assure you that I know no man 

 whom I believe to have more enlightened views, 

 or more ardent patriotism than you. Hence the 

 propriety of my selecting you as a correspondent 

 on the interesting subject which I proceed to 

 state. 



Since 1830 my attention has been drawn to the 

 consideration of the culture of silk in this coun- 

 try, and particularly in this State. I am perfectly 

 satisfied that no agricultural pursuit will bear any 

 comparison with the culture of silk, as regai-ds 

 profit. I should not want a better income than 

 the clear profits of an orchard of white mulberry 

 trees, of twenty acres at ten years old. The 

 clear nett profits of such an estate would not fall 

 short of from $3000 to $5000 annually ; and this 

 profit would go on increasing with the growth 

 and the productiveness of the trees. 



You have seen a communication made by me 

 to the commissioners appointed by the Governor, 

 to examine into the economy, government, and 

 discipline of the State prisons, which has been 

 published, not, however, extensively. It contains 

 some matter irrelevant to the culture of silk, 

 and omits some things interesting to those who 

 may embark in the enterprise. You must have 

 observed as a statist, that our annual import of 

 silk amounts to the value of $10,000,000, and will 

 increase with our wealth and population. This 

 aniount far exceeds the value of all our bread 

 stuffs exported. This consideration ought to ex- 

 cite us to inquiry, whether such a drain from the 

 resources of the country cannot be prevented, a 

 new source of industry be opened, which shall 

 in a short period supply our own wants, and ena- 

 ble us to become exporters of either raw silk, or 

 silk fabrics. 



I consider it as a fact demonstrated, that our 

 soil and climate is genial to the growth of the 

 mulberry tree, and the culture of silk. Trees of 

 this description are already growing and flourish- 



ing in various parts of the State, and I presume 

 that the location of this State from Skeneatales 

 to Lake Erie, is peculiarly adapted to the mulberry 

 from the fact that the most delicate fruit trees 

 come to great perfection within that region. 

 Since 1760, the silk worm has been reared in 

 Windham county, Connecticut, which is about 

 the latitude of Albany. The culture of silk has 

 been successfully prosecuted in that county, and 

 it has reached to a large amount. The following 

 is an extract from the Daily Advertiser of the 15th 

 instant : " American Silk. — Raw Silk, we learn 

 from the Burlington Free Press, has been produ- 

 ced this year in Mansfield, Connecticut, to the 

 amount of over $60,000. The county of Wind- 

 ham, Connecticut, produces five tons of silk an- 

 nually, valued at $500,000, and if reeled would be 

 worth double that sum." If this be true, and 

 that it is substantially true I fully believe, the ques- 

 tion is settled that the soil and climate of this 

 State is genial to the culture of silk. It settles 

 also another question, that it is much the most 

 profitable business that can be undertaken. 



We have the testimony of Mr D'Homergue, a 

 man born at Nismes, in France, and brought up, 

 from infancy, to the reeling and manufacture of 

 silk, and who came to this country on the recom- 

 mendation of the late James Brown, then Minister 

 in Paris, who asserts in his essays, that he was 

 surprised to find the American silk superior in 

 quality, and the quantity yielded by the cocoons, 

 to any he ever saw. But, my dear sir, could you 

 have seen specimens of American silk exhibited in 

 this city a few days since, manufactured by Mr 

 Gay, all doubt would be removed. These speci- 

 mens were pronounced by the many who saw 

 them, to be equal, if not superior, to any silk 

 which had ever been seen here. 



Now, sir, what are the impediments to be over- 

 come, in introducing the cultm-e of silk extensively 

 in this State ? And here let me observe that there 

 is no danger of overdoing the business; there will 

 always be a demand in England for all we can 

 raise beyond our own wants ; where, from the 

 humidity of the climate, or other causes, the silk 

 worm is not reared. 



It is necessary to devote a small space of good 

 and fertile ground, as a nurseiy in which to sow 

 the seeds. It is computed that one ounce of seed, 

 properly sown, after the ground is thoroughly 

 ploughed, or dug and harrowed, or raked and 

 sown, in drills, at about three feet apart, will give 

 about five thousand young trees. They require 

 to be kept free from weeds and injury from cat- 

 tle. At two years of age, they are generally fit 

 for placing in an orchard, at the distance of from 

 seyen to twelve feet, at right angles — and here the 

 labi I of man terminates. All the subsequent cul- 

 ture may be conducted by women and childreo. 



