70 



SILK MANUAL, AND 



quantity of silk thrown during the whole year, 

 the works being constantly employed, is about 13,- 

 000 pounds' weight. The weekly performance 

 varies somewhat, according to the quality of the 

 material under conversion, and also with the hy- 

 grometio state of the atmosphere ; for which rea- 

 son the yearly working is stated, instead of the 

 result of any one week's operations. 



Dr Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopedia. 



Silk Worms. — The Silk Culturist inquires how 

 to prevent the black ant from destroying the silk 

 worm. A correspondent says, " Let the frames 

 on which the worms are fed be placed some dis- 

 tance from the walls of the room, and nail strips 

 of new tin (two or three inches wide) about the 

 bottom of the standard posts supporting the feed- 

 ing frames, and the ants cannot climb over the tin. 

 A similar rim of tin placed about the Chinese 

 plant when set out will prevent the cut worm 

 from reaching the plant." — jYorthampton Cour. 



PROFITS OP THE MUIiBKRRY. 



Though it would seem probable that almostany 

 farmer wlio has 100 acres or more, if he under- 

 stood the subject, and was duly informed as to 

 the profits of cultivating silk, would appropriate 

 at least three acres to it, I will confine my calcu- 

 lation on the profits of a single acre, which the far- 

 mer can always extend or contract to suit his own 

 views. 



A number of calculations have been given to 

 the public, by different persons, all founded on 

 experience, and probably all true. But as they 

 have been made on different soils, and no doubt 

 with diff'erent management aud different degrees 

 of skill and care, it is naturally to be ex- 

 pected they all differ. Probably the mean between 

 them may be relied on as a fair average result. 



Andrew Palmatier, Esq. of New York, has 

 given a statement from two acres, which divided 

 will give the following for one acre : 



One acre of ground, fenced by mulberry hedges 

 and set out with trees, $250 



Interest and additional expense during 

 five years, 187,50 



The acre will then produce ; 

 From 5 to 10 years, 

 " 10 to 15 " 

 " 15 to 20 " 

 which will average nearly 45 per cent, for the first 

 twenty years, and continue at 112 per cent after- 

 wards. 



Mr Fitch, who is cited as authority by the sec- 

 retary of the treasury, calculates 40 pounds of silk 

 to an acre, and Mr Storrs 60 pounds. 



According to the calculation of Mr Palmatier, an 

 acre will pay on an average of 20 years $205,62, 

 and $490 a year, afterwards. 



Mr Fitch's statement, allowing the silk to be 

 worth 4 dollars per pound, would yield a gross 

 amount of $160, and that of Mr Storr's $240. 

 Mr Storrs has had m.uch experience, and probably 

 his estimate may be relied on as the average ; 

 though in a better soil, some one may have gone far 

 beyond it. — Silkworm. 



[From Uie Silk Culturist.] 

 Culture and Transplanting of tlie Mulberry. 



No. I. 

 Mr Editor: — At a time when the ft^elings of 

 the community are so much interested in the cul- 

 ture of silk, it seems important that all who have 

 investigated the subject, should communicate free- 

 ly the results of their experience and observation, 

 that those who are desirous of aiding in the ad- 

 vancement of this valuable branch of industry, 

 should possess the knowledge which is necessary 

 to embark in it, without too great risk. 



Although the raising silk has been carried on 

 in the old world for centuries, and in this country 

 for several years, it is still, to most of us, a new 

 business. It is true that we have the means of 

 obtaining a great deal of information from Euro- 

 pean authors, but much of it is useless or worse 

 than useless in its application to this country. It 

 will not do to follow them as guides. We must 

 collect facts from this country, and opinions found- 

 ed on experience and observation here, or we 

 incur the hazard of discouragement aud failure. 



The importance of having such means of spread- 

 ing information as is afforded by your paper, (The 

 Silk Culturist,) cannot be too highly apjireciated 

 by the public ; and 1 am happy to see it so exten- 

 sively circulated. I j)ropose occasionally to give 

 you the result of my investigations, as often as I 

 ran communicate any thing of practical informa- 

 tion, and with this view I propose to give you for 

 this and some succeeding numbers a few hints on 

 the transplanting and culture of the inulbei-rytree. 

 7'he first thing to be decided upon is the kind 

 fo mulberry to be used, and as all are generally 

 given up, for various causes, except the Chinese 

 Mulberry, (morus multicaulis,) and the Italian or 

 common white Mulberry, (morus alba,) it remains 

 to decide between these two kinds. 



There appears to be no difference of opinion 

 with regard to the superior utility in every respect 

 of the Chinese over the Italian, when the climate 

 is equally adapted to both ; but there is so decided 

 a difference of opinion among those who have 

 tried the culture of the Chinese tree in this State, 

 that the public must for the preseiit remain in 



