PRACTICAL FARMER. 



125 



p!e of judgment, that when an ox, in a growing 

 state, presents a certain degree of purity of breed- 

 ing, a certain form of bof'y, and a certain kind of 

 handling of its skin, a certain result is undevia- 

 tingly exhibited in the mature state from these 

 given premonitory symptoms. Shouhi this result 

 conduce to the acquisition of wealth, we are 

 anxious to possess the growing animal which 

 exhibits such favorable points ; and. on the otiier 

 hand, we are as anxious to avoid the possession 

 of that animal which exhibits unfavorable points, 

 unless at a very depreciated value. Now, it has 

 been ascertained by experience, that pure breed- 

 ing, perfect form, and fine touch, make the best 

 mature animal. Hence these points will insure 

 both the growing and the mature animal a ready 

 market and a good price ; and hence also, that 

 breed which constantly presents these points, de- 

 serves, by its intrinsic worth, to be generally cul- 

 tivated. 



[From the Providence Journal.] 

 RHODE ISLAND SILK COMPANY. 



Having watched with intense interest during 

 the past year the incipent operations in the growth 

 and manufacture of silk in this city, and having 

 at different periods given descriptions of the ma- 

 chinery connected with its manufacture, which 

 have been extensively copied, we could not have 

 believed, h:id he not told us so, that any editor in 

 our own neighborhood could have been " in- 

 formed," within the last fortnight, " that several 

 imiiortant improvements have been made recently 

 in the looms for weaving silk, and that it is 

 calculated, as soon as a sufficient quantity of 

 cocoons can be obtained, the weaving of silk will 

 be prosecuted on a more extensive scale than has 

 been done heretofore in this country." But this 

 is the language of one of the New Bedford papers, 

 the Mercury we believe, while, in the same village 

 where it is printed, the factory of Joseph Rotch, 

 Esq. is turning out goods equal to the best Italian 

 silk. If the editor lias any fondness for beautiful 

 machinery, perfect in its operation — if he would 

 behold the manufacture of the most delicate n)a- 

 terial brought at once, without experience, to a 

 high degree of perfection by the ingenuity and 

 perseverance of a single mechanic — if he would 

 love to contemplate the brightest pros|)ect of 

 wealth and comfort that has ever dawned upon 

 the peojjle of the United States, we commend him 

 to a view of that establishment. The machinery 

 which he will there find in operation was invented 

 by Gamaliel Gay, whose name our country will 

 ukimitely have occasion to record among those 

 of its most distinguished benefactors. 



But we find there are many [lersons, men of 

 business, among us, who arc as unenlightened 

 upon this subject as they were before it had 



become one of such engrossing interest ; and 

 some, who have ex|)ressed surprise on being re- 

 cently informed that there was a Silk Factory in 

 the very midst of our city. 'Jo such persons then, 

 if they will take the trouble to read it, a history 

 of the plans and o|)erations of the " Rhode Island 

 Si'k Company," which was late the " Valentine 

 Silk Company," was incorporated at the recent 

 session of our Legislature, with a capital of $100- 

 000. Their factory is situated upon Eddy Street, 

 the next building to the old glass bouse. The 

 machinery, with which it is nearly filled, is pro- 

 pelled by a six horse power steam engine. The 

 steam is generated with the siftings of anthracite 

 coal, at an expense of 3.3 cents per day. This, 

 till recently, useless and refuse portion of the coal, 

 is ignited and rendered about as valuable as any 

 other, by the aid of Reynold's ]iatent blowing 

 apparatus. — While ])reparing their machinery and 

 instructing their operatives in the art, they have 

 manufactured from 16 to 1800 yds. of rich, heavy 

 goods. The number of hands has recently been 

 very much increased, and, with the additional 

 power looms about to be put in, the company 

 contemplate making from 300 to 400 yards of 

 goods per week. Of course, as there is no do- 

 mestic supply, they are compelled to manufacture 

 foreign silk. Another year, however, they will 

 probably derive a considerable amount of the raw 

 material from th(,'ir own plantation. This plan- 

 tation is on the western border of the city, and 

 consists of thirty six acres of land particularly 

 well adapted to the growth of the mulberry tree, 

 and is already in a high state of cultivation. 

 Upon it there is a large well finished two story 

 house, and a barn and granary — a cocoonery 150 

 feet long, built last spring, and about 16,000 mul- 

 berry trees of very vigorous growth, most of 

 which are five years old, and the remainder four. 

 From these trees it is estimated that an average 

 amount of at least 2000 pounds of wound silk 

 may be produced per year, for the next five years, 

 or two ounces to a tree — and for the succeeding 

 five years double the amount. This is a moderate 

 estimate compared with the one made by the 

 Boston Company, and, indeed, compared with the 

 results of experience, of those who haye been, 

 engaged in growing silk in Connecticut for many 

 years. The company are about |)uttiiig out 40,000 

 more trees, of three years' growth, in hedges, 

 after the Italian mode. These, it is estimated, 

 will yield an average rate of one ounce of wound 

 silk to a tree per year. The total product of the 

 farm in silk, according to this estimate, wou d be 

 worth, at four dollars |.er [iound $18,000. One 

 half of this amount is allowed for attendance U|)orj 

 the cocoonery and winding the silk into a mar- 

 ketab e state, leaving a nett profit of $9,000. In 

 addition to this ought to be reckoned the valua 



