Some Early Attempts at Silk Culture 



The establishment of the silk industry in America was urged 

 early in the history of the colonies, mulberry trees being plentiful and 

 furnishing a ready supply of food for silk worms. 



In 1725, James Logan, William Penn's secretary, wrote to the 

 Penn family, speaking of the culture of silk in America "as extremely 

 beneficial and promising." In 1734, Governor Gordon, of Pennsyl- 

 vania, addressing the Lords Commissioners of Trade, on various sub- 

 jects, spoke of the good returns that might be expected from silk 

 culture, mulberry trees being native to American soil. 



The year 1770 saw the subject taken up in Philadelphia, Penn., 

 and the surrounding country, with great interest. For this the 

 American Philosophical Society (Philadelphia) was largely respons- 

 ible, influenced, of course, by letters from Dr. Benjamin Franklin 

 who was at that time abroad. 



Application was made to the Colonial Assembly for the estab- 

 lishment of a "public filature at Philadelphia for winding cocoons, 

 and the managers to have power to grant premiums, etc., equal to 

 about .500 per annum for five years." Necessary funds were raised 

 by private subscription, Governor John Penn being one of the donors. 

 In June, 1770, the factory was opened at a house in 7th Street, 

 between Arch and High. The following year, about twenty-three 

 hundred pounds of silk was brought there to reel. 



Many mulberry trees were now planted in New Jersey and 

 around Philadelphia. Women devoted much of their time to the 

 industry, as the war had cut off the usual importation of silks. 



In 1770, "the celebrated Susanna Wright," of Columbia, Lan- 

 caster County, Penn., made a piece of silk from her own cocoons, 

 sixty yards long, and also much sewing silk. Two years later, Robert 

 Proud, the historian, visiting her home, saw fifteen hundred silk- 

 worms at work, under her charge. She thought it quite possible to 

 raise a million worms in one season. 



Mulberries of Mt. Vernon 



Probably with the intention of furnishing food for silk-worms, 

 and producing silk, George Washington in March, 1765, grafted 

 "fifteen English Mulberries on wild mulberry stocks" on the grounds 

 of his home at Mt. Vernon, Va. As Professor Sargent observes, 

 "there is no English Mulberry, and his scions may have been from a 

 Black or a White Mulberry, the Chinese tree which furnishes the 

 principal food for silk-worms." 



In 1785, Washington "planted all the Mulberry trees, Maple 

 trees and Black Gums in Serpentine Walk." A White Mulberry, 

 sixty feet tall, with a circumference of three feet, three inches, is the 

 only one remaining in this area. In all likelihood, it is one of those 

 planted by the Father of his Country. 



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