SILK. 



Piedmont 4th. Mammoth varieties I 

 are also good. I have no faith in any . 

 two-crop varieties whatever, after 

 five years' experimenting with all 

 kinds recommended ; but would ob- 

 serve, that those who wish eggs to 

 hatch, must select the pure white co- 

 coons from the first lot fed, to get 

 millers to lay eggs for the second lot. 



"5. White mulberry and niulticau- 

 lis are best. I cultivate them as I do 

 corn, and replant the multicaulis ev- 

 ery three years. 



" 6. In previous years, my first lot 

 of worms were fed early in the sea- 

 son : they have always been the best. 



" The Causes of Disease. — 1st cause 

 is, eggs saved from unhealthy stock ; 

 2d. Eggs being improperly preserved ; 

 3d. Irregular feeding and unwhole- 

 some food ; 4th. Changing the worms 

 while moulting ; 5th, and most fre- 

 quent cause, want of pure air, and 

 neglect to remove the excrements 

 immediately from the worms ; 6th. 

 Letting the mice eat them during 

 their last age, and while they are 

 winding their cocoons. 



" I have been successful beyond 

 my most sanguine expectations in 

 feeding in the shed and ventilating 

 cradles. Have gathered four lots 

 from each, averaging seven bushels 

 per cradle, or near two bushels at 

 each gathering per cradle. 



" I think our cocoons will average 

 twenty ounces of silk per bushel. The 

 cost to me this year for producing 

 them will not exceed two dollars per 

 bushel. 



" I am completely satisfied that my 

 system of shed, or tent and cradle, 

 and branch feeding, is a sjstem for 

 general adoption, and will produce 

 more cocoons than any other method 

 yet introduced, at half the usual ex- 

 pense, during three to four months 

 each feeding season Cold weather, 

 in early and late feeding, may retard 

 the worms in eating, and lengthen 

 their time a little in spinning, caus- 

 ing, however, no other injury ; and 

 for warm, sultry weather nothing can 

 supersede them. Many others have 

 used them, and advised me of their 

 complete success." 

 P p p 



" Dr. D.\niel Stebbins, Northamp' 

 ton, Massachusetts. — I give the fol- 

 lowing answers to your several ques- 

 tions : 



" I have fed worms for seven or 

 eight years, with the sole view of 

 showing that it could be done. This 

 year I made twenty-five to thirty 

 pounds of silk. 



" This season I erected a new co- 

 coonery in the midst of a mulberry 

 patch, forty-two by twenty, posts 

 eight feet out of ground. Roof cov- 

 ered with boards and battened, the 

 sides and ends covered with slats 

 three inches wide, and half an inch 

 apart, extending from the eaves to 

 the ground. Floor of earth. 



" Adjoining the above is a tent 

 wholly covered with bass matting, 

 through which the rains had a free 

 passage. The success of the tent 

 was superior even to the cocoonery. 



•' I have fed for several years in 

 an open shed, in the barn-yard, but 

 nothing to exclude birds and fowls ; 

 in other respects the experiment was 

 successful. 



" For making silk, the pea-nut va- 

 riety has the preference, being less en- 

 cumbered with floss, less gum, more 

 length, lustre, and strength of fibre 

 than other varieties, as testified by a 

 skilful silk-dyer. 



" Having the blaclu white. Canton, 

 Asiatic, Broosa, midticaulis, and some 

 other varieties, I have not found any 

 to excel the Canton for its foliage, 

 and the Asiatic for its abundant 

 branches. The foliage of the Canton 

 continues to the latest season in 

 greater perfection than any other. 



" An early crop of worms is pref- 

 erable to a late crop. The foliage 

 becomes abundant the latter part of 

 the season, but is very unfit for the 

 worms, being too hard, or deprived 

 of its richness by drenching or long- 

 continued rains. 



" It was my expectation and in- 

 tention to test the use of the mulber- 

 ry foliage, both in its green and dry 

 state, for making paper, and for that 

 purpose had sent a quantity to the 

 paper-mill, but cannot have the ex- 

 periment fully tried at present." 



721 



