14 



The consequences resulting to New England, from 

 the construction of the Erie Canal, Avhich every hus- 

 bandman has, more or less, known and felt, were prompt- 

 ly met ; by increased attention to manufactures and to 

 dairies ; the growing of wool ; and, in the valley of the 

 Connecticut, the raising of that invaluable plant, the 

 broom corn ; with other kindred improvements in agri- 

 culture and the arts. 



But no branch of domestic economy offers so great 

 encouragement to American industry, as the raising of 

 the mulberry^ and silk-worm. 



This promises to the North, advantages far greater, 

 than the cotton-growing, or gold mines, to the South. 



The culture of silk was first known in China ; where 

 both the mulberry and the silk-worm are of spontane- 

 ous growth. According to Chinese records, it com- 

 menced there, many centuries prior to the Christian 

 era. This delicate manufacture, in all its mysterious 

 branches, was, for a long time, under the exclusive man- 

 agement of the Empresses, and the women of their 

 households ; but was, afterwards, spread among all the 

 females of the empire. China was long called " 77i6 

 inexhaustable store-house of silk,^^ From China, it made 

 its way into the other parts of Asia ; and subsequently, 

 into Europe ; successively, into Greece, Italy, France 

 and England. Into Greece and Italy, many centuries 

 ago ; into France, about two hundred years ago ; more 

 recently into England. The raw material is still raised, 

 in great abundance, in these, and other countries of the 

 East ; excepting England ; her climate does not admit 

 of its growth — the skill of her artists is exercised in the 

 manufacture alone. 



Nearly one hundred years ago, the growing of the 



