till PREFACE. 



facturing Company. An Act of Incorporation was obtained, 

 a Company formed, and a Building erected ; but it was 

 soon ascertained that the amount of domestic silk, annually 

 growed, was inadequate to supply it with the raw material; 

 while at the same time, there were in New England, several 

 Silk Factories already in operation. This suggested the 

 necessity of an association for the diffusion of practical 

 knowledge, and resulted in the formation of the Hartford 

 County Silk Society. 



But the mere formation of a Society, did not remedy the 

 evil the Society could collect information, but they had no 

 medium through which to communicate it to the public. The 

 next step was the commencement of a periodical, devot- 

 ed to the subject, under the appropriate name of " The Silk 

 Culturist and Farmers Manual." Though the circulation of 

 this publication is extensive and constantly increasing ; yet 

 the Society are in the almost daily reception of letters of in- 

 quiry, on the different topics, connected with the business. 

 To answer these letters separately and in detail, would re- 

 quire more time, than the Society can devote to the object 

 of their association, and hence the want of a "Practical 

 Treatise, adapted to the soil and climate of the United States." 



To supply this want, at a price within the ability of all, is 

 the object contemplated by the author of the following work ; 

 and should it contribute to that result, or in any manner con- 

 duce to the happiness and prosperity of the community, the 

 author will be amply rewarded for his labor. 



