50 ON MULBERRY TREES AND SILK. 



by numerous experiments promulgated by men of 

 undoubted authority, and among them the Rev. D. 

 V. McLean, of Newhold, New Jersey, who raised 

 twelve pounds of reeled silk on one quarter of an 

 acre in 1839, planted with morus multicaulis trees. 

 Although all my own experiments on a smaller 

 scale seem to come to about the same result, yet 

 I much doubt if a proportionate result can be real- 

 ized on a larger scale. But this remains yet to be 

 proved. 



With regard to the cost of production, Mr. Mc- 

 Lean observes, that from his experience, he is satis- 

 fied that silk can be produced at $2 25 per pound, 

 and is inclined to the belief that it may be produced 

 at f2. Now, as to this, if the farmer was to charge 

 each ordinary crop raised on his farm with every 

 item of expense, board of workmen, rent of land, 

 manure, &c., at the price usually paid, he would 

 find the cost more than the value of the produce. 

 But if silk now worth five dollars per pound can be 

 produced for two dollars and twenty five cents, here 

 is a net profit of two dollars and seventy five cents 

 per pound, or one hundred and thirty seven dollars 

 and fifty cents per acre, if fifty pound to the acre is 

 raised. But it was not my intention to go into any 

 minute estimate of the profits of the silk culture; my 

 own experience in the production and reeling the 

 silk exhibited to the committee warrants me in the 

 belief, that the estimates above referred to, are main- 

 ly correct, and within bounds. I would only state, 

 that in the production and manufacturing silk stock- 

 ing-yarn from floss and perforated cocoons, a sample 

 of which is exhibited, that I accord with the state- 

 ment of a quaker lady of York, Pennsylvania, lately 

 made, that the whole expense of raising and manu- 

 facturing a certain number of knots or cuts of such 

 yarn, would be, not more than one quarter the ex- 

 pense of raising and manufacturing an equal number 

 of cuts of flax-thread. 



I hope, gentlemen, before the conclusion of anoth- 



