ON MANUFACTURED SILK. 117 



ON MANUFACTURED SILK. 



The Committee on Manufactured Silk Report : 



That but one specimen of manufactured silk was sub- 

 mitted to their inspection. This consisted of one pound 

 and two ounces of sewing silk, dyed with different col- 

 ors. They have no hesitation in pronouncing this spec- 

 imen as unusually fine; and in this opinion they are 

 happy to have the support of numerous ladies, who of 

 course, are much more comipetent than the committee 

 to decide upon the merits of such articles. 



It was matter of surprise to the committee to find no 

 competition in the subject entrusted to their care. They 

 had supposed that, what with the State bounties and 

 the premiums offered by this Society, sufficient induce- 

 ment was held out to engage in the silk business. The 

 principal claimants for the State bounties (amounting 

 last year to nearly $5000), have come from the central 

 counties of the Commonv^^ealth, and it may be that so 

 few in our own county have entered on this new branch 

 of industry because they prefer to wait awhile, and see 

 the results of the labors of others, before embarking 

 largely themselves in it. If the statements of those 

 most deeply interested in the culture of silk are to be re- 

 lied on, there can be little doubt of its being a profita- 

 ble pursuit. Some of the committee have made experi- 

 ments on this subject, and are fully satisfied of the cor- 

 rectness of those statements. At the present time, 

 when almost all kinds of agricultural produce are so low, 

 is it not for the interest of the Essex farmers to begin to 

 make experiments in order to test the question for them- 

 selves, whether here is not a new branch of industry 

 open to their pursuit. 



In conclusion, the committee unanimously recom- 

 mend that the first premium of ^^10, CO be awarded to 

 Priscilla P. Atwood, of Bradford, for the specimen of 

 silk exhibited by her. 



For the Committee, 



ALLEN W. DODGE. 



