130 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [March, 



former in the weight of leaves included the weight of small 

 branches or twigs, which were collected with the leaves, 



I have, however, two testimonies, which rest upon exact 

 measurement. Mr. McLean says, that the Avhole number of 

 worms fed upon his quarter of an acre was 40,000. The 

 weight of leaves consumed, 2,576 lbs. Amount of cocoons 

 produced, 130 lbs., weighed just as taken from the shelves, 

 without sorting or flossing. After they were sorted and flossed 

 there was 1 lb. of floss and 4 lbs. defective cocoons, leaving 

 126 lbs. of cocoons. These produced 12 lbs. of merchantable 

 reeled silk, 16 oz. to the lb., and 1 lb. wastage, ends, &c. 

 From the above statement it will be seen, that it required be- 

 tween 19 and 20 lbs. of leaves to make 1 lb. of cocoons. Of 

 these cocoons, without flossing or sorting, it required 10 lbs. 

 and 10 oz. to make 1 lb. of reeled silk. After they were floss- 

 ed and sorted, it required 10 lbs. and 5 oz., or about 214 to 215 

 lbs. of leaves, to make 1 lb. of reeled silk. These were the 

 leaves of the Perottet mulberry. After making various allow- 

 ances for waste leaves, Mr. McLean thinks it may require 190 

 lbs. of leaves to make 1 lb. of silk. The first statement is the 

 result of an actual trial ; the latter is matter of opinion. 



Mr. Shepard, of Northampton, in an experiment made by 

 himself, the last summer, found that it required 240 lbs. leaves 

 and twigs of the Alpine and white mulberry to 1 lb. of silk. 

 He adds, that had all the leaves been free from stem and rust, 

 probably 200 lbs. would have been an ample supply for a pound 

 of silk. These are the statements of a gentleman of perfect 

 credibility, and the result of exact experiment. They are to 

 be disproved only by more full, more exact, and repeated 

 trials. 



To his account Mr. McLean adds ; " last year I produced at 

 the rate of 510 lbs. of cocoons to the acre ; this year I produc- 

 ed at the rate of 520 lbs. ; and my deliberate opinion is, that 

 more will fall below this standard than will exceed it ; and in 

 one case, where a less quantity of leaves will give the above 

 quantity of silk, two cases will occur that will require a greater." 



