1840.] SENATE— No. 36. 133 



join to this report a table most ingeniously drawn up, in which 

 every step in the process is minutely and clearly detailed. 

 Tliis, in my opinion, Avill be almost invaluable to the cultiva- 

 tor of silk, as condensing in a small compass, the most impor- 

 tant and useful information.* 



The Messrs. Cheney, of Burlington, New Jersey, have ex- 

 perimented upon this artificial process, the last year, with suc- 

 cess. The worms completed their winding in twenty-four 

 days ; and they have strong hopes to reduce the time required 

 to twenty-two days. It is stated that, in proportion to the 

 shortness of the time occupied in conducting the worm to ma- 

 turity through the various stages, by incessant care, and the 

 most liberal feeding, the quantity of silk is increased and its 

 quality improved.f 



In the German pamphlet to which I have referred, it is 

 stated that " by this mode of management, M. Beauvais has 

 obtained from every half ounce of eggs, sixty-eight pounds of 

 cocoons, whilst, in the south of France, they commonly ob- 

 tained only twenty-five pounds, and in the north of Germany, 

 with proper care, from forty to forty-five pounds." By this 

 method, they can bring four generations of silk worms to spin 

 in one year, and so have four silk harvests. 



These are certainly great points to be attained. Such re- 

 finements in the cultivation, and so much pains-taking, may, 

 by some, be regarded as discouraging ; but they involve no 

 mystery, and the extraordinary advantages to be obtained 

 promise an ample compensation for much expense and labor. 

 How far they may be suited to what may be strictly called 

 household arrangements, or where the silk culture is pursued 

 altogether as an incidental or subsidiary branch of husbandry, 

 is a matter of easy calculation, and which any one may deter- 

 mine for himself 



XII. Provision for Winding Cocoons. — For the use of the 

 worms in the winding of their cocoons, various arrangements 

 have been made. In some cases, strips of lathes raised upon 



* Appendix T. f Appendix U. 



