164 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. [March, 



be withdrawn from them and applied to the exchisive produc- 

 tion and manufacture of silk ? Not without taking it from 

 more important objects ; and not without consenting to much 

 lower prices for labor than we now receive. 



But may not the production of raw silk be made profitable 

 among us ? I think it may. I recommend its introduction and 

 culture ; and I will show under what circumstances it may be 

 pursued to advantage. But let me first premise that I have no 

 confidence in any such enormous products and profits as have 

 been predicted. 1 believe, under some circumstances, it will 

 pay not only a fair, but a liberal compensation for labor. With 

 this, we ought to be satisfied. I believe that more than fifty 

 pounds of silk to an acre, can be produced, but I shall assume this 

 amount as a safe basis of calculation, because this has actually 

 been accomplished. I will suppose, likewise, in the calcula- 

 tion, that by the increased product of silk, a price is obtained 

 for it barely sufficient to cover the expenses of production. It 

 is often asked, whether, if we should go to producing raw silk, 

 we should be able to find a market for it ? This cannot be 

 doubted, provided we are willing to sell as cheaply as other 

 producers. The raw silk produced among us is universally 

 admitted to be of a superior quality. We shall go into the 

 market of the world, then, with this advantage ; but we must 

 come in competition with other growers of silk ; and take such 

 a price as the market offers. What this may be there are no 

 means of determining. The demand for raw silk is not unlim- 

 ited, but the use of the article is gradually increasing ; and in 

 proportion to its increased production and consequent cheap- 

 ness, the demand may be expected farther to increase. It has 

 one advantage, which is not to be overlooked. It is an imper- 

 ishable article ; and the sale of it, other circumstances being 

 favorable, may always be discretionary ; and it may be kept 

 without other loss than that of interest on the cost for a good 

 price. 



XXTV. Production of Silk in Massachusetts. — Under 

 what circumstances, then, may the silk culture be urged upon 



