SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 69 



was 813,273,114, In the year 1836 it rose to the enor- 

 mous sum of between $25,000,000 and $26,000,000. 

 Now the mere abstraction of such an enormous item from 

 our indebtedness would almost render us independent. 

 (This data was made for the year 1839. ED. F.) 



But should we even produce this article to twice over 

 the extent of our own wants, a ready foreign market is 

 open for all that we can produce of the raw material, at 

 most liberal prices. England alone, where lies most of 

 our indebtedness, manufactures silk probably to a great- 

 er extent than any other nation. Her manufactured silks 

 amounted last year to the enormous sum of $72,000,000. 

 What a splendid prize is this for which to contend. And 

 of the raw article she consumed nearly or quite 

 $17,000,000 worth ; and the whole of this large supply 

 must be drawn from abroad. England cannot produce 

 the raw silk ; she has made repeated attempts, but owing 

 to the humidity of her atmosphere, or to some other 

 cause, she has always failed, until she has given it up in 

 despair. She must, then, rely entirely on other nations 

 for the vast amount necessary to carry on her extensive 

 manufactures. She draws her supplies now mainly from 

 India and Italy, but would unquestionably draw it main- 

 ly from us, could we produce it, because we furnish a 

 better article than she can elsewhere procure, as she her- 

 self acknowledges. England alone would therefore fur- 

 nish a ready market at fair prices for all the raw silk 

 which we can possibly produce, even if our productions 

 should far exceed the most sanguine hopes or desires we 

 have ever dared to indulge in ; because consumption 



