SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 71 



with the principal silk-growing countries of the world ; 

 the mulberry which furnishes food for the silkworms we 

 know will flourish here, because in very many portions 

 of our country it is of spontaneous growth, and even 

 the more valuable kinds which have of late years been 

 introduced into our country, which have been supposed 

 incapable of enduring the rigors of our Northern win- 

 ters, are found by actual experiments everything that 

 their warmest friends could desire. In the actual pro- 

 duction of silky experiments have been made in every 

 period of our colonial as well as national existence, 

 which have uniformly resulted in the production of silk 

 of as beautiful a texture and luster and as strong a 

 fiber as is produced in any country; especially have 

 experiments been made during the last few years 

 from Maine to Florida, which have triumphantly set- 

 tled the practicability of producing silk in our country. 

 There is something in the dryness and elasticity of our 

 summers which seems to adapt our country to a peculiar 

 degree to the production of silk ; we can produce it,. 

 therefore, just as certainly as we can produce corn or 

 wheat. But can we produce it to a profit ? Are not 

 the circumstances of our country such that the cost of 

 production will equal if not exceed the value of the 

 article produced ? ' Here-, it must be confessed, is the 

 consideration which must be decisive on the whole sub- 

 ject, both in an individual and national point of view. 

 Individuals will not embark in any kind of business, or 

 having embarked, will not pursue it, if found to be un- 

 profitable. Now, can the introduction of any business 



