218 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



DEC. as, 1S39. 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



Boston, Wednesday, December 2S, 1839. 



SILK CONVENTION AT WASHINGTON, D. C. 



The cultivalors and producers of silk, and all personi 

 interested in the production of »ilk in our country, wore 

 invited by circulars from the National Silk Society, to 

 attend a convention in VV-Tshington, the peat of gorern- 

 ment, on the 11th day of December, this current year, 

 with a view to consult on this great subject of national 

 interest, to collect and combine whatever practical in- 

 formation could be obtained in the case, and to devise 

 means of diffusing and extending this information 

 throughout the whole country. 



The convention met accordingly in respectable num. 

 hers; and it was found on calling the roll that, besides 

 the District of Columbia, fourteen Slates were represent- 

 ed. The convention united with the American Silk So- 

 ciety and proceeded with great spirit in the business of 

 their meeting. 



The American Silk Society had proffered several pre- 

 miums, amounting in the whole to five hundred and fif- 

 ty dollars, to be awarded to the person who should pro- 

 duce the largest amount of reeled silk — to the person 

 who should produce the largest amoant upon one quar- 

 ter of an acre — lo the person who should produce the 

 best specimen of silk cloth — to the person who should 

 produce the best pound of manufactured sewing silk, 

 and some other objects ; for all which claimants appear- 

 ed ; and when the awards are known, we shall announce 

 them. 



The specimens of raw and manufactured silk, both 

 cloths and sewings, were of the most beautiful descrip- 

 tion ; not surpassed by any everimported into the coun- 

 try. They demonetialed to the perfect conviction of 

 every observer, tliat it may he done, and that there is 

 nothing in our soil, climate, natural or political condi- 

 tion, to prevent our producing the article in perfection, 

 and to an amount sufficient not only to supply our own 

 domestic wants, but to make it a prominent and profita- 

 ble article of export. 



On the evening of tho twelfth, many valuable details 

 drawn from actual experiment, were given ; and a high- 

 ly intelligent and respectable gentleman from New Jer- 

 sey, the Rev. D. V. JVIcLean, went into a full account 

 of an experiment ho himself had made the last year, 

 with a view of ascertaining, with all the exactness that 

 he could apply, what amount of silk could be produced 

 upon an acre, and at what expense (if time and labor. 

 The experiment was conducted with such minute accu- 

 racy and fidelity as to leave no doubt oft similar result 

 under similar circumstances in any other case. The re- 

 sult was not so extraordinary or extravagant as many 

 persons liave indulged themselves in believing that it 

 would be ; hut it was sufficient to establish the great 

 point, that no agricultural productioi! whatever, capable 

 of being raised in any part of the country, would yield 

 a more ample rcinuncrntion for the labor and capital re- 

 quired. The cost of producing the silk, we learnt, in a 

 reeled slate, would not exceed at the current prices of la- 

 bor in Freehold, N. J., about seventy miles from New 

 York and twenty miles from the line of the railroad to 

 Philadelphia, two dollars and twentyfive cents per lb. ; 

 and at the present prices of the raw article, six dollars 

 per pound, it would leave a profit per aero of one hun- 

 dred and eighty dollars ; or at four dollars and a half per 

 pound, a profit of one iiundrcd and eight dollars. In 

 this calculation of expense, however, as we understood, 



are to be included only the cost of labor employed; and 

 no charge is made for trees, expense of cocoonery, or 

 rent of land. These every one must estimate for him- 

 self 



The amount in this case produced from one quarter of 

 an acre was twelve pounds, making no allowance for 

 many worms that were destroyed by falling from the 

 shelves of the cocoonery, and for waste silk, which, it 

 was thought, might have swelled the amount one pound, 

 or have made it equal to fiftytwo pounds per acre. It 

 was determined by Mr IMcLean, and very much to his 

 honor, to make none but the most exact statements — 

 statements on which the public might confidently rely — 

 not warped by conjecture nor exaggerated through van- 

 ity or selfishness. The trees used in this experiment 

 were the Morns Multicaulis ; and they were planted in 

 the form of roots, cuttings, and buds, in the month of 

 April ; and the feeding of the worms and reeling of the 

 silk occupied three hands about twelve weeks. We 

 state these points as well as we can from recollection. 

 The report of the experiment in full is given in the last 

 number nf the Journal of the Amr^rican Silk Society, and 

 will be transferred entire to our columns. We know, as 

 well from the manner in which it is drawn up as from 

 the important results which it discloses, that it will be 

 perused with the highest interest, and by every friend 

 to domestic industry, with an equal gratification. 



The experiments of Mr Aaron Clapp, of Hartford, Ct. 

 who likewise exhibited a magnificent sample of raw and 

 manufactured silk, lead to the same results as to the 

 cost of production. So do those of Mr Timothy Smith, 

 of Amherst, Mass., who was likewise present with as 

 beautiful samples of raw and manufactured sewing silk, 

 done up in the neatest manner. Mr Smith is well known 

 among us aa an experienced hand ; and a snccessful 

 competitor for premium^, having already had, wo be- 

 lieve, several silk tassels and ribbons tied round his neck 

 by the Hampshire Agricultural Society. We wish he 

 may go on. while he is thus benefiting his fellow citi- 

 zens and the country, with an equal and increased suc- 

 cess, until he gels premiums enough to clothe him, if he 

 chooses to wear it, in silken and flowing robes as bril- 

 liant and mannificent as those worn by the sovereign of 

 the Celestial Jbrnpire or the Grand Seignior of Persia. 

 Mr Smith has slated again and again, that the bounty 

 offered by the State of Massachusetts, amounting on 

 silk manufactured into sewings to two dollars on every 

 pound produced, is, according to his experience, more 

 than sufficient to pay the cost of production. 



The Society held repeated sessions until the evening 

 of the twelfth, when a great meeting was held in the 

 Representatives' chamber at the Capitol, where the silk 

 productions were exhibited, and presented a spectacle 

 which quickened most powerfully the circulations in 

 every ]jatriotic heait, and kindled brilliant and surpris- 

 ing, but we believe not delusive visions of tho future, in 

 the minds of all who feel a strong interest in the grow- 

 ing prosperity of the country. 



The notice of the meeting was imperfect, owing to 

 the lateness of the hour when it was ascertained the hall 

 could be obtained ; but the attendance was full. The 

 attendance of ladies added much to the interest of the 

 occasion; and the rustling of their dresses and the gay 

 brilliancy of their ribbons, showed by what right they 

 took an interest in the productions of these humble op- 

 eratives, whose cast-off garments constituted some of 

 the brightest adornments of regal pride and glory. The 

 interest felt in the occasion was strong, and we are sat- 

 isfied gathered a stronger impulse than it ever had before 

 in the encouragement and progress of this great patriotic, 

 and, when all its extended influences upon the humbler 

 classes of the community to whom it will giv^^ almost 



without any capital but health and hands, the means < 

 comfortable support, are considered, we may say n( 

 only political, but moral enterprise. 



After resolutions prepared by the Executive Coramii 

 tee were introduced, affirming the practicableness an 

 the profit of the silk culture, and the importance of th 

 production as asource of national wealth, it was assigt 

 ed to the Rev. Mr McLean, above named, to open th 

 discussion. He occupied the undivided attention of th 

 meeting in a speech of about one hour and a half, of.rt 

 inarkable ability and power. Of this speech we sha 

 furnish a sketch in a future number; and indulge th 

 hope that we may presently have it in extenso from th 

 author himself, in the pages of the Silk Journal, the S( 

 cirty having requested a copy. He was followed b 

 other gentlemen, who took different views of this tut 

 ject, and showed its varieus bearings upon morals, an 

 domestic comfort and competence. 



The meeting was then adjourned to Friday morninj 

 when it is understood the premiums will be awardei 

 and the proposals for future competition announced. 



The House of Representatives had not yet been on 

 ganized. It had been in the course of the day a scene ( 

 excessive turbulence and violent and angry coilisiom 

 It was with the deepest and most painful anxiety forth 

 honor of the country and the permanence of its free ir 

 stiiuiions, that we witnessed these excitements, approacl 

 ing at times a point of explosion which threatened cor 

 sequences whose limit no sagacity could foresee, an 

 which foreboded nothing but unmingled evil. Ma 

 Heaven save the country from these horrible results! 

 parly strife. — It was, therefore, doubly refreshing to r< 

 tiro from scenes of turbulence so «nworthy and alarminj 

 to an assembly in the same hall, moving on in undii 

 turbed harmony and good will, and with a common an 

 single purpose, to advancement of objects of domesti 

 conr^petence and comfort and of national wealth an 

 prosperity. H. C. 



Dec. 13, 1839. 



DILLINGHAM POTATOES. 



We have been favored by John Benson, Esq. with 

 ample of these potatoes, and can recommend them a 

 most excellent. They are highly farinaceous and o 

 agreeable flavor. He has them for sale at his store 

 head of Market wharf, and those who are particular ii 

 their preferences in regard to a vegetable ofsuch univer 

 sal use and indispensable necessity, will not be disap 

 pointed in buying these. 



It ii hardly practicable to raise potatoes of the bes 

 quality in oar old and highly manured soils, and subjec 

 as we are to severe droughts. Potatoes in order to be firs 

 rate in quality, require a virgin soil, a deep rich mould 

 and a moist cool climate. These Dillingham potatoei 

 come, we believe, from Nova Scotia, or a remote part o 

 Maine, where both the soil and the clinate are favora- 

 ble. 



A limestone soil is likewise particularly congenial tc 

 the growth and quality of potatoes; and instances of the 

 result are so numerous within our knowledge, we arc 

 satisfied that tlieie are few cases in which the quality ot 

 potatoes would fail to hu greatly benefited by the appli- 

 catioB of half a gill of gypsum placed on the seed in the 

 hill at the time of planting. 



Messrs Breck & Co. have likewise imported for sals, 

 both this season and the last, potatoes from Eastport, Me. 

 called the White Blue Noses, which in point of quality, 

 in our opinion cannot be exceeded. H. C. 



Ij'A notice of Mr Child's "Treatise on the Culture 

 of the Beet and Manufacture of Beet Sugar," now in the 

 press, will be given in our next. 



