9^ 



THE NEW GENESEE FARMER, 



Vol. 



N. Y. State Bounty on Silk. 



The bill to encourage the growth and manufacture 



of Silk, was passed by ibe Legislature a short time be- 

 ibie its odjourniiient. AVe believe it was slightly a- 

 mended, though not materially, but as it will be some 

 time before it will be publiehed by the Slate paper, and 

 knowing the anxiety of many of our readcia on the 

 subject, »e give it thcui this month as reported by the 

 Apsembly, and if any alterations weie made by the 

 Senate, we will mtnlion them next month. 



We first thougiit to omit all the preliminary remarks 

 of the committee, but on examination we found them 

 to contain so much important information and correct 

 reasoning, that wo felt unwilling to withhold ihcm 

 from our readers. 



IJBPOUT 



O/ihe select committee on the bill entitled " An act to 

 encuuiage the growllt and manufitcture of Silk'" 



(Commlttca to the Coiniiiittce of tlie Wliole.] 

 Mr. Ward, from the select committee to whom was 

 referred the bill " to encourage the growth and manii- 

 facLtire of fcilk," 

 REPORTS : 



That your committee have had the subject under 

 consideration, have collected many interesting facts in 

 relation thereto, and submit the same for ihe conside- 

 ration of the Houee. 



Your committee aresurprised to find how grenta field 

 is heie open and how long it has been neglected. They 

 are satisfied beyond a doubt, that we ha\e the powei 

 to produce and manufacture silk in this Slate to an im- 

 mense extent, and that no difficulty is to be encoun- 

 tered either from sod or climate. 



In their investigations upon this subject, the com- 

 mittee hardly know whether they have been most sur- 

 prised at the beneficial results which have eventually 

 accrued to those naiiona or governments where the 

 grovN'ih and manufacture of silk have been encouraged 

 and brought to a statu of comparative mnturiiy, or at 

 the inattention and apathy hitherto manifested in re- 

 gard to th:s great interest in this country, by a people 

 80 pre-eiiiiucnt for their spirit of enterprise, and une- 

 qualled in their ability and lesouicea, whether mental 

 or physical, for the adoption and the successful prose- 

 cution of .iny and every branch either of science or the 

 arts, by vi'hich their wants may be supplied, their de- 

 sires satisfied, and their independence of foreign labor 

 and foreign ingenuity bo fully achieved. 



Your committee can attribute this rclnctnnee or ne- 

 glect on the part of the American people to embrace a 

 subject of so much importance to themselves as the 

 culture and manufacture of silk — an article which for 

 years has ceased to be considered a luxury, and be- 

 come one of daily and almost indispensnble necessity 

 — only to an Ignorance which prevails of the great and 

 increasing amount which their wants deinnnJ, the hea 

 vy tribute which they annually pay to foreign industry 

 and foreign skill, and their want of acoireci an i gene 

 ral knowledge of the adaptation of the soil and climate 

 to the growth, and our aliility to manufacture silk, 

 equal, if not superior, to that of any other nation 

 the globe. 



According to the report of the Secretary of the 

 Treasury, the value of silk imported into iho United 

 States ill 183.3, amounted to $J,498,366; but had in 

 creased in 1838 to the enormous sum of .1122,980,212 

 while all our exports, except tobacco and cotton, 

 amount to only about $10,001.), 000 annually. 



The nations of Europe and Asia, are generally en 

 gaged in the culture and manufacture of silk; and 

 your committee are of opinion that, in order to a full 

 understanding of the subject, a brief history of the rise, 

 proirrcsa and final success of the culture of silk in those 

 c~.u:urie9, should be giVi;r( at th a time. 



The fii"st knowledge that we have of the cultivation 

 of the Silk worm, and the manufacture of silk, wa; 

 among the inhabitants of Serica, the northern pottot 

 China, from whence it derived its name. 



More than 2,000 years before the Christian era, an 

 Empress of China, desiroue of rendering silk worms 

 more extensively useful, collected them from the mul 

 berry trees, and introduced them to the Imperial apart 

 ments. Thus sheltered and thus protected, they yield- 

 ed silk superior in quality to that produced in the lor- 

 e;l9. She also taught in what manner to manufacture 

 silk from the coeoon. This employment, allhough at 

 firjl confined to ladies of the highest rank, gradually 

 bieanie General ainonj all ranks in China, 



As the manulacturc increased, it became an article 

 of exportation to neighboring counir.es, and finally 

 became the great and inexhaustible source oi wealth to 

 China. 



From China, it was exported to India, to Persia, to 

 Arabi'i. and indeed to the whole of Asia. The expe- 

 diiion of /Mexnuder to Persia and India, first introdu- 

 ced the knowledge of silk to the Grecians, 3.')0 years 

 ...fore the Christian era. As in China, so also in 

 Greece, ladies of the greatest distinction attended to 

 the rearing of silk worms at their introduction there. 

 I'\)r upwards of four centuiies, the cultivation of silk 

 was confined to the countries of Greece. Sicily and 

 Naplea were ignorant of the art, and its introduction 

 into the rest of Italy was extremely slow. 



At Rome, 030 years after the introduction of silk 

 into Italy, a silk attire of purple, was accounted by an 

 emperor, as a luxury too expensive for an empress; 

 its \alue being equal to that of gold, by weight. But 

 so extensive is its culture at the present day through- 

 out Italy, that two-thirds of their whole exports to all 

 countries consists of silk. 



Its first introduction into France was in 1494. But 

 t is less than 240 years since its final and succepsfiil 

 ntroduction into that country by Henry IV. Tbai 

 jovernment has continued its lostenng care, until silk 

 and its manufacture has become the most productive 

 source of the weuhh of France. 



In all countries the culture of silk has engaged the 

 [larticular attention of governments, and every encou- 

 rngcment has been given to increase its cultuie, and 

 with success. Yet in our own country, so highly fa- 

 vored in all respects by nature, the successful intro- 

 duction ol the silk culture, is mainly due to individu- 

 al enterijrise. Until recently, individuals have strug- 

 gled single handed and alone in the cultivation of this 

 article. 



On a careful examination of the subject, your com 

 miitee are of the opinion that the period has fully ar- 

 rived, when the policy of the State of New York 

 should be directed towards encouraging, by every con- 

 siderati'in, the growth and manufacture of this valua- 

 ble product within our own territory. 



A number of our sister slates have thought it advi- 

 sable to encourage the culture of silk, by legislative 

 bounty for a limited period; and why should the Em- 

 pire State be behind her sister Slates, in encouraging 

 and fostering the benevolent enterprises of the day. 



A State houniy of fiftefen cents per pound on co- 

 coons, and fifty cents per pound for reeled silk, contin- 

 ued for a few years, will induce farmers to engage ex- 

 tensively in the culture, and when once fairly estab- 

 lished, we have no fears for the result. 'Ihe State 

 may then venture to leave the silk culture to rise on 

 its own merits. 



It is an employment in which all may engage. The 

 rich, with honor and profit to himself and to his fami- 

 ly: and the poor man can by its successful cultivation, 

 place himseli and family beyond the reoch of poverty 

 and want. 



Silk can be raised to a much greater profit than 

 wool, because three pounds of silk can be produced 

 from the same land that would produce but one pound 

 of wool, and the raw silk will sell for eighteen dollars, 

 while the wool will sell but for fifty cents. The la- 

 bor of raising silk is performed in six weeks, and may 

 be performed by children or feeble persons, whose 

 services would be worth but very little for any other 

 liuruose, while the labor of taking care of sheep and 

 providing them with food lasts oil the year; and a man 

 with but little land, who has a family, can keep them 

 employed at home, without the risk of sending them 

 abroad for employment. 



The cultivation of silk is an object more congenial 

 with the domestic habits of the loiniing population, 

 than almost any other of our household employments. 

 And nothing can be said ogainst the successful culti- 

 vniion and manufacture of silk, but what was with 

 equal propriety urged ogainst the roising of cotton on 

 its introduction into this country as an experiment, 

 yet its success has been completi — triumjihant. 



Coiton was first raised in this country as an experi- 

 ment in 1738, and allhough but fifty-three years have 

 elapsed since its first introduction, we now manufac- 

 ture annually from 45 to $50,000,000 in value of cot- 

 ton goods, and export of raw cotton more than $60,- 

 000.000 in value annually. Such is the eflect, and 

 such the result, of well directed and properly protected 

 domestic industry. Our success in the growth and 

 mansifacture of cotton encourages ihe belief that simi | 

 lar success will attend the growth and nianufacturro' 

 silk. 



The history of the past may be the history " 'he | 

 future. And we trust the time is not fardistai'."'"^" 

 we shall sesour wives aod dau^hi»rs arrnye- '" ''"^ ' 



of their own manufacture; when, instead of payi; 

 foreign nations Si20,'M)0,000 annually for ihis ortg 

 we shall export and tcccive back some ol the mfl 

 millions we have paid to others for this otliclfri 

 luxury. „ 



Enteriaining these views, your committee have e j.uj 



amined the bill referred to them, and report the tab 

 with amendments. 



AN ACT 



TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH AND MAN ITACTLRB 

 OF SILK 



[As reported amended by the select cvmviittee.'j 

 The jicojitc of the Stale of Nov York, represent 

 in Senate and Asscntblij, do enact as foliates : 



Section 1. To any person or persons residing 

 this Slate, who shall present for examination, to a ^mt 

 .latice of the peace oi the city or town wherein tu ^^^ 

 erson or persons reside, ii pound or more of good d ' 



If" 



^■■^' 

 ill «« 



Jllliii 



litil! 



tii 



silk cocoons, or a pound or more of good, well 

 silk, and shall, by his, her or their outh or allirmaiic 

 or by the oath or aflirmation, of some other credil 

 person, prove to the satisfaction of such justice tl 

 the cocoons presented, were raised in the city or to\ 

 where such justice resides, or that the silk was rei 

 ed in such city or town, and frtni cocoons raised 

 this State. The said justice having examined a 

 caused the same to be weighed, shall give his offic 

 certificate specifying the number of pounds ot cccoo 

 or silk presented, the time when, and the place wht 

 the same was raised or reeled, and the names ot t 

 person or persons by whom the same was raised 

 reeled, together with the name ot the person by wuc 

 oath or affirmation the facts have been verified. A 

 on the presonta ion of any such certificate to i 

 board of supervisors of the same county, ihey navi 

 examined and found the same to be dufy given, th 

 audit and allow said certificate, and cause their a 

 ance to be endorsed upon the same, requiring i 

 treasurer of said county to pay to the bearer tbereo 

 premium of i:ifteen cents for every pound of cocooi 

 ond fifty cents for every pound of reeled silk specifi 

 in said certificate. 



§ 2. It shall be the duty of each comity treasurer 

 whom such c. rtificates thus audited and allowed 

 be presented, to enter in a book kept by him for tl 

 purpose, the date ot said certificates, the number 

 pounds of cocoons or reehd silk named therein, ai 

 the names of such person or persons for w hose ben*. 

 the same were giv n, and to endorse upon said cert: 

 cates his occeptance thereof, and the lime when pi 

 sent' d to him, and return the same to the bearer the 

 of, to be presented for payment as b< teinafierdirecti 

 ^ 3. On or before ihe fiiat day of Way, in each a 

 every year, the several county treasureis of this Sia 

 to whom shall have been presented for acceplancc a 

 such certificate or certificaits as are specified in i 

 preceding secii'ins of this aci, shall cause to be inn 

 anabstiact or abstracts of eU such certificates so p, 

 seined and accepted ; stating the number of pounds ,. 

 cocoons or reeled silk, and the amount of prcmu ' 

 due therefor, and shall transmit the same to the Con , 

 tioller of this State, who shall by bis warrant, auihi 

 ize and direct the Treasurer of the Stale to pay to i 

 county treasurers the several amounts specified in i 

 abstracts I y ihem transmitted. And the said cocr 

 treasurer shall thereupon proceed to pay the prcm.iui 

 due upon the certifici.ics by them respecti ve'y occcj 

 ed, as the same shall be presented for payment. 



^ 4 False swearing or affirming undo-- tbisact shi 

 he deemed perjury ; and any fraud practiced under t 

 same shall be a misdemeanor, and b' severally punis 

 ed as such. 



^ 5. A justice of the peace elall be entitled to r 

 ceive, for every certificate giv-n by him, by virtue i 

 this act, the sum of twenty- f>'e cents, to be paid by tl 

 person receiving the cerii'cate. 



5 5. This act shall (onlinue in force until the fir 

 day of June, in the y'<T eighteen hundred and fort; 

 six, and no longer. 



Liebis'' .4gricuUural Chemistry. 



We obser"^ '!"" "" American edition of this wor 

 has just i?''ied from the press, ond such of our readei 

 as arc iiierested in ogricultural science, will be richi 

 iep"d for its perusal. 



The high character of the work moy be infcrrc 

 from the tact, that it was prepared by Prof. Liebig f 

 the special request of the British Association for tb 

 advancement of Science; and theability with which th 

 task was ,)crformed is evident from the extracts w 

 hare seen ' 



