290 
THE SILK INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED 
STATES. 
Silk-manufacture in the United States. Compiled by 
Witiiam C. Wyckorr, special agent of the 
tenth census. 
Unper the above title, Mr. W. C. Wyckoff 
has published a volume containing his report 
as special agent of the census of 1880, the 
tenth annual report of the Silk association of 
America, and a directory of silk-manufacturers. 
The first of these reports is reprinted on ac- 
count of the very small edition of the bulletin 
issued by the census office, and deserves more 
notice than it has received, on account of its 
admirable historical account of the numerous 
attempts at silk-culture in this country, and of 
the rise of silk-manufacture. The interest in 
silk-culture has steadily grown of late years, 
while the interest in silk-manufacture was 
scarcely more marked during the early strug- 
gles to establish the industry than at this pres- 
ent time of tariff-reform agitation. 
In the work before us, the first introduction 
of silk-culture into America is traced back to 
the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Mulberry- 
trees were planted near the city of Mexico by 
order of Cortes shortly after 1522 ; and in 1531 
a quarter of an ounce of eggs was sent on pub- 
lic account from Spain to Francisco de Santa 
Cruz, a citizen of Mexico. The eggs were 
reared by Auditor Diego Delgadillo with the 
best of success, and two ounces were returned by 
him to Francisco. He was accused, however, 
of selling the remainder of the eggs, which were 
the property of the crown, to others for sixty 
dollars an ounce, was tried and convicted. 
This carries the beginning of silk-culture in 
America nearly a century back of previous rec- 
ords. The industry flourished for a while in 
Mexico, supplying the demands of the people, 
and even giving rise to a certain amount of ex- 
port to Peru; but, by the end of the sixteenth 
century, few traces of its existence were left. 
Early in the seventeenth century James I. 
of England, jealous of the growing prosperity 
of silk-culture in France, resolved upon its in- 
troduction into England and the American 
colonies. In 1619, after one disastrous at- 
tempt had been made ten years previous, eggs 
were received in Virginia from the Royal gar- 
dens at Oatland ; and the settlers were enjoined, 
by promises of aid for diligence, and threats of 
punishment for negligence, to undertake the 
culture of the worms. Meanwhile the cultiva- 
tion of tobacco was discouraged in every pos- 
sible way. Nevertheless, the success of the 
silk-industry was but slight. Some silk was 
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SCIENCE. 
[Vor. IIL, No. 5%. 
grown, as it was quoted among the market- 
prices of commodities grown in Virginia at that 
time ; but, in spite of all encouragement, the 
industry did not flourish. Calculations were 
made whereby it was shown that the labor of 
slaves employed in growing silk would produce 
about twice as much value as in planting sugar 
and tobacco; and one writer even advised the 
sending of all the paupers and small criminals 
of the old country to the colonies to engage in 
the culture. 
In South Carolina but little more was done ; and 
in the twenty-five years of greatest production 
— between 1731 and 1755 — only 251 pounds 
were exported. Georgia did somewhat better. 
In 1735 a plot of ground near Savannah was 
planted with mulberries and vines at the pub- ~ 
lic expense. In 1744 a filature was built and 
bounties were offered, and from 1750 to 1772 
considerable amounts of silk were exported. 
Then came the war of the revolution, and men- 
tion of silk-culture for a time ceases. 
Mr. Wyckoff then traces the early attempts 
to introduce the culture into New England. 
In each case the culture is traced from its rise 
in any particular colony to its extinction, and 
the various causes for failure are discussed. 
Some new facts are added to this portion of 
the work; but in the main it substantially 
coincides with other accounts, notably with 
Dr. Brockett’s ‘Silk-industry in America’ 
(1876), — a not surprising fact, since both au- 
thors relied upon the same library. Neverthe- 
less, this portion of the work, covering the most 
interesting periods in the history of the indus- 
try in America, is thoroughly concise, and 
full of valuable suggestions. The growth of 
the industry is followed, and shown to have 
been steady after the revolution, with no en- 
couragement in the way of premiums or boun- 
ties. Connecticut became the chief seat of 
production, and the silk was consumed mainly 
in the manufacture of sewing-silk. This part 
of the history — during the close of the last 
and the beginning of the present century — 
shows pretty plainly, that, without interference 
or discriminating legislation, silk-culture and 
silk-manufacture would develop co-ordinately. 
During the third and fourth decades of the 
present century the general interest in the sub- 
ject increased; and the encouragement given 
by the various states and by Congress, until 
the Morus multicaulis furore undid them all in 
1839, transcended any similar efforts since 
made. In 1826 we find that three-fourths of 
the families in Mansfield were engaged in rais- 
ing silk, and made annually, per family, from 
five to fifty pounds, or even a hundred pounds, 
