27* 
Report of the Am. Institute on Raw and Manufactured Silk. 
cheap rate at which they can he furnished, is another 
and not a small recommendation of this invention of 
Mr. M. The cost of the cast iron is about one quarter 
of the marble vase. t 
The two last mentioned articles, as well as several 
others under the control of this committee, have made 
their appearance in consequence of a call from the 
American Institute, which, like Aladdin’s lamp, is des¬ 
tined, ere long, to bring into general use, articles which, 
at present, would be deemed extravagant even as lux¬ 
uries. 
A beautiful bouquet of flowers , painted in water colors 
by Miss Hannah Collins. The drawing and coloring 
of this is exquisite; and the grouping of the flowers 
altogether exhibits a fine eye for a proper contrast in 
colors, and charming taste. It is wonderfully true to 
nature, from which it is drawn. 
A Primrose plant and flowers , by the same, correctly 
drawn and most delicately colored from nature. 
A fruit piece , in water colors, by the same delicate 
pencil—a large rare-ripe peach and a Bon Critian pear, 
both most admirably executed, true to nature in color 
and form. 
Another fruit piece —Large red cheek peach and 
sprig of ox-heart cherries, by the same, deserving great 
praise. 
A fruit piece by E. Whitfield.—-This is admirably 
executed. The coloring and grouping very fine. 
Another water color piece , by the same. This ap¬ 
pears to have been executed with much less care, the 
colors are too glaring, and the shading in many parts 
not good. The bunch of grapes in particular, strike 
us as defective. 
Nine small paintings of fruit , flowers , and shells, by 
the same, exhibit the hand of a master. They are 
beautifully executed, particularly the centre one repre¬ 
senting two pinks, one beautiful blossom color, and 
the other a white; for a small painting we consider 
the tints and execution of this equal to anything pre¬ 
sented. 
The shell pieces of this group attracted the attention 
of the-committee, the exquisite skill displayed by the 
artist in arranging the whole, so as to resemble a beau¬ 
tiful floral painting. 
Two water color drawings from nature, by Mrs. Eliza 
J. Burr, are most admirable. 
Alexander Walsh, } 
Walter Chisholm, > Committee. 
John Priestley, ) 
Silk, raw and manufactured. —The committee were 
much gratified to observe a greatly increased num¬ 
ber of specimens, including those which were pre¬ 
sented for competition, as well as objects of curiosity, 
exhibiting the ingenuity of the producers. Am ong 
the former are many articles well wrought, displaying 
great skill, and evincing ability on our part, with 
more experience, ultimately to compete with any part 
of the world. Even now our cocoons and raw silk, 
and some of the manufactures of the article, might 
easily be mistaken for those of Italy, with its centuries 
of experience in the silk culture. From this addition 
to the exhibition over former years, the committee are 
pleased to infer that the practical silk culture did not 
expire with the speculation in Mulberry trees. That 
mania which was predicted by the opponents of the 
silk business in this country, as fraught with sreat evils, 
has not been without its benefits; instead of filling our 
fields with useless roots, which the plough could not 
eradicate, a valuable shrub has been introduced, ac¬ 
climated, and diffused into the remotest corner of our 
land, which in its results, will realize to us the fable of 
the Golden fleece—produce as great a revolution in the 
agricultural products of our country as the introduction 
of the cotton plant, and probably in as short a period, 
will the article of raw silk form an important item in 
the exports of this country to Europe. With this firm 
belief, the committee beg leave again to call the atten¬ 
tion of the Institute and through them to recommend 
silk growers to use great care in the selection of cocoons 
for seed. They again repeat that no cocoon has been 
brought to their knowledge which exceeds the Peanut 
variety. Of that variety the worm is hardy, feeds well, 
comes early to maturity and produces a large amount of 
silk of a very desirable quality, and in respect to reel¬ 
ing, has a decided preference to any other cocoon 
which the committee have examined. Some fine speci¬ 
mens are exhibited at the fair, but the committee do not 
advise that any other notice be taken of them, than to 
call the attention of silk growers to the Peanut variety 
and recommend them to raise no others. They would 
also caution silk growers against crossing this kind 
with any other variety, as the effect is to produce a less 
valuable kind, and the interest of the silk growers is to 
improve the breed instead of introducing new and in¬ 
ferior varieties. Even the Peanut silk worm may be 
improved by selection and care, and it is hoped all who 
are interested will take every precaution to prevent de¬ 
terioration. 
A very little care is necessary to produce a great 
crop of silk, and as it has been demonstrated repeatedly 
that silk can be made in this country with hired labor 
and at the price of American labor, (proverbially high ! 
and may it long continue so,) for $2 per pound including 
all actual expenses of raising and reeling, we may rea¬ 
sonably expect an increased product from year to year, 
until it shall be brought to our Fair for exhibition in 
bales instead of skeins. The committee desire to call 
the attention of silk growers to the propriety of sending, 
even now, larger parcels for exhibition. A large 
parcel of uniform quality, ought to be entitled to the 
highest premium of the Institute. Many small samples 
are exhibited, one parcel now presented to the com¬ 
mittee containing about 5oz., has four or five different 
qualities, and although handsome, has evidently been 
so prepared for this exhibition. It is not intended as a 
sample of the whole crop, its want of uniformity is an 
objection even if this were so. The committee respect¬ 
fully recommend that at the next Fair of the Institute, a 
special premium be offered for the largest parcel of 
reeled silk, of uniform quality, of American growth, 
produced in the season of 1843, by one family or individ¬ 
ual, and also, that competitors be requested to accompany 
each parcel or article produced for competition, with a 
written statement of the cost of production, and any 
other facts which they may wish to make known, or 
think may be beneficial to the Institute and country. 
The specimen of raw or reeled silk which meets the 
approbation of the committee and is by them classed as 
best is No. 359, and consists of 1 l-21b. in three skeins, 
which is a part of a parcel produced by a person who 
has never fed worms until this season, who was induced 
to use the Peanut cocoons from the' recommendation of 
the Institute at the last Fair. This- silk is well reeled, 
having in each skein a half a days work, reeled upon 
the Piedmontese reel, very even and uniform, with a 
round thread, well adapted to the present state of the 
silk manufacture in this country. The silk would be 
more valuable if reeled finer, but the operator would 
not probably have made it as uniform or as valuable 
with her slight experience in reeling. These facts 
alone speak emphatically in favor of the simplicity and 
feasibility of the silk business. The committee are in¬ 
formed by the agent of this silk that the producer, 
