THE CULTIVATOR. 
63 
the dry. I am candidly of opinion that it is worth fifty 
per cent more than when exposed to the weather. 
Respectfully yours, ROBERT FOSTER. 
P. S. I might here observe that the above piece of 
land has never been limed, and that the manure used 
was barn yard manure, together with what ashes were 
made about the premises. 
Lewisberry, Pa. March 3, 1840. 
Durant’s Report on the Culture of Silk. 
{Concluded from 'page 33.) 
Silk is now cultivated in twelve or fifteen states of 
the Union. The quantity produced is yet small, pro¬ 
bably not exceeding 20,000 pounds ; of which Connecti¬ 
cut furnishes a very large proportion. In most districts 
the business is new; those engaged in it are laying the 
foundation for a much greater yield. 
The climate from our southern border, up to 42 or 44 
degrees north latitude, is in all respects suitable for the 
silk culture. As an auxilliary branch of farming, the 
feeding of silk worms is as profitable as feeding of 
poultry, and the silk will find as quick and ready a mar¬ 
ket as poultry. Both are deemed indispensable to the 
comfort of society, and will be consumed at any price. 
Both are profitable when conducted as collateral branch¬ 
es by the farmer, and both, or either one, when raised 
as an exclusive business, are not profitable, but ruinous, 
even at the lowest rates of labor in this country. With 
the long tried experience of Europe, and the low price 
of labor in that country, the whole continent does not 
furnish an instance of profitable silk culture, conducted 
exclusively for that business. No establishments are 
erected, or stock companies created, to make silk, but 
silk-worms are fed, and millions of dollars worth of 
silk is annually made, at a good profit, by the peasants 
and farmers, who, in connection with their other employ¬ 
ments, feed as many silk-worms as will occupy the spare 
rooms of the dwelling and out-houses. 
The reeling of silk (making raw silk) has hitherto 
been connected with the silk culture in the states; and 
generally the same families that raised the cocoons, 
have not only reeled, but also twisted it into sewings. 
For family use, Dale's is probably the best reel; it is 
the most simple in construction, and costs three and a 
half or four dollars. There is, however, very little dif¬ 
ference in the merits of the numerous silk reels; the 
preference is always in favor of the cheapest: the high 
prices are caused by a studied complication, that never 
improved, but always lessened its merits. 
Raw silk can be most advantageously made in “ fila¬ 
tures,” or reeling establishments, confined exclusively to 
that branch of the business. The silk manufacturers al¬ 
ways require their silk to be of even thickness, some 
definite number of fibres to each thread, and large quan¬ 
tities of each size. The “ filatures” alone can furnish 
such requirements; for each family can only raise from 
five to fifty pounds of silk annually, and when differ¬ 
ent hands conduct the reeling, it is difficult to find two 
parcels of equal number of fibres, or of equal thick¬ 
ness. The raw silk in bales of 200 to 400 pounds, al¬ 
ways commands the highest price in European markets. 
The silk culture is simple, and a suitable employ¬ 
ment for children. For my views on that part of the 
subject, I beg to quote from a former communication 
which I had the honor to furnish in February, 1838, in 
answer to a circular from the committee on agriculture 
in the house of representatives of the United States ; it 
is embodied in the printed documents of that session, 
and therefore only the part particularly relative to this 
branch of the subject, need be inserted here : 
“ What kind of soil, and what situation and exposure, are 
the best for the productionof the mulberry ? 
“ A rich, light, sandy soil is the best for the mulberry, 
though it will thrive well on any soil which is not wholly 
silicious, like the immediate border on our Atlantic coast, 
Next to pure silex, the soil least adapted to the mulberry is 
that purely argillaceous, or compact and hardened clay. 
Gently rising ground, or a moderate eminence, open to the 
full action of the sun, is the best situation, and south is the 
best exposure. 
“What species of mulberry is the most valuable, taking 
into consideration the capability of enduring cold and frost, 
the quantity and quality of the foliage, and the labor of cul 
ture and stripping? 
“ Taking into consideration all those properties, the Brussa 
mulberry is the best species for feeding the silk-worm. I 
wish, however, to be understood, that by Brussa I do not 
mean all those various kinds whieh are sold under that name, 
but I have a direct reference to the tree or trees which Mr, 
Charles Rhind brought from Brussa to this country. 
“I would remark, that species is a very indefinite term to de¬ 
signate the most valuable mulberry, because among the many 
millions of trees from the seeds of each species, there are not 
two trees equally valuable or perfectly alike ; each individu¬ 
al tree (considered as food for the silk worm) forms a dis¬ 
tinct variety, differing as much from each other as each in¬ 
dividual of the human race differs from all other individuals 
of the same species, or as much as the fruit of one indivi¬ 
dual tree differs from the fruit of all other individual trees, 
raised from seed of the same species. Mulberry trees which 
produce leaves perfectly alike to the delicate taste of the 
silk-worm, must be not only of the same species, but also 
scions of the same parent stock, produced by cuttings insert¬ 
ed in the soil, or by inoculation or ingrafting. 
“ I would further remark, that the seeds from each and 
every species of mulberry furnish some individual trees 
which are not suitable food for the silk-worm; and further, that 
the seeds from nearly every species of mulberry furnish 
some individual trees which are good and valuable food for 
that insect—hence, the best method to produce a good mul¬ 
berry orchard is, to select one tree possessing all the desira¬ 
ble properties, and multiply it by cuttings. By this method 
a good and valuable mulberry orchard may be made from 
the indigenous trees of this country. The species native 
black mulberry furnishes some individual trees which are, 
in every respect, good and valuable food for the silk-worm. 
The native black mulberry is equal, in quality, to the best 
in the world ; the leaf is generally smaller than the Brussa, 
and is therefore inferior in quantity, because one hundred 
pounds of largs leaves can be stripped at less expense than 
the same weight of small leaves. 
“ What is the best mode of cultivating the mulberry; at 
what age may it be stripped, and what is its value, expense 
and profit per acre? 
“ The nursery should have a southern and eastern exposure, 
a rich, light soil, and the seeds (wdien new varieties are want¬ 
ed) should be sown in rows, three feet apart. When a par¬ 
ticular variety is wanted, the particular tree which is to be 
multiplied must be cut in short lengths, leaving three eyes 
on each piece, and planted one foot distant, in row's three 
feet apart, leaving only one eye above the ground. The 
best time for this operation is in the spring, when the buds 
have swelled almost to bursting. The best time for trans¬ 
planting is very early in the spring, as soon as the ground is 
free from frost; this should be done when the seedlings and 
cuttings are one year old. The open ground to receive the 
young trees should be made mellow' one foot deeper than the 
length of the roots, and the top of every tree should be cut 
off, so as to leave only three or four eyes above the root. 
The tops will form cuttings for the nursery, w bile at the 
same time the health and growth of the trees will be much 
benefited by the operation. Trees thus treated, may be 
stripped the second year after they are transplanted, and 
would cost, standing in the nursery, about one cent each ; 
the transplanting can be done for four cents more, making 
five cents for each tree standing in its permanent place. 
“ The ‘profit P er acre ’ depends on many contingencies, 
such as cost of land, cost of labor to gather leaves, cost of 
building to shelter worms, &c.; in relation to which, I 
would remark— First: Any number of acres appropriated 
exclusively to the growth of mulberry and the culture of silk, 
provided the building is appropriated exclusively to the 
worms, w'ill not afford any profit; because the gross amount 
of silk thus raised will riot (after deducting a just estimate 
for labor) pay a reasonable interest on money invested for 
trees, land and buildings. 
“ Secondly: Every farmer in the states south of 45 degrees 
north latitude, can raise from 100 to 300 dollars worth of co¬ 
coons in the spare room of an ordinary barn and dwelling; 
and this would be all profit, if the silk is considered, like 
poultry, a collateral branch of farming. 
“ Which is the most valuable species of the silk w'orm ? 
What is the best mode and time for their propagation, the 
quantity, quality, value of, and market for, the cocoons ? 
“The species Bombyx, of Linnaeus, comprehends many 
varieties of the most valuable silk-worm, among which is 
the Asiatic, [Mori,) divided into many sub-varieties, and dis¬ 
tinguished only by the color, shape and weight of their co¬ 
coons. Their relative value may be expressed thus: 
BY LINN. GENUS PHALENA, SPECIES BOMBYX, VARIETY MORI. 
Sub- Varieties. 
“White cocoon, pea-nut shape, compact, and reels well; 
6| grains of pure silk ; most valuable for this country, be¬ 
cause it gives the greatest quantity of good silk. 
“ Bright yellow cocoon, egg shape, 4 to 5 grains pure silk; 
lustrous; cultivated in Connecticut for more than half a cen¬ 
tury ; reels bad, and therefore of less value. 
“ Pale yellow cocoon, pea-nut shape, compact, reels well; 
3 to 3| grains pure silk, very soft; receives best dye ; is 
much cultivated in Europe. 
“Golden yellow cocoon, pea-nut shape, very compact, 
reels best; 2| to 3 grains pure silk, very lustrous and not 
strong; much cultivated in Spain: is best for fine white rib¬ 
bons. 
“ The coloring matter in all cocoons is contained in the 
natural gum, which can be removed by boiling in soft water, 
leaving the silk white and lustrous. 
“ There are four varieties of silk-worm indigenous to the 
United States, and not found in any other part of the world. 
They make a large quantity of coarse, strong silk, w'hich 
can be used at present only by carding. Education may 
cause these worms to spin in a form suitable for reeling, 
when the largest kind ( Cecropia) would, for many domestic 
purposes, become very valuable to this country. Their re¬ 
lative value may be expressed thus: 
SATURNIA OF SCIIR. 
“ Cecropia feeds on elder, cocoon 19 grains pure silk. 
Polyphemus feeds on scrub oak, cocoon 14 grains pure silk. 
Luna feeds on acacia, (locust,) cocoon 11 grains pure silk. 
Pomethea feeds on sycamore, (buttonball,) cocoon 9 grains 
pure silk. 
“ The best mode and time for the propagation of the Asia¬ 
tic silk-worm, {Mori,) is, to expose the eggs to hatch, for a 
few hours, in a paper box, near afire; feed the w T orms regu¬ 
lar three times per day; admit air freely, and remove the 
filth at least once per w r eek. At about the fortieth day they 
will commence winding, and in four days more they will 
have finished the cocoons, when those for reeling should be 
put in the oven, to remain half an hour, (after having drawn 
the bread,) to kill the chrysalis. Those for seed should be 
placed, uncovered, in a dark room, on paper, where the per¬ 
fect insect (moth) will come forth in twenty days, to cohabit, 
deposit eggs, and die in eight days more. The eggs should be 
left adhering to the paper, rolled up and placed in a dry, cool 
and dark place, until wanted to hatch for the following sea¬ 
son. The extreme cold of this climate will not injure the 
eggs. Dampness and direct rays of the sun are very injuri¬ 
ous to the eggs and worms in all their stages. The time for 
hatching is best when the trees first put forth their leaves. 
Each worm spins one cocoon, and each female moth deposits 
about 700 eggs. Allowing the sexes equal, 100 moths would 
give an increase‘of35,000 w'orms. “The quality and value of 
eocoons” are given in preceding remarks. A good market 
for cocoons is found at silk manufactories, which are already 
sufficiently numerous for the quantity of silk grown in this 
country. A more suitable market would be an establish¬ 
ment exclusively for reeling. Such an establishment does 
not exist in the states; but it is probable that interest will 
induce individuals to erect them as soon and as fast as co¬ 
coons can be raised to supply them.” 
Since writing the foregoing, experience has increase^ 
the favorable opinions therein expressed in regard to 
the native black mulberry. The best Italian sewings 
are made from worms fed on the black mulberry of Ca¬ 
labria. Mr. Caldwell, of Clark county, Ya. sent me 
two bushels of cocoons from worms which he fed en¬ 
tirely on the native black mulberry. I exhibited them 
at the Fair of the American Institute, where a part of 
them were reeled and twisted into sewings by Mrs. 
Brooks, a very intelligent and skilful lady from Con¬ 
necticut. Mrs. Brooks has four years practical acquain¬ 
tance with the reeling of silk, and she remarked, that 
these cocoons from the native black mulberry, made 
“the strongest silk that she ever saw,” and considered it 
“superior to all others for sewings. ” 
There is not much difference in the silk made from 
different species of mulberries, when the compared 
specimens of produce are all by the same sub-variety of 
worm. Generally all silk-worms will make the strong¬ 
est and most lustrous silk, from the most hardy and 
tough species or varieties of mulberries; and the most 
tender and perishable, afford silk of the least strength 
and lustre. Hence, if strong and lustrous silk is pre¬ 
ferred, then the Black , the Brussa, and the Common 
White are the best mulberries for the silk culture. And 
the Moretti, the Multieaulis, the Chinese , and many si¬ 
milar varieties, are best for producing a comparatively 
dull and weak fibred silk. The silk made from the Mo- 
rus multieaulis, much resembles cotton in lustre and 
strength of fibre. 
The native black mulberry is known to he a very su¬ 
perior timber. A few facts that have come to my knowl¬ 
edge, may not he inappropriate here. 
The schooner “Union,” built at Lodi, N. J. about 
forty-three years ago, had a large portion of her upper 
timbers, and most of her trunneis, of native black mul¬ 
berry. In fourteen years afterwards she was overhaul¬ 
ed, when her deck planks of Georgia pitch pine, were 
much decayed; the white oak buttocks were completely 
destroyed by rot, and the white oak timbers and bot¬ 
tom planks, were much decayed ; while every timber 
and trunnel of black mulberry was perfectly sound. She 
beached and stranded during a severe gale near the 
mouth of the Delaware, after a constant service of more 
than twenty years; and at no time from her launch to 
her wreck, was there any perceptible sign of decay in 
the black mulberry although the trunneis of this wood, 
were driven into the upper futtocks, where (in common 
with the upper timbers) demy always commences first 
in vessels of her class. The black mulberry used in 
her frame, measured from sixteen to eighteen inches 
across the butt. 
The sloop “ Highlander,” built near Bellville, N. J. 
more than thirty years ago, is now running on the Pas¬ 
saic and Hudson rivers. All her upper timbers, and 
most of her upper futtocks, are mulberry, principally 
white ; and, although more than thirty years have elaps¬ 
ed since her launch, yet no sign of decay has ever ap¬ 
peared in the mulberry employed in her frame,while 
some of her white oak timbers have long since crumbled 
from the spikes. 
Mr. Cornelius Kingslane, a highly respectable and 
intelligent shipwright, ivho built the Highlander, in¬ 
forms me that he has built as many as thirty vessels, 
in a large number of which he employed native black 
mulberry, and from long experience is convinced, that 
for durability and strength, is superior to white oak, 
chestnut, cedar, wild cherry, red elm, or locust. 
I am axvare that some fastidious gentlemen contend, 
that there is no black mulberry in the states. Such 
opinions are founded on the fact that Linnseus speaks 
of red (Rubra) only in America. Names are given to 
facilitate science, and when we have trees bearing plea¬ 
sant fruit, it is very convenient to designate them with 
.specific names. We have an indigenous tree bearing 
black mulberries, and it is by general consent called the 
Black Mulberry, notwithstanding Limueus and his fol¬ 
lowers may insist that it is “Rubra.” 
Silk forms a very large integer in the trade and com¬ 
merce of nations. The natural advantages of the states, 
are favorable to participation in a full share in its cul¬ 
ture, manufacture, or commercial transportation; but 
foreign treaties, and internal legislation, have not plac¬ 
ed this country “on a footing xvith the most favored 
nations.” It is not my business, or intention here, to 
discuss the issue of “free” or “restricted” trade ; but I 
deem it within my province to notice some apparent in¬ 
consistencies which (although they have a controlimg 
influence in the American silk trade) cannot he recon¬ 
ciled to any known system of policy, or political econo¬ 
my. Manufactured silk (except sexvings) from all Eu¬ 
rope are permitted to enter our ports free; and the 
present distress in the country, tells a startling tale of 
the very free use made of the privilege, by foreign 
artisans and foreign ships ; while our own manufactu¬ 
rers are restricted by a duty of ten per cent, from be¬ 
yond the Cape, and twelve per cent, from Europe on 
the raw material, that was to employ and support this 
important handicraft. The same causes that restricted 
the handicraft, also restricted the “ carrying trade” in 
“American bottoms.” A gentleman of Boston, an en¬ 
lightened and intelligent traveler, and long a resident of 
Canton, has famished me with full and complete re¬ 
turns of the export silk trade of China from 1831 to 
1838 inclusive; and the facts therein show, that of the 
large amount of raw silk annually exported from Can¬ 
ton, only about one hundred and fifty piculs are ship¬ 
ped to America in American vessels ; while the large 
quantity of nine thousand piculs are shipped to Eng- 
