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1 MANUAL

•g

INFORMATION RESPECTING THE GROWTH

OF THE

MULBERRY TREE,

WITH

SUITABLE DIRECTIONS

. FOR THE

CULTURE OP SILK.

IN THREE PARTS.

BY J. H. COBB, A. M.

PUBLISHED BY DIRECTION OF HIS EXCELLENCY GOT. LINCOLN,
AGREEABLY TO A RESOLVE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

Ostendens hujus muneris usum.^— Vida, in JBombyx.

BOSTON:
CARTER &HENDEE.

M DCCC XXXII.

CQ

THE SILK CUL7TTJ3T.

oY/7,- (Su-ltur" and Mulberry Specula! ion.
The editorial articU* on ihU subject which
appears in this number, (pane li'r-'i) was in
type (except the clo. ing postscript.) before
liir reception of the communication of Tho-
mas Hiek>, Esq. which \va> published in the
preceding number (page S7S ;.) and th'1 first
num. '(I article was expected to have be \-.
presented, in the proper order oftim". before
th'.1 latter. Our absence caused then uission
— ••and the consequent awkwardftcs e> ;;;>
p'-aivince of*"o ir notes t » .Mr. Ili:-k% !> tier,
wh'-h wre written to follow, though in fact
they preceded the -publication of iheuider ar-
tick-. *

It lias ha; wn! occa

thi< \v -.>'•!•-, that a communication "Vxhib t^nir
errors and mistakes of the writ r. has served
l,,i b; I..- \ nd fu'l infjrmation i n

the subject, rs better informed. We

III'.! if!"" :

such will be the fruit ot our remarks on wha
may be term"d ( in plQre t!i;i!i one ; T.s-e) ll
mystery of silk culture in tin • i-oimtry
hav • b'-en <'"ii\i"Lr. by olh'T m"an>. as \w:!
as by the publication of the article referr<
(ant! i' > still earlier con»muMt<-ntion irr (ho I
proof she< t.) to obtain jn-fo >n this in- |

t ri'-ii.iL: subject ; and \v- lUecl, and |

hi;-,) ..." to r; (Vive, in p;irt. before the i-.pp-ar-
i (hi- number, from two verv intelli-
£er;i. and well-informed correspondents, in-
teresting and valuable information on differ-
ent branches of this subject.

In the time which bast-lapped since the
j). iminu of th • article referred to. \vehave
heard of circumstances which, it' of earlier
oc.cmrence, would have varied the details. •
and sonu'ofthe inferences, though they serve ;
to confirm the correctness of the general
views there presented. The demand for
plants of the Chinese mulberry h.is indeed so
greatly increased at the north, that every
plant and cutting now in Virginia, may be*
sold this year to northern purchasers at the
highest prices. To oar previous views and
recommendations, therefore, we would add
the advice to all who have plants to spare, not
to sell any to speculators lower than at the
highest prices ; to raise as many plants as
possible in 1839, from the stock retained. and
to be prepared then to supply the whole coun-
try at greatly reduced prices, and yet at great-
er profits ihan the highest prices at present
would give. Every single bud planted next
spring, and well taken care ot. will produce

frn.u 1O tn 70 hml< — cur not 1.-- = = iJinn 30 nn

in average ; and therefore at a mlf-c
even a. quarter cent the bud, the sock <
"1 yield a much greater sum th?n -ill
?ent growing stock at 2 cents the hul,
or 30 cents the rooted plant. But v
;he sales are made this year at the
ligh price, or next year at much lov
gratifying ihat the course of trade iss
oletely turned, and that northern pir
ire now coming to the south for sup>li
hat this year more money will thin
o Virginia, than all that the northern
•yrn MI have before got from, u* for tl
mature and defective plants, with wh
state was stocked.

It is not merely the rage of spec
stimulated by legislative bounties,
caused 'his great demand at the north
',- a real and great scarcity of morus
raulis, caused by the immense loss of
by the wet and cold weather ot 1;
and early spring, and the drought tFr
The following communication AL
tersburg Intelligencer shows that o' )

;,deni, Mr. Hi ^w

ready been well paid (and it was r?(
infers,) for his enterprise. wj
sundry large, dealers and speculate
ready gone ihrouirh lower Virgini<?K
engage 1. (and we fear, generally ^
price they were willing to pay,) alir
of the morus multicaulis they i^j
for sale. I)

Lawrencecille, Aug. 'd
' I think the public oifght tokn»i!"
Thomas Hicks, ot thi-> county, ticP1
fore hist, and la-t year, laid out & "''
mulberry trees ; and this f; 1 ,
10,060 trees. Two day n^
^0.000 to some ^ent^'inen in l^U-
".ts a tree— thi residue h- r"
3cll i.i this vicinity ; havingreali^c:
?ome sum of .$7,500, from so ire
an outlay, in so short a time. IVr.su
pects to have, by tall twelve monlSI
trees more for sale, and in all prof*'
get nearly quite as much per tnc-1;i
a'-o commenced the past seasci11
silk, and has succeeded beyond L
tions, demonstrating f.hat our coui^,-
genial to the'production of that be[ ]
valuable article. Mr. H. des r. •• -
and has the congratulations of the ;
ty for his enterprise and success HL>
ing a new source of revenue and ji-
county."

Having written to M>. Hicks to ki
ther this statement was entirely c
has stated in reply that the writer h

t-r»ir»u mic:fnlrp« wKii'h li n nnrrpntc n

l:The outlay for my plants was ?.
of 8245 : and the time Allotted me to M
the m es is one year more than I have bee
employed. I never saw a Chinese mulberry
tree until last \var, (summer of 1837.)
think it probable I may be able to plant
200,000 cuttings next "spring, instead of r.
150,000. The balance of the letter is all cor- %
reel." "If I had not sold the 20,000 trees, H|
they would now brin«-me $1000 more than I |
am to receive." This letter is dated Sep-
tember 8th, which was 12 days only after the
sale had been made.

Since the 20th of August, the agents of at
least five different and distant mnUicaulis
dealers have visited this plnce, for the pur-
pose of purchasing the plants which are in
and near Petersburg Mosi if these agents
have come sine?, the first of these lines were
written. So rapid and violent has been the
rise of the multicaulis speculation that our
monthly publication can give but a faint idea
of its progress. For the last month, almost
daily reports would have been necessary to
show the state of the trade, and the extent of
the demand. Considering that the northern
states are the original seat, and still the prin-.
cipal scene, of this speculation— the great
void which still is to fill, throughout both the
north and the south, for actualas well as
speculative demand— the difficulty with
which young multicaulis plants are raised
in the north, and the far greater vigor in
growing and alter-value of those raised in
Virginia — it will not be more strange than the
present state of things, if very hi^h prices
should continue to be maintained through
another year. But all prudent holders and
planters here ought so to act as to be prepar-
ed to meet a great reduction of price. The
few persons who are so fortunate as to have
many growing plants, of course, will do right
to make the most of the present demand for
their surplus stock. But with a view to all
interests, it will be better to plant next spring
than to sell abroad now ; as 8 cents, or even
6 cents the tree, in 1839, will pay a far better
profit, than to sell the stock grown in 183S for !
lour times those prices — which may now be
readilv obtained. Much money must be
brought into Virginia from other states by
tho mania for this trade ; and so far to effect
a general spread in % of the multicaulis. which
this mania certainly will, it will produce
much .benefit to public interest?. But when
the violent fever shall have subsided, it is to
be feared that as great a reaction (or non-ac-
tion) will follow the unnatural excitement :

•'1" ^

A VALUABLE SUGGESTION.

Gideon B. Smith, Esq. of this city, has suggested a
most valuable method of destroy ing the chrysalis in the
cocoons of the silk worm. It consists simply in ex
posing them to the influence of ignited charcoal. A
friend to whom he made the suggestion, has, we learn,
made an experiment on his plan, which proved entirely
successful, and we have no doubt, oursejf, that, it will
prove a most invaluable acquisition to silk culturists,
as besides being the most economical method of killing
the chrysalis, it will effect its object without hardening
the gum on the cocoons, thus rendering them much
easier to reel. On a rough calculation, we think fully
one fourth of the expense of the process may be thus
saved.

As has been the case in others of his discoveries, we
should not be surprised, if some ingenious sdvan of
Paris should make the discovery of this method, and
that it should be trumpeted forth by the American press
as a pearl of exceeding great price, as this is the coun-
try where "genius languishes and fancy dies," and
fashion has long since decreed that the" old saw of
Shakespeare, that "that which we call a rose by any
other name would smell as sweet," is a mere fiction
of the brain— a coinage of the poet.— Farmer and Gar-
dener.

OF THE

UNIVERSITY

OF

MAIN

try ut^iftftly r.
er profits than the in,.
would give. Every siru
spring, and well taken ca,
from 10 to 70 buds — siy no

/>/.,/ 7'*? /.

Fig 2

!> f

m

L i'l..l'1'K I!

MANUAL

CONTAINING

INFORMATION RESPECTING THE GROWTH

OF THE

MULBERRY TREE,

WITH

SUITABLE DIRECTIONS

FOR THE

CULTURE OF SILK,

IN THREE PARTS.

.H..

BY J:'H. COBB, A. M.

PUBLISHED BY DIRECTION OF HIS EXCELLENCY GOV. LINCOLN,
AGREEABLY TO A RESOLVE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

Ostendens hujus muneris usum.

F 'id a in Bombyx.

BOSTON,

PUBLISHED BY CARTER AND HENDEE

MDCCC XXXII.

MAIN LIB.-AGRICi

OSTON CLASSIC PRESS
I. R. BUTTS.

r

INTRODUCTION .

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

THURSDAY, FEB. 24, 1831.

MR WHEELER, from the Committee on Agriculture,
who were instructed to consider the expediency of en-
couraging the growth of the MULBERRY TREE, and
the Culture of SILK, made the following

REPORT.

The Committee have examined the subject attentively,
and find it to be of much greater importance than was at first
supposed. They are surprised to find how great a field is
here open, and how long it has been neglected ; they are
satisfied beyond a doubt, that we have the power to produce
and manufacture Silk in this Commonwealth to an immense
extent, and that no difficulty is to be encountered either from

IV INTRODUCTION.

The nations of Europe are generally engaged in the cul-
ture and manufacture of silk. France, more than any other
nation, derives her power and resources mainly from this
branch of her industry ; her example has induced England,
Holland, Germany, Prussia and Sweden to engage with zeal
in the same pursuit.

The culture of silk is important in relation to the amount of
silk imported and consumed in this country, which exceeds
seven millions of dollars, while the amount of bread stuff
exported is on the average less than six millions of dollars !
Facts like these need no comment ; yet it is proper that we
should bear in mind, that the vast sums thus expended for
silk in its various forms, are paid indirectly to enrich the
Agriculture and Manufacture of other nations, the raw
material of which may be produced here with as much cer-
tainty as cotton or any other staple product.

The article of silk has already been produced by a few of
our citizens in small quantities, of a quality not inferior to the
best imported. Jonathan H. Cobb, Esq. of Dedham, has com-
menced the culture of silk with success, and has introduced
some valuable improvements, especially in the art of reeling
from the cocoon, and it is due to that gentleman, that the
Committee should remark, that it is from practical information
communicated by him, that they have derived some important
facts in relation to this subject.

The state of society in this Commonwealth is well adapt-
ed to promote the successful culture of silk : it is an em-
ployment, in which females and children may be honorably
and profitably engaged ; with the exception of planting the
Mulberry tree, the whole labor may be performed by that
class of the community. The Committee feel warranted in

INTRODUCTION. V

saying that so soon as the article can be produced, a good
home market will be found at such prices as to afford a profit
on the expense and labor bestowed upon it. The White
Mulberry tree is easily cultivated, does not require the best
soil, serves a valuable purpose for hedges, and is highly
ornamental.

The Committee are satisfied that little capital is required to
commence the culture of silk, except that capital which con-
sists in knowledge. It is INFORMATION which is the founda-
tion of Agriculture, as well as other arts. Nothing is so well
calculated to call the attention of the public to this subject as
information respecting its value, and the means by which
our citizens may avail themselves of the advantages which
are connected with it ; for the purpose of disseminating this
information the Committee have thought it their duty to report
the following resolution.

Which is respectfully submitted.

For the Committee, ' ABEL WHEELER, Chairman .

House of Representatives, Feb. 24, 1831.

Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be requested
to cause to be compiled and printed a concise MANUAL, to
contain the best information respecting the growth of the
MULBERRY TREE, with suitable directions for the culture of
SILK,— and that this manual be distributed in suitable num-
bers in the city of Boston, and to every town in the Common-
wealth.— That to defray the expense thus incurred, he be
authorized to draw his warrant on the treasury for a sum not
exceeding six hundred dollars.
1*

PREFACE .

IN preparing this Manual the author has been guided
by the personal experience which he has had for seve-
ral years in the culture of the Mulberry Tree and
rearing of Silk Worms in the State of Massachusetts.

In addition to the instruction which his own prac-
tical knowledge in the business has suggested, he has
made use of the following works, from some of which
he has made considerable extracts, where he found the
instruction conveyed was such, as from the test of ex-
perience he could recommend, viz. — The Manual
published under the authority of Congress ; the two
first numbers of the Silk Culturist, by Dr Felix Pascalis,
of New York ; Mr Wm. H. Vernon's abridgment
of the large French work of M. de la Brousse ; Es-
says on American Silk by Messrs D'Homergue and
Du Ponceau, of Philadelphia ; and a pamphlet published
by Gideon B. Smith, Esq. of Baltimore. The au-
thor tenders his thanks to several of the above-named
gentlemen for the liberty which they have permitted
him to take, as also for many personal communications

Vlll PREFACE.

on important branches of the business, which they have
suggested to him in the short interviews he has had
with them. From two of these gentlemen, of the
highest respectability, he has received the subjoined
testimonials.

Philadelphia. 27ih June, 1331.

DEAR SIR — I have read with great satisfaction the
Manual for the Culture of Silk which you have prepared by
order of His excellency the Governor of Massachusetts, in
pursuance of a resolution of your State Legislature, and am
well pleased with the manner in which you have treated the
subject. Availing myself of the permission you have given
me, I have, with the aid of Mr D'Homergue, taken the
liberty to suggest a few ideas on the blank leaves of the
manuscript, of which you will make what use you shall think
proper.

The works of foreign writers on the cultivation of mulberry
trees and raising of silk worms, particularly in the latter,
are by no means suited to the meridian of this country, and
are rather calculated to discourage than instruct our farmers.
You have with great propriety discarded their artificial heat,
thermometers, barometers, hygrometers, and all their va-
riety of troublesome methods, minute regulations and useless
implements, which make the culture of silk a difficult and
intricate science. I see no more difficulty in cultivating the
mulberry than any other fruit tree ; and the art of raising
silk worms seems to reduce itself to a few simple rules easy
of observance. I know but of one European author who
has had the courage to break through the fetters of habit and
prejudice ; and in a late work on the culture of silk published
in the German language at Vienna in 1829, adopted what I
call the American System, the same wtyich your Manual
recommends, and which in fact, has been followed in this
country for more than 70 years. The author is the Chdva-
lier von Heint, an Austrian nobleman, the owner of large

PREFACE. IX

estates in the imperial dominions. He appears to have
completely succeeded, by following this simple American
method, and he even ventured to raise silk worms on mul-
berry trees in the open air, on the frontiers of Hungary, in
44g N. Lat. ; and he assures us that he met with the same
success.

On the subject of reeling the silk from the cocoons, I
think it is an art to be acquired only by practical instruc-
tion and experience. It is not to be learned from books
alone. The description, however, which you have given of
its process, is in general correct, and has been with propriety
inserted. It may lead to some useful experiments, and will
diffuse, at least, the knowledge of the theory of the art.
The present method of reeling silk in Connecticut, will not
be long, I believe, persevered in, after a better one shall
have been generally introduced. It is well, however, to record
it as a matter of fact, and for the benefit of those who still
choose to pursue it.

Upon the whole, I consider your work as a good practical
directory for American farmers, and as a fair and judicious
execution of the duty committed to you.
I am, with great regard,
Dear Sir,

Your obedient servant,

PETER S. Du PONCEAU.

JONATHAN H. COBB, ESQ.

New York, June 29, 1831.

I have read the work of Mr Jonathan H. Cobb on the Cul-
ture of Silk, which is intended by him for a popular manual
of instruction, and have been much pleased to find that it
unites brevity with all the most important precepts required
in that valuable branch of domestic produce. It is also clear
and lucid, and free of all accessary details, little to be called
for within the short period of time necessary to make a silk
crop. It is evident that Mr Cobb has been many years a
practical culturist, and could also embrace the interesting

X PREFACE.

cares of the filature even further than that of making market-
able raw silk, which is not frequently attended to by silk
growers. It is on this principle only, meaning that of divid-
ing among various branches, hands and stages, all the
operations required for the cultivation and manufacture of silk,
that national wealth from this rich produce can be depended
upon. One only individual cannot be a perfect operative in
all stages and divisions of the art, but he can become skilful
in many or several of them, if at each degree he command a
marketable produce. I conclude with observing that the
work of Mr Jonathan H. Cobb deserves the confidence of
the public, and its circulation should be encouraged.

FELIX PASCALIS, M. D.

PART I.

CULTURE OF THE MULBERRY TREE.

THE only appropriate food for the silk worm is the
leaf of the mulberry tree. It should be the first busi-
ness therefore of the silk grower to provide himself with
the source of a constant supply of mulberry leaves.
The greater his supply of this article, the greater will be
his crop of silk, as the eggs of the insect are procured
to any amount with ease and cheapness. Having the
eggs of the insect and a sufficient quantity of food at
hand, ordinary care on the part of the proprietor will in-
sure a good crop. It is now abundantly proved that
there is no great obstacle in the soil or climate of these
United States to raising silk to a vast amount. As there
is a difference in the quality of the mulberry leaves for
raising silk, it should be the object of the cultivator to
propagate the best kind. The white mulberry* has
been found superior to the purple or native red,f and the
plants are easily produced from the seed.

*See the leaf, Fig. 1, Plate- 2, reduced to one fourth its natural
size,
t See the leaf, Fig. 2, Plate 2, reduced to one fifth its natural

12

THE SEED OF THE MULBERRY.

One ounce of good seed will be sufficient to produce
5000 trees. The seed is easily obtained from the fruit
in the following manner. When the fruit begins to ripen,
every morning the tree should be shaken and the fruit
that falls gathered with that which had fallen before; if
enough is not gathered in one morning, several succes-
sive gatherings may be collected ; but the fruit should
not be kept over three or four days before the seed is
extracted, which may be done by putting the fruit into a
tub and mashing it till the berries are completely worked
into a common mass. Then pour water into it and stir it
briskly, and the pulp may be separated from the seed.
Then pour off the water, with all the seed that floats*
(for that is worthless) and renew the washing till the seed
is clean, when it may be drained, spread out on cloths
and dried in the shade. When perfectly dry it should
be put into a tight vessel and kept in a dry place. It
should never be exposed to the light, air or dampness
more than is absolutely necessary. The seed may be
obtained at a reasonable rate at most of the seed stores,
and"I have bought it in Mansfield, Conn, at the rate of
a dollar per pound.

SOWING THE SEED, CHOICE OF SOIL, ETC.

A soil rich, warm and mixed with much mold, is re-
commended as the most proper fora nursery of mulber-
ry trees. New shoots should have ground easy to pen-
etrate. The ground should be ploughed the preceding

13

fall, and again ploughed two or three times in the spring
and made light and friable ; two or three dressings of
manure well ploughed in would be of essential service ;
the ground may be levelled with a hoe or rake and the
seed sown in drills about the first of May, much in the
same way as our farmers sow carrots. The weeds must
be carefully destroyed, and in dry times watering will bet
beneficial. I have sown the mulberries in July, and they
have sprouted and come on rapidly ; but the frosts of win-
ter in our climate (New England) have been too severe
for them. I would recommend to sow the seed in the
spring. From a quarter of an acre of ground the last
season, I had over 10,000 plants, produced from seed
sown in the spring in the way above-mentioned, some of
them upwards of a foot in height. Those that are in-
tended for transplanting may be taken up in the fall and
put out of the way of frost in a cellar, the roots being
covered with loam. Those left standing may be covered
with light manure or old hay. The frost will be apt to
kill the young and tender tops, but the shoots will start
from the bottom in the spring with great luxuriance. The
seed plant is undoubtedly best, both for food for worms
and duration : it is also the most convenient mode of get-
ting the trees, as seed enough can be sent by mail to any
part of the Union to produce an orchard sufficient to
feed several millions of worms. I cannot believe that
any other mode can be pursued to much advantage in
this country ; but as some may be fond of trying experi-
ments in other modes of culture, the following are laid
down as sometimes used in Europe.
2

14

MANNER OF MULTIPLYING MULBERRY TREES BY
CUTTINGS.

The soil chosen to receive the slips of the mulberry
tree should be prepared much in the same way as ha
been described for the seed. The cuttings of the mul-
berry are to be planted in the same manner as the cut-
tings of the vine ; that is, by making furrows by a line at
the distance of six feet from one to the other, and by cross-
ing them by furrows at the same distance, in order to
form squares. A two year old branch of a mulberry tree,
having wood of four or five years at one end, must be
selected, and the extremity of the old wood must be in-
terred to the depth of about ten inches. The branches
chosen from the white mulberry must be taken offin the
spring at the first rising of the sap. Two or three incis-
ions must be made in the joints or knots of the old wood,
because this operation will facilitate the shooting of the
roots, which always put forth from the joints of the old
wood. The cuttings must then be covered with a well
manured and friable earth, and the end of the branch
which rises from the soil must be cut off at the third bud
from the surface. If rains should not frequently occur
after the plantation is finished, it would be necessary to
water the plants often. The multiplication of mulberry
trees by means of cuttings is said to have the important
advantage of two years in advance over the establishment
of a nursery by means of seed in Europe.

BY LAYERS.

To make layers is to force a branch or a shoot of a tree
or of a shrub to become itself a tree or a shrub, by putting

15

a branch or a shool into the ground without separating it
from the parent tree. The spring is the most suitable
season for this operation. The shoots which arise at the
foot of a tree, the youngest smooth branches found about
the lower part of the mulberry, any other branches that
are long and supple enough to be secured in the ground,
and lastly, the shoots of a young tree whose trunk is not
high and which may be laid easily, may be used. If there
arise some vigorous shoots at the foot of a mulberry tree,
a hole must be dug six or eight inches deep near each
shoot, into which the shoot must be laid without twisting
it or separating it from the tree. It is then to be secur-
ed in its place with crotchets of wood and covered with
good mould, which must be pressed over it, and the end
of the shoot which rises above the ground must be cut oft
above the second bud. It will be further necessary to
place by the side of the layer a stake to mark the place
and prevent its being trodden. It must likewise be wa-
tered immediately after the operation, and as often after-
wards as may be necessary to maintain about it a proper
state of moisture.

The young and smooth twigs among the branches of
the mulberry may be passed through a basket or vase
perforated at the bottom and filled with earth well manur-
ed. The twig must be cut off four or five inches above
the vase or basket, and the mould kept in a due state of
moisture by frequent waterings.

When a mulberry tree is well spread and the boughs
nearest the ground have not been lopped, some of the
branches at the distance of six feet from each other may
be bent down and secured in the ground, so that the ends
shall not rise more than six or eight inches above the
surface.

16

All the layers made in these different ways may be
separated from the parent tree in the autumn of the sec-
ond year. They may be cut off four inches from the
parent trunk, be taken up carefully with their roots and
small fibres and placed in the nursery or permanently
established in an orchard. In the nursery they may be
set at the distance of six feet from each other and in the
following year, by heading them down, four or five layers
may be made from each. By these means one hundred
trees may be increased in four years to eighteen hundred ;
for the parent trees, after the layers are separated from
them being replaced in a straight position, secured to a
prop, manured, and watered, generally retrieve their
Strength and make productive trees.

TRANSPLANTING FOR HEDGES.

After standing in the nursery a suitable time, the trees
may be transplanted for making hedges. Fprefer trans-
planting in the spring. Great care should be taken to
preserve the very fine roots. If hedges for fences be want-
ed, the young trees mayjbe taken from the seedlings of the
last year. The white mulberry forms an excellent live
fence, and when once established is probably the most
permanent of any other Cattle must not be allowed
free access to the hedge while young, as they would de-
stroy it altogether ; but after it has become a good fence
they may approach it with advantage. The more it is
broken and lacerated by cattle, the more impenetrable it
will become ; as for every branch broken, a half dozen
shoots will immediately start out, till the bush forms a
perfect bramble. This mode is therefore recommended

17

as accomplishing three important objects : supplying food
for silk worms ; keeping the trees low, that the leaves may
be gathered from the ground by children, and furnishing
a good and almost never ending fence. In transplanting
young trees for hedges, they should not be pruned ; but
the second year or at least the third, the tops should be
cut off and the side branches trained laterally with the
hedge by interweaving them.

•

SETTING OUT STANDARD TREES.

It is an axiom in rural economy, that the greater the
disbursement in improving the land the greater will be
the proportional income. The land where the trees are
to be set, will be much better for the purpose if ploughed,
harrowed and manured. The trees may be three years
old if taken from a rich soil, or four if from a poor soil ;
they should be from four to eight feet in height, and at
least an inch in diameter. The holes should be dug at
about the same distance from each other as for setting
apple trees, and be made eighteen inches deep and three
or four feet in diameter. The bottoms of these holes
may be covered with a few inches of fresh mould. The,
young tree should be placed in its proper range, ascer-
tained by a stake at each extremity of the line, and it
should be held there till its roots are well covered with
friable and well manured earth, free from stones, and
must be well trodden down and watered if necessary 5
a small cavity round the stem to retain the rain is very
proper. Two or three dressings a year with a hoe" and
manuring occasionally rqay be of essential advantage,
2*

18

GRAFTING AND BUDDING.

In grafting it is essential to adapt the bark of the scion
at its extremity to the bark of the stock, and to place the
scion on the northerly side in order that it may be less ex-
posed to be withered and dried by the sun. Budding
should be performed with the same care as in other fruit
trees in order to insure success. But these and many of
the modes of improving and propagating the mulberry
which have been resorted to in Europe, will be unne-
cessary in this country. With us, land is so cheap and
labor so high, that the easy and convenient mode of pro-
pagating by seed will be chiefly resorted to, and no es-
sential permanent advantage will result to us from graft-
ing or budding, except in propagating^the rare varieties.

PRUNING.

The imperfections in the form and growth of the trees
may be remedied by a judicious pruning, once in two
or three years ; and with regard to that, the good sense
of every cultivator will direct him how to form a tree the
most beautiful, as well as the most productive. June is
the best season for doing this, and the young branches
that are taken off will afford their leaves for the

* For taking off the small branches oHarger trees which could
not be reached by hand, I saw an ingenious contrivance at Balti-
more by G. B. Smith, Esq. It was nothing more than a pair of
pruning shears attached by one of the handles to a ten foot pole,
which is held in one hand, and operated upon by means of a cord
passing through a pulley, and attached to the other handle with the

19

GROWTH OF THE MULBERRY TREE.

Standard trees, when once well rooted, will thrive in
any soil that is not too wet ; the gigantic size to which
the wild native mulberry attains in the western country,
and numerous examples of large and thrifty trees in the
Atlantic states, furnish abundant evidence of this. The
mulberry tree attains to a very great age, and no other
tree of equal growth and beauty resists so well the influ-
ences of the sea atmosphere. Two or three grand
specimens of this beautiful tree, says Mr Phillips, stand-
ing on the most exposed situation of the northeast
coast of England > not only defy the enemy, but delight
intheir situation : throwing out their noble limbs in all
directions, and assuming a foliage rich, full, and tufted
to its topmost boughs : one of them is of the greatest
magnitude, though some of its vast limbs have been torn
from it ; it is still in vigor, and in point of richness of
effect, the oak itself is scarcely superior. They are
abundantly prolific. The red, or, as it is more commonly
called, the purple mulberry, is considered as the only
species indigenous in this country.* The northern ex-
tremity of Lake Champlain is, according to Michaux, its
most northern limit. It is found in all the states of the
Union, south and west, and Dr James found it as far
west as the river Canadian.

Everything is useful in the mulberry tree. Its leaves

other hand ; by this simple contrivance the twigs and branches
were taken off with ease, and so smoothly as not to lacerate the
bark and injure the appearance of the tree.

* See the leaf in Figure 2, Plate 2.

are valuable in the silk which they produce by nourishing
the silk worm ; its fruit is excellent for poultry, and the
wood is useful for the joiner and for fuel. The mul-
berry tree may also serve as an ornament to our gardens
and streets, very different from the Lornbardy poplar,
which harbors a loathsome insect, or the elm, or the ash,
which are barren and do not afford so thick a shade ; and
as this tree is always handsome and useful, the Author of
nature has been pleased to add cleanliness, as on account
of the acrid bitterness of its sap but few insects will har-
bor upon it.

The first mulberry tree that was planted in Franca
was near Montelimart, and nearly three centuries after
(in 1802) the original tree was still in existence.

In England it was first planted in the year 1548 ; Mr
Phillips saw at Sion House the original trees. He found
their interior so decayed that the timber crumbled on
being touched : the propped branches were nevertheless
so well nourished, that the fruit and foliage were not in-
ferior to those of the youngest trees. Of the plantations
formed during the reign of James I. many venerable
remains are still seen in England. Mr Phillips found a
black mulberry tree in a garden adjoining Greenwich
Park, which is supposed to be one of the oldest in
England. ' It throws out,' says Mr P., * ten large branch-
es so near the earth, that it has the appearance of half a
score of large trees rather than one, and notwithstanding
many of the projecting branches have been sawed off, it
completely covers a circumference of one hundred and
fifty feet ; and although the elder trees have fixed their
abode in some parts of the trunk and other parts are
covered with ivy, it continues to give shoots as vigorous

as the youngest tree and produces the finest mulberries
in England. It is a regular bearer, and the gardener
assured me that he gathered more than eighty quarts per
day during the season.

THE CHINESE MULBERRY.

Besides the varieties of the mulberry tree heretofore
mentioned, there is one, which, if we may believe the
recommendations of it, is superior to all others for the
culture of silk : I mean the Chinese mulberry.*

The following account of it I derive from the second
No. of the Silk Culturist, a valuable and useful work,
published by Dr Felix Pascalis, of New York. It is con-
tained in a letter to the author from Havre.

* Samuel Perrottet, a member of the Linnasan Society
of Paris, employed by government as a travelling botanist,
returned to this port after a voyage of thirtyfour months.
He brought with him eightyfour boxes of various dimen-
sions, containing one hundred and fiftyeight species of
living plants, of at least eight feet in height, to the quanti-
ty of five hundred and thirtyfour individuals. All these
productions had been procured in the seas of Asia, or
gathered on the coast or in the lands of Cayena. From
the commencement of the present century, there had nev-
er before been so vast an importation — one so extensive
in number, for rare genera, species and families, and
vegetable productions, or of their seeds. All of them
passed under my examination, and they rather appeared

« to have come out of a green house than from a ship.

* See the leaf in Fig. 3, Plate 2, reduced to one twelfth of its
natural size.

c In this immense collection was the Morus multicaulis,
thus called by Perroltet, for the first time ascertained to
be the real Chinese mulberry, Morus alba sinensis, of
which every silk grower and culturist should endeavor
to multiply the species. It has been deposited in the
Royal Garden. Monsieur Perrottet says that it grows
with many shoots from the roots, with tender stems and
large foliage, of a much more nourishing nature than the
European mulberry.

4 Chinese inhabitants assured him, that to this tree
the disciples of Confucius are indebted for the prosper-
ity and solidity of their empire.

1 The Morus multicaulis is already propagating in
many parts of France-, and probably will be substituted
and preferred to all the other varieties. Among the
other qualities of the plant, it is affirmed in China that a
less quantity of this foliage is required for the precious
insects than of that which we are obliged to provide for
them. Monsieur P. has left the tree in Cayena, where
it is now flourishing in dry and barren soils.5

I have received half a dozen shrubs from Mr
Prince's Nursery on Long Island, which comprise six
different varieties of the mulberry, one of which is the
Morus multicaulis, and Mr Prince writes to me that
he has them for sale.* During my late visit to

* I have seen a few of the plants of the Morus multicaulis in the
Kenrick Nurser)r at Newton, which were transplanted from Mr
Prince's the present season, and are now in a flourishing condition.
Our nurserymen will find it for their interest to propagate this
plant as extensively as they can for the present, by inoculation and
grafting.

23

Madame Parmentier's Nursery at Brooklyn, N. Y., I
saw several hundred of these plants which looked very
thrifty, bore very large leaves, seemed to take well to the
soil, and grow with uncommon rapidity. 1 picked sev-
eral leaves from them, each of which more than covered
the crown of my hat. The leaves were given to the silk
worms in my presence and were devoured by them with
great avidity. This lady has also twelve different varie-
ties of, the mulberry in her nursery, but this seems to be
fast taking the place of all others.

Mr Richard K. Haight, an intelligent merchant of the
city of New York, has one hundred of these plants,
which were imported from France the present season,
which I saw in his* nursery at Brooklyn in a flourishing
condition. He has also some Chinese mulberry trees of
a different character, which he has imported with great
care and which may prove upon experiment to be valu-
able. I have brought this valuable plant into Massachu-
setts and intend to inoculate some thousands of the com-
mon white in my nursery with buds the present season
if possible.

The following statistics of a mulberry orchard of
two acres, are by the late Andrew Parmentier, Esq. of
New York :

650 standard trees in the low parts of the ground, each

20 feet apart*

250 standard trees on the rising places, 12 feet apart.
650 dwarf trees on suitable portions of the ground.

3550

This ground to be fenced by mulberry hedges. The
purchase money for about two acres, with cost of manure
and necessary tillage, is estimated at $500.

24

Supposing that to secure full success to this orchard
by using none of the foliage, and tilling and replacing
dead trees during five years, counting loss of interest
and other expenses accruing, we have an increase of
debt of $375, and a capital of $881 ; but commenc-
ing from the fifth year up to the twentieth of its existence,
the author of these statistics forms three different periods
of five years each. The plantation will give in the first
period from 90 to 95 quintals of foliage, that is, 9000 Ibs.
or fodder for five ounces of worm seeds ; 35 pounds of
silk,'about $180, that is, 20 per cent on $881. The
second period will annually afford for fourteen ounces,
15,000 quintals or 95 Ibs. of silk, equal to 47 per'cent on
$881. But the third period to the twentieth year of
age of the orchard, from 500 to 650 quintals may be
expected, which will feed 28 ounces and give 196 Ibs.
of silk, worth nearly $ 1 000, or more than 112 per cent.

Admitting however that each crop of silk costs some
expense, which in no way whatever could be one quar-
ter or one third the profits, these latter are so secured
and so considerable, that the undertaking would prove
in the highest degree useful and profitable.

PART II.

ON REARING SILK WORMS.

THE silk insect affords a display of the wisdom of
Divine Providence in the adaptation of means to ends,
calculated to excite high interest and admiration.

The extraordinary effect produced by this little ani-
mal in the short space of six weeks is no less than the
conversion of the vegetable substance of the mulberry
leaf into threads of rich and durable silk. Well might the
Emperor Justinian be astonished to find that the rich and
beautiful material of his magnificent robes was first pro-
duced and worn by this feeble insect ; and well might
he repay with munificence the monks by whose exertions
the eggs of the silk worm were smuggled in a hollow
cane from India to Constantinople. This hollow cane
was the ark whence came out the germ of those numer-
ous tribes of this insect which have spread over the whole
of Europe, and whose descendants are now fast settling
in these United States. Let us commence with the eggs
of this insect, and trace its operations, its wants, and va-
rious changes, till it forms the cocoon, from which pro-
ceeds the moth, which in its turn produces the egg.
3

THE EGGS.

The eggs are of small size.* When first laid, they
are of a pale yellow color, but in three or four days turn
to a light slate color, and subsequently to a dull brownish
slate color. Those which remain yellow have not been
fecundated, and of course are worthless. The most
proper place for keeping the eggs until they are wanted
for hatching is a dry cellar. They should be kept in a
tight box, to protect them from mice or insects, and dry,
so that the mould and mildew may not injure them.

THE HATCHING, LEAVES, ETC. .

The advance of the season determines the time of
hatching the eggs. As soon as the leaf of the mulberry
begins to unfold — which is generally in this climate (New
England,) the latter part of May — and you observe
that there is a prospect of having a sufficient quantity of
food, it is time to expose the eggs to hatch. No other
process is necessary than to expose them to the air in a
room ; they hatch voluntarily in a day or two after the
exposure. Various modes are adopted in Europe —
hatching them in ovens, carrying them about the person,
&ic, — but nothing of that kind is necessary here.

It is best to preserve those insects for rearing, that
come out as nearly at the same time as possible. As
soon as the worms begin to appear,f lay over them young
and tender mulberry leaves ; they will soon attach them-
selves to the leaves and by taking hold of the stems of the

*Vide Figure 1, Plate 1.
t See Figure 2, Plate 1.

27

leaves you may remove them easily. They ought now
to be supplied with fresh tender leaves three times a
day. As the leaves when very young will dry so much in
a short time if exposed to the air as to be unfit for use,
you may put them in a glazed vessel or keep them cover-
ed in a cellar or cool place ; by which means the leaves
may be kept good for two or three days.* Besides, it is
well to have always in your house at a time, a stock of
leaves sufficient at least for three days' provision for your
worms in case of wet weather. If leaves are given when
wet they will cause disease. Be careful never to pull the
leaves when wet, either with rain or dew, except on abso-
lute necessity, and in that case you must spread them and
turn them, that the leaves may be perfectly dry before you
give them to the worms ; rats, mice, spiders, ants and
fowls are very destructive to the worms ; care must be
taken therefore to keep them out of the way of all such
enemies.

THE NURSERY, SHELVES, ETC.

In Europe laboratories have been constructed with
great care and expense ; but however convenient these
may be, they are by no means necessary to success in
rearing silk worms ; almost any building will answer for
that purpose. I have reared them myself with success in
a barn, in my cellar kitchen, and other rooms of my
dwelling-house, and in the lower story of Tremont House

* Mr D'H. proposes the following method to preserve leaves :
Put them under cover on a brick pavement, or gravelled floor;
turn them over and place them further where it is not damp (for
they always leave a dampness where they lie) three or four times
a day or an hour before you feed the worms; you may thus keep
them three or four days. The leaf wants air to keep fresh.

28

in Boston. It was found in France that the cocoons
brought to market by the peasants, raised in hovels so
full of cracks as easily to be seen through and to admit
the air freely, were richer and heavier than those reared in
palaces and in the confined rooms of dwellings in cities.*
The apparatus of the Rev. Mr Swain, I should think might
be worth adopting, for those who are beginning on a small
scale ; in fact I have had something like it constructed
for my own use. This apparatus consists of a wooden
frame, four feet two inches high, each side ; sixteen inches
and a half wide, divided into eight partitions by small
pieces of wood, which form grooves in which the slides
run, and are thus easily thrust in or drawn out of the frame.
The upper slide is of paper only and designed to re-
ceive the worms as scon as hatched ; the others are of
wicker work, the opening being about a quarter of an
inch square ; under each of these are slides. This occu-
pies little space and is neat, and the persons using it can
easily remove the litter. I have used three tiers of rough
pine boards fixed upon upright posts, about four feet in
width, one above the other, with a space between of two

* I saw at Philadelphia on the 21st of June last, worms raised by
Mr D'Homergue in a yard of mulberry trees, which bore heavy
rains and thunder storms, as well as cold windy days, a few of
which spun in 30 days and produced excellent cocoons. They
began to mount 32 days after hatching. I also saw a few worms
raised from eggs which were laid on the outside of a brick wall in
a northern exposure, which had stood all the severity of the winter.
I saw many thousands of excellent cocoons raised by Mr Du Pon-
ceau under the care of Mr D'Homergue in the heart of the city
of Philadelphia. I tried some on trees in the open air the present
season, but they did not succeed ; they obtained however to a con-
siderable size, but the frequent rains destroyed them.

29

and a half feet, affording room sufficient to pass all round
the frame, so that I could conveniently reach any part of
it. In making the shelves, it is well to have the lowest
one six inches broader than the one above it, and to
make the same difference in the other shelves above, so
as to break the fall of such worms as happen to tumble
down. A good form for the shelves is that adopted by
Mr J. Y. Tomkins of Baltimore, and which I saw in
the nursery of Gideon B. Smith, Esq. of that place.
It is about 2 J feet wide, by five or six long, made of thin
boards, with a piece two inches wide nailed flat on the
upper edge along the sides and ends, with legs about a
foot long in the corners. The legs do not pass through
the table, but leave a part of the hole on the upper side
for the feet of another table to set in. Thus contrived
five or six of these tables are set one above another, and
are taken down, cleaned and again set up with facility.
One of these shelves will accommodate 500 worms.*
It might be as well to put old newspapers on the shelves,
which might be taken off whenever it was necessary to
clean the worms, and then replaced. — Thus I have done.

THE DIFFERENT AGES, MOULTING, ETC.

There are several varieties of silk worms.f The most
common varieties change their skins four different times.
These changes are called moultings, and the intervening

* Farmers, however, who would make it profitable, should raise
one or^two hundred thousand, and rough boards will make the
cheapest and most ready shelves for use on an extensive scale.

t I saw in the Nursery of Gideon B. Smith, Esq. of Baltimore
four different varieties. I would recommend, as most profitable
for rearing, the large white.

3*

30

times the different ages. The time requisite for the
several changes depends greatly on the temperature.
If the weather is warm, they will generally happen as
follows : the first moulting on the fourth or fifth day after
the hatching ; the second begins on the eighth day ; the
third on the thirteenth and fourteenth days, and the last
change on the twentysecond.

The fifth age lasts about ten days ; at the end of which
the worms have reached their ultimate growth, being
three inches in length,* and are prepared to spin their
cocoons. Thus thirtytwo days intervene between the
hatching and the beginning of the cocoon, and I have
known the period retarded to sixty days. These changes
will only be noticed by accurate observers.

FEEDING, CLEARING THE LITTER, ETC.

Too many leaves should not be given to them at once,
and the leaves given should be spread very thin, because
if put on too thick, a great nufhberof the worms when
small will run the risk of being lost and carried out among
the litter. When the worms are in the first age, you need
only clean the litter once or twice, as you find it neces-
sary. During the whole of the first age, the.leaves of the
young plants of the mulberry, as being the tenderest,
are preferable to the leaves of older trees for the food of
the young worms. It is well therefore to sow some mul-
berry seed every year so as to have a succession of young
plants. During the temporary sickness produced

* See Figures, 2, 3, 4, 5, or the different appearance of the in-
sect in its different ages.

31

by the changing of the skin they should be fed with a
very sparing hand. The signs by which it is known that
worms are sick and about to change their skins, are these :
they hold their heads up, are motionless and appear to
sleep ; — this should be noticed.

During the second age it is advisable still to continue to
feed your worms with leaves from the young plants, as
they are still preferable for them. You must now begin
to be attentive to clear away the litter from time to time,
so as to prevent all danger from its heating, which proves
highly injurious, though some people never clear away
the litter at all. These insects are remarkably fond of
cleanliness, which besides helps to enliven them and
gives them a keen appetite for the leaves that are given
them. The litter is taken away in the following manner ;
you scatter some fresh leaves upon one corner of the shelf,
to which the worms having attached themselves, which
they will readily do, you thentake up the worms by means
of the leaves and stalks they cling to, leaving the litter
underneath. Having thus taken up all the worms from
that corner and placed them in a clean place, you then
clear away the litter from that corner and carefully sweep
together with a little broom or wing all the dirt, which
you remove entirely : you then remove the worms next
adjoining to the clean place thus prepared and put them
into it ; in this manner you proceed with the rest.*

During the third age the full grown leaves of the

* If the worms are laid on a newspaper, it is easy to take out the
newspaper, lay it on a table, and transport the worms, who generally
adhere to the leaves and branches, to another newspaper, which is
put on the shelf after sweeping it. The litter on the other one may
then be thrown away.

largest trees may be given — though it would be well to
reserve the largest and toughest leaves till the last age,
when they are the most voracious. During the third
age, the litter should be removed at least three or four
times ; worms that die or appear to be diseased should
be immediately removed.

The same treatment will be required during the fourth
and fifth ages as in the preceding. As they advance in
age the greater will be the proportion of food required and
the oftener the litter must be removed ; by these means
the process is sooner brought to a conclusion, and the
worms always kept in high health and appetite. During
the four or five days previous to their rising, the worms
consume an incredible quantity of leaves, eating with
great voracity, and at this time the labor of tending them
is most fatiguing. You will know when the worms are ripe
or ready to rise and form their cocoons by observing them
with attention when you give fresh leaves. Those that
are ripe, instead of eating, avoid the fresh leaves, and run
over them as fast as they can wander about, and try to
climb ; they will look transparent, of the color of a green
gage plum, and somewhat diminished in size.

In the fifth age the worms should have new leaves as
often as the old ones are consumed, until they are observ-
ed to creep on the leaves without eating. At night they
should have a double portion.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE COCOONS.

Previous to the rising of the worms, some little arches
or cabins should have been prepared of brushwood or
broom corn, by setting their branches with their top

33

spread, pressing; against the bottom of the upper shelf to
hold them in their position. The worms will readily find
and climb these little trees and spin their, cocoons in
them ; the worms will be three or four days spinning
their cocoons,* and they will all generally be finished in
eight days. The brush may. then be taken down, the
cocoons taken off, cleared ofthe loose tow and prepared
for reeling. I have found that the branches of the oak,
with the leaves on. answered the purpose for these arches
very well, as the leaves are strong and do not crumble
in taking off the silk. They should be cut some days
before hand, and be dry when used. Some prefer to
have the brushwood, entirely stripped of its leaves. Mr
Smith, of Baltimore, uses and recommends the broom
corn.

SEED COCOONS.

Those cocoons that are intended for seed may be
stripped of their tow and strung upon a thread — care be-
ing taken not to pierce entirely through the cocoons — and

* Dr Pascalis of New York, a gentleman of great literary reputation
and high scientific attainments, has by the use of Electricity been'en-
abled to hasten the progress of silk insects ; and worms reared by
him, to which this powerful agent was applied, have spun their
cocoons in 27 days from the time Ihey were hatched. I have
never made any experiments in this way myself, but doubt not
that this, as well as many other improvements will be introduced.
The same gentleman has also recommended in his valuable work,
the Silk Culturist, (No. 2, page 105) artificial mounting slides,
upon which the worms may mount and spin their cocoons. Those
who have curiosity to see these improvements, will find a drawing
of them in the work referred to.

* See the Cocoon, Fig. 7, Plate 1,

34

hung up until such time as the moths come out,* which
will he in one or two weeks, when the males and females
will couple ; they may be taken by the wings in pairs
without separating them and placed on large sheets of
paper, (old newspapers will do,) where they are to re-
main ; as many pairs of moths as can conveniently lie on
the papers may be placed there. The room in which
these are placed should be secure from mice and ants,
and the sun should not be permitted to shine on them in
any stage of their existence ; as soon as the moths on
one sheet have done laying their eggs, it should be folded
up and put down cellar, or in some cool, dry place until
wanted for use the next spring.

The moths (see fig.) are in the form of a grayish
wrhite butterfly and generally begin to lay their eggs in
24 to 36 hours, after leaving the cocoon. Each female
moth will lay from three to four hundred eggs, general-
ly handsomely disposed and firmly attached to the paper
in a circular form.

Should the eggs be permitted to remain exposed to
the warm weather, they will sometimes hatch the same
season, and unless another crop be desired, they will be
lost. The moths eat nothing after leaving the cocoons,
and die in a few days after depositing the eggs.

DISEASES OF SILK WORMS.

The foreign writers enumerate and describe a variety of
diseases to which silk worms are liable in their differen
ages, and particularly in the fifth, which all agree to be the
most critical. But to all these diseases they prescribe the

* See the Fly, Fig. 8, Plate 1.

35

same means of prevention and the same remedies when
they have occurred. It is therefore unnecessary to de-
scribe Jieir various symptoms, as it would lead to no good
practical result.

The diseases of silk worms generally arise from the
want of sufficient air and space, from their not being kept
dry, and being fed with damp leaves, and also from their
not being kept sufficiently clean, particularly in the fifth
age. The fermentation of their litter, the dampness and
the bad air which it occasions, are the most frequent cau-
ses of mortality among them. The greatest care there-
fore should be taken to keep them constantly clean and
dry, and to give them a sufficient quantity of space and
air; a current of air in fine warm days, should always
be let into their nursery. If, notwithstanding all the care
taken, some general sickness should declare itself among
them, the remedy recommended by the writers, is, to give
them a change of air, by transporting them into another
room. But this may not always be convenient. It is
with these animals, as with our species, easier to prevent
diseases than to cure them. If nothing better can be done,
the diseased worms must be thrown away. The chloride
of lime and soda have been used with good effect in
some nurseries to cleanse the air.

Before the worms begin to mount and spin their co-
coons, they void themselves of their excrements, and they
generally do it on or near the edge of the board on which
they are placed. Those who have not strength enough
to cast off their excrements/die in the attempt, and in the
morning numbers of them are found dead. They should
be carefully taken up and thrown away. When many
are found in that condition, it is a sign that the litter is
fermenting and that a cleaning is necessary.

36

It is possible that there may be diseases of the silk
worms peculiar to the climate. Experience will enlight-
en us on the subject. I have heard that ladies in one of
our Southern States have lost all their worms this year,
from the plague getting in among them. It is certain that
there are epidemic disorders by which whole nurseries
of silk worms are sometimes destroyed. But these are
of rare occurrence in our country; and it is hoped that
they may be prevented by careful attention to the rules
prescribed.

CURING THE COCOONS.

Were it possible to wind off all the cocoons before the
insect naturally pierces them, it would be best to do it,
because the silk at that time winds off with greater ease
than afterwards. But as this is sometimes impossible,
and often inconvenient, various methods have been de-
vised to stifle the ehrysales in the cocoons. This may
be done by placing them in an oven, moderately heated,
or in the steam of boiling water ; even the sun is sufficient
for this purpose in southern latitudes, by acting upon
them several days. I have used the first method with
success. The oven being moderately heated, the co-
coons were spread out, in oblong baskets eight inches
deep, in box covers, pans, &LC, and permitted to remain
in the oven half an hour. In being cured they lose about
twentyfive per cent in weight. Mr Smith of Baltimore
says, he has found the following method preferable to
any other, and that the object is perfected without dan-
ger of injuring the silk. I put the cocoons, says he,
into a tight tin vessel with a cover, closely fitted, and put
this vessel into another a little larger, containing such
quantity of water as will nearly fill it, when the other is
put into it.

37

Fire is then applied, and the water kept boiling, half
an hour or more, according to the size of the vessel, and
until the cocoons in the inner vessel shall have become as
hot as the boiling water. The cocoons are then spread
out in a dry room, that the moisture may evaporate
After this operation, the cocoons are ready for the reel
or for sale.*

SPACE REQUIRED FOR SILK WORMS.

It is calculated that the worms proceeding from one
ounce of eggs, which in numbers are estimated at 35 to
40,000, should have a space on the shelves,

squ. ft. in.

In the 1st age of - - - 74

In the 2d age of 14 8

In the 3d age of - - - - 34 10
In the 4th age of - - 82 6

In the 5th age of - - - 183 4

As a general rule they ought not to touch one another.

QUANTITIES OF SILK YIELDED BY VARIOUS PARCELS
OF COCOONS,

Eight pounds of cocoons (16 ozs. to the pound,) pro-
duced from 16 to 18 ounces of silk, 6 to 9 cocoons to
the thread. Mrs Williams obtained nearly one ounce
and a half, from 244 cocoons.

Miss Rhodes had on an average one ounce from 244
cocoons.

The estimates of the number of worms to make a
pound of spun silk are various.

* This might do, perhaps, for a small quantity of cocoons, but I
think for a large one, it would cost too much, and give too much
trouble.

4

38

Mr Storrs, of Conn, says 4000 ; Mr Tufts, of Dudley,
3000 ; Mr D'Hornergue says 2400, of 350 to a pound,
the moth not stifled.

I should say the last estimate was the most correct,
and even a less number will produce a pound if they
are well taken care of. I have had three pounds from
8000 in one season including floss.

WEIGHT OF COCOONS.

Two hundred cocoons, from worms raised in the ear-
ly settlement of Georgia, weighed a pound. In Penn-
sylvania, 306 cocoons from worms fed by the late Mr
Busti, and from 490 to 600 in the establishment of Mr
Terhoven, weighed a pound.*

It is very evident that there is a great difference in
the weight as well as the quality of cocoons; and the
quantity required to make a pound of reeled silk. This
may depend upon the different variety of the worms or
the greater or less care in nursing them.

*Mr Pintard of Philadelphia, has raised Silk Worms from eggs pro-
duced on Messrs Terhovens' farm, 335 of the cocoons of those
worms, chrysales not killed, weighed one pound. Mr D'Homer-
gue aided him in counting and weighing them.

Of the cocoons raised in Philadelphia by Mr D'Homergue the
present year, which 1 saw, the eggs were partly from South Caro-
lina and partly from France ; the former were large and were found
when weighed, to contain 337 to a pound. The French cocoons
were small, ami 387 weighed one pound. The chrysalis not stifled
and the cocoons just gathered.

Of cocoons raised in Massachusetts, by Mrs Davenport o Milton,
frorn eggs furnished by me, and tended agreeably to my instruc-
tions, 206 weighed one pound, before the chrysales were killed,
and 407 weighed two pounds.

39

The following calculation of the labor attending and
connected with the culture of silk, is by John Fitch, Esq.
of Mansfield, Conn, and is taken from the Manual pub-
lisher by order of Congress. One acre of full grown
mulberry trees, set one and a half rods apart, will pro-
duce 40 pounds of silk.

The labor may be estimated as follows :

For the three first weeks after the worms are hatch-
ed, one woman who is acquainted with the business, or
children who would be equal to such a person.

For the next twelve or fourteen days, five hands or
what would be equal to five if performed by children,
In this period two men with other help would be employ-
ed to better advantage than all women and children.
This period finishes with the worms. For picking of
the balls and reeling the silk, it will require about the
same amount of labor for the same length of time as the
last mentioned period, which may all be performed by
women and children. The aforesaid labor and board
may be estimated at eighty dollars ; spinning the silk at
thirtyfour dollars ; forty pounds of silk, at the lowest cash
price is worth two hundred dollars, which makes the
following results.

40 pounds silk at $5 per pound - - $900, 00

Labor and board - 80,00

Spinning 34,00

114,00

Net profit per acre $86,00

The principal part of the labor may be performed by
women and children. But when the business is carried
on to a considerable extent it is considered more profita-
ble to employ some men for the last period of the worms.

40

COST OF RAISING SILK WORMS, BY MR D'HOMERGUE.

Four ounces of eggs, each ounce containing about
35,000 eggs, making, in all. 140,000 eggs.

If the mulberry trees are on the farm where the eggs
are raised, two women are sufficient to gather the leaves,
until the fourth moulting. The worms should be fed
three times a day, and cleaned once after each moulting.

In the last ten days additional help is necessary, as
the worms require more frequent cleaning, in consequence
of the greater quantity of leaves which they consume ;
and to prevent fermentation, and consequent sickness,
more attention is required at this time.

Mr Du Ponceau has raised seven ounces of eggs with
only the labor of two persons, and these not employed
the whole of each day, except on the last ten days, and
some occasional help, who were employed to bring leaves
from the country, two miles distant. In the three first
weeks, one person could have done the whole business,
except gathering and bringing the leaves. This was
done in the city of Philadelphia.

The following is the calculation of Mr D'Homergue.*

An acre contains 45.537 square feet. 1500 mulberry
trees, six years old, will produce each 30 Ibs. of leaves,
which makes 45,000 Ibs. An acre will contain 1500
mulberry trees, planted at the distance of twelve square
feet from each other. This is in case it is wished to
grow corn or wheat in the intervals between the trees.
But if the ground is to be devoted to mulberry trees alone,
3000 trees may be planted on an acre at six square feet
distance, and these at six years old will produce 90,000

* It is evi lent that Mr D'Homergue does not mean the
one.

41

Ibs. of leaves. Selling the leaves at half a cent per
pound, the purchaser gathering them, or at one cent per
pound delivered to the purchaser, would produce in the
first case $900, in the latter $450.

According to the calculation of Dandolo, which appears
exaggerated, 90,000 pounds of leaves, at twentyone
pounds of leaves for one pound of cocoons, would pro-
duce at least 3700 Ibs. of cocoons, which, at twentyfive
cents per pound (the rnoth not being stifled,) would pro-
duce $925. After killing the chrysalids, the cocoons
will produce a higher price, say thirty, forty, or perhaps
fifty cents per pound, according to the quality and the
abundance, or scarcity of the articles, and the profit will
be proportionate.

The said 3700 pounds of cocoons, being good and
well reeled, will produce, at eight pounds of cocoons
for one pound of silk, 420 pounds of the raw article,
which at $3 perpound/the price China silk sells for in
our seaports, will amount to $1260;, and if perfectly
well reeled and suited to the European market may
produce $2520, at the rate of $6 per pound.

4*

PART III.

REELING AND MANUFACTURING SILK.

IN Europe, where the divisibility of labor is carried
on to a great extent, it is thought necessary that the silk
should pass through the hands of many workmen before
Jt can be brought into goods for sale. But I have been
able with the assistance of one man, to turn my raw silk
to a profitable account in the manufacture of fringes,
cords, furniture bindings, &c, which are in demand in
our market, and which have produced more profit than
sewing silk. Those who do not choose to proceed any
farther in the business than to raise the cocoons, may re-
alize a reward for their indusrry, by selling the silk in
that shape. I have lately seen regular advertisements
in the papers, offering cash for cocoons ; and there is
no doubt but that there will soon be established throughout
the United States a regular market price for the article.

But as raw silk is the shape in1 which the article must
be sent to foreign manufacturers, if exported, and in
which it meets with a cash market in almost every part

43

of Europe, and in many parts of our own country ; it be-
comes of great importance that we should reel the co-
coons, at least, and that in the most economical and
profitable manner. The art of reeling was formerly car-
ried on to considerable extent in Georgia, and large
quanities of raw silk were exported. It has been car-
ried on in Connecticut for seventy years, in a way
which will be mentioned hereafter. Dr Franklin ad-
dressed a letter on the subject to Dr Cadwallader Evans,
from London, January 1 5, 1770. The Philosophical So-
ciety of Pennsylvania, to whom he sent the work of the
Abbe Sauvage, a summary of which has been published by
Mr Odell, of Burlington, resolved to petition the Legisla-
ture for the encouragement of this new branch of industry,
and proposed to raise a fund by subscription, for the
purchase of cocoons and a filature. Eight hundred and
seventyfive pounds, were obtained the first year among
the citizens, and this money was laid out for the purpose.
But unfortunately the war of the Revolut on put a stop
to the scheme. Lately, however, Peter S. Du Ponceau,
Esq. of Philadelphia, the friend and companion in arms of
Lafayette, has made successful exertions in this depart-
ment. He has associated to his labors Monsieur J.
D'Homergue, who is a native of Nismes in France, and
was educated in that country in an extensive manufacto-
ry of silk, and is familiar with all the processes used in
that country. These gentleman have published a valua-
ble series of essays on the subject of silk culture, the
impulse of which has been felt throughout the Union, and
their publication has on the whole, thrown great light on
the general subject. And although the establishment of a
national school of filature as contemplated by these gentle-

44

men, has not yet received the patronage of the govern-
ment, there is strong reason to oelieve that it will be fully
considered by Congress at their next session. Mr Du
Ponceau sent me some of the silk reeled by Mr D'Homer-
gue the last year, which was of excellent quality. I had
it throwsted by Mr Brown, and returned to him. In a
late letter to me Mr Du Ponceau stated that he had been
honored with letters from all parts of the continent from
Maine to Louisiana, requesting information on this sub-
ject. That the impulse given by the operations of Con-
gress had been felt even in Europe ; that he had caused
one hundred copies of the Report of the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives of the United
States, to be printed in English, and one hundred in
French, and to be disseminated throughout Europe.
The result had been that numbers of silk manufacturers,
throwsters, dyers and weavers, had come to this country
from England, France and Germany, having heard at
home that the silk business was encouraged here ; but
they have found no work for want of raw silk, and were
obliged to turn to the cotton manufactories for employ-
ment. That no reelers were among them. The plan
which these gentlemen have proposed might obviate this
difficulty ; and all must allow the convenience and necessi-
ty of having a uniform method of reeling, and of the im-
portance of availing ourselves of all the skill and art of
foreigners in this department. The elegant flag presented
to Congress at their last session by Mr Du Ponceau, and
a similar one to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, show
what may be done in this way at some future period, if
the time has not yet arrived, to creat extensive manu-
factories. Mr D. had about sixty pounds of raw silk reel-

45

ed at his filature, which he has sent to different markets
to try the prices.*

Mr D'Homergue divides the raw^silk into three qual-
ities, graduated according to their different degrees of
fineness. These different qualities, before they undergo
the operations that are to fit them for the loom, are dis-
tinguished as first, second and third qualities beginning
with the finest. They assume other names as soon as
they have been prepared and made fit for the manufac-
turer. Then they have ceased to be raw silk, and they
are called singles, organzine and tram silks, according
to their different degrees of fineness, and the manner in
which they have been passed through a certain machine
called a mill.

* Since writing the above I have visited thn city of Philadelphia,
and was politely favored by Mr Du Ponceau, with liberty to make
several visits to his nursery and filature. The filature was establish-
ed by Mr Du Ponce-iu under the direction of Mr D'Homergue,
in which ten reels have been employed, each of which is worked
by two women under the superintendence of Mr D'Homergue. This
filature is not in a room, but under a shed en'irely open on one side
with hangings from the roof on the other, which may be opened
when required to promote a free circnlation of air. The reels of
this filature are made chiefly on the model of the Piedmontese reel,
(vide plate) somewhat simplified by Mr D'Homergue, Mr D'Homer-
gue put one of these reels in operaHon in my presence, and it ap-
peared to work very easily. The silk reeled by Mr D'Homergue, at
that time, I have preserved as a specimen, and have since been in-
formed by an intelligent merchant of New York, that it would bring
seven dollars a pound in France I was also shown several parcels
of sewing silk, manufactured by Mr D'Homergue, from the refuse
cocoons. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the fairness and
liberality of these gentlemen in introducing me to every depart-
ment of the siU business, and for the polite attentions I received
from them during a visit of two or three days to their city. — E!D,

46

Singles (called in French le poil) that is to say hair
silk, is made of the first quality of raw silk, consequently
the finest, as the name implies. It is made of a single
thread. This silk is used for the woof of the lighter
stuffs, the warp which is made of cotton thread.

Organzine (in French organsins) is the next in fine-
ness. It is employed in weaving to make the warp of
those stuffs that are made entirely of silk.

Tram silk (in French La tram-e) which means woof
silk, is thickest of the three and is the thread of which
is made the woof of silk stuffs.

Of the three qualities of raw silk of which these differ-
ent threads are made, the second, that which makes
organzine, is the most in demand in foreign markets.
It was in extracting the silk to form this quality that
Mr D'Hornergue discovered the superior fineness of the
American silk, by finding that it required a much greater
quantity of threads to produce the different qualities of
raw silk above-mentioned than the cocoons of Europe.

In regard to the imperfect cocoons, Mr D'Hornergue
makes use of the excellent paragraph from scripture,
6 gather up the fragments that nothing remain.' He says
there are a great variety of these, whose threads are not
susceptible of being prepared for the manufacture of silk
stuffs. They are called in French chiques. The mate-
rial extracted from these cocoons is employed in the
manufacture of sewing silk. This silk is of two kinds,
each of which has its first and second quality. The name
of sewing silk is exclusively appropriated to the finest of
these two species, the other is called cordonnet or twist.

The sewing silk, so called, is employed in the sewing
of silk stuffs, the cordonnet is used for working button"

47

holes, and working woollen and cotton stuffs. The one
is for the use of tailors, the other for milliners and mantua-
makers. Tailors employ it only in the more delicate
works. The raw silk for these purposes is extracted from
the bad cocoons, reeled and wound into skeins, according
to its different degrees of fineness, in the same manner
and by the same process (varying only in details) as that
intended to be used for the manufacture of fine stuffs.
It is sold in market under the name of raw silk, but does
not bear so high a price as the other.

There is a loose, furzy substance on the outside of the
cocoons, wh'ch is neither fit for use in the silk manufac-
tory, nor for sewing silk. This is commonly called floss.
To this are added all which either form some defect in
the cocoons or from the awkwardness of the reeler, either
break or come out uneven, or are otherwise unfit for use,
and which are called waste silk. This mass boiled in
soap and water, and afterwards carded and spun on the
spinning wheel, makes excellent yarn for stockings.

Mr D'Homergue classes the different kinds of silk ex-
tracted from the cocoons into six different kinds, viz.

Jst, Silk of the first quality or singles.

2d, Silk of the second quality or organzine.

3d, Silk of the third quality or tram silk.

4th, Sewing Silk of the first and second quality.

5th, Cordonnet or twist Silk of the first and 2d quality.

6th, Floss Silk.

The whole of the labor of extracting these different
silks from the cocoons, and all the preparatory work until
it is put to the mill is done in France by women, who
have separate tasks assigned to them in each of the
yarious complicated branches of this business ; the work-

48

shops are superintended by an overseer who is master of
the whole business.

Mr Murray, a European writer, says that he visited an
establishment for unwinding the silk at Buffalora on the
Milanese frontier. Women were arranged opposite each
other and conducted the process ; the cocoons contained
in baskets on one side, were thrown by handfuls into caul-
drons of water, kept boiling by charcoal fires beneath.
Each (by a whisk of peeled birch) collected the threads en
masse ; the first confused portions were rejected till the
threads unwound regularly, freely passing over the glass
rods to prevent the injuries of friction. The first portions,
necessarily useless, are separated by the hand. When the
thread came off uniformly, the cocoons were raised, sus-
pended to the hand by their respective threads, and thus
handed over to those on the opposite side, who in their
turn threw them into cauldrons of water, the temperature
of which was nearly that of blood heat and more than milk
warm, thus sustained by a steam pipe. The water was
thus kept clean and the silk preserved pure and unsoiled ;
from these the threads were finally wound. The pro-
prietor informed him that this establishment cost about
60,000 francs, or about twelve thousand dollars.

This was probably Gensoul's apparatus, on which
great encomiums have been passed. In this apparatus
the water is heated by steam ; but it is expensive and
has not yet got into general use even in Europe.

We in America are not obliged to pursue the same
course that is followed in Europe. The ingenuity and
intelligence of our community will soon arrange a reeling
apparatus by the family fireside ; and that part of the year
which cannot be employed in rearing the worms will be

49

advantageously improved in reeling the cocoons to any
given pattern or degree of fineness ; nor is there in fact
any more difficulty in it than in the manufacture of straw,
and many other employments which have engaged the at-
tention of our females. The time is not probably far
distant, when America will excel Europe in her silk
manufactures as much as she now does in her cotton.

The great requisite in reeling is evenness and equality
in the threads. After the cocoons by reeling have been
converted into raw silk, that silk, before it can be used
in the manufactory of fine stuffs, must undergo the oper-
ation of throwsting, that is to say, twisting, which is done
by means of a machine called a throwing or throwsting
mill, and the mechanics who perform that work, are cal-
led silk throwsters. There are several of them already
in the United States, chiefly from England, but they have
as yet been rnosily employed in throwsting foreign silk,
imported chiefly from China. The operation of throws-
ting is the test of the good or bad reeling of raw silk.
If it be entangled, or not sufficiently freed from its gum,
the threads break in the preparatory operation of wind-
ing, and that occasions much loss. If the threads are
not equal, that is to say, if there is not in each thread
as nearly as possible the same number of fibres, as the
twisting is done by machinery which works by an equal
regular motion, the force which will only twist the strong
parts of the thread will break the weak ones, and that
with the loss by winding, produces what is called waste.
In proportion to the greater or less quantity of waste that
is found in raw silk is the price or value in foreign mar-
kets.

Mr Du Ponceau has communicated to me a letter
5

50

wnich he nas received from an eminent silk merchant
in Paris, in which he tells him that the hest French raw
silks of 1 5 to 20 fibres, lose only by waste 1 to 2 per
cent ; those of Asiatic Turkey, from 6 to 8 ; those of
Calabria, 8 to 12 ; those of Valencia in Spain, 6 to 8;
those of Syria, 15 to 20 ; and those of Salonikt and the
Morea, he says, are still worse. That gentleman re-
quires two years for the American women to learn to
reel silk in perfection ; but there is no doubt that they
will learn in a much shorter time. The silk reeled last
year at Philadelphia, by women, under the direction of
Mr D'Homergue, was pronounced in England to be a
fair beginning. At the last news received from that
country, it had not yet been thrown, except a small sam-
ple at Manchester, which was said to have undergone
every test, and produced a result highly satisfactory.
In quality it was said to be superior to most Bengal silk,
and equal to the silks of Friuli and Trent.

Mr Richard Radnell, a late English writer, in his view
of the English silk trade, published at London in 1828,
states the average waste in different silks to be as follows :
— French silks, 4 to 1 0 per cent ; Lombardy silks 4 to
12 per cent ; Friuli silk, 4 to 15 per cent. So that it
would seem that French silk is better reeled than Ital-
ian silk, which is different from the opinion before gene-
rally entertained. On silk from Persia, the waste is es-
timated from 8 to 20 per cent ; and on Brutia silk, from
4 to 18.

As to Bengal silk, that which is reeled in the Com-
pany's filatures, which is distinguished by the name of
Novi Silk, because it is reeled under the direction of an
Italian from Novi, in Piedmont, is estimated to lose by

51

waste from 4 to 8 per cent, which would make it supe-
rior to French silk ; while that reeled in the native fila-
tures, as they are called, is estimated to lose from 5 to
15 per cent. See Radnell's View, p. 34.

The reeling of silk from the cocoons requires skill,
practice and experience. But let not those who under-
take it be easily discouraged : perseverance and attention
for a short season will enable them to become expert at
the business, although their first efforts may seem discour-
aging.

The following instructions for reeling silk, I have found
from practical experience of several years, in my own
family, to be useful. They are chiefly extracted from
the manual published by authority of Congress.

The reeling may be done at any season, but best in
dry weather ; it may be carried on in the dwelling-house
or in a shed, or other convenient out-building.

The softest water should be chosen for soaking the co-
coons. The proper temperature cannot be ascertained
until the reeling is commenced, owing to the different
composition of the silk. It is as well to raise it to near the
boiling point, and then, if necessary to lower it, cold wa-
ter may be added. The soft or satiny cocoons require
water less heated than the others. If too hot water be
used they furze out in unwinding. The dupions or dou-
ble cocoons require the hottest water. The fire under
the basin may be lessened or increased, as the occasion
may require ; a little attention will soon enable the per-
son who has the management of the basin to preserve the
water at the proper degree of heat. The reeling is effec-
ted by use of a silk reel, (vide plates) and a basin of
water set over a moderate fire in a small furnace. The
person charged with the management of the cocoons in

the basin must be provided with a small whisk of broom
corn, or birch twigs, cut sharp at the points ; and being
seated behind the basin, previously filled with hot soft
water, and placed upon a furnace, containing burning
charcoal, she must throw into the water a handful of the
cocoons, and press them gently under the water for two
or three minutes, in order to soften the gum of the silk,
and thereby to loosen the ends of the filaments. She is
then to stir the cocoons with the end of the whisk as light-
ly as possible, until one or more of the fibres or filaments
adhere to it ; when, disengaging it, and laying aside the
whisk, she is to draw the filament towards her, until ft
come off quite clean from the floss which always sur-
rounds the cocoon, and the fine silk begins to appear ;
then breaking off the thread, and collecting the floss first
taken off, she must put it aside ; the whisk is then to be
applied again to get hold of the firm fibres, and again,
until a sufficient number are procured to form the thread
of silk required to be wound off. This done, she is to
unite a number of the fibres, according to the fineness of
the intended thread, and deliver the compound thread to
the reeler, who puts it through the guides ; another thread
is in like manner to be prepared and passed through the
other guides, when two skeins are to be wound, and
they may be crossed ; the threads are then raised for-
ward and made fast to one of the arms of it. Both threads
being fastened to the reel, it is to be turned with a regular,
even motion, at first slowly, until the threads are found to
run freely ami easily ; for it will happen that some of
the ends which were taken to compose the thread were
false, because on taking off the floss there may be two
or three breaches made in the beginning of the fibres,

53

which, in winding, will soon end, and must be added
anew to make up the number designed for the thread.

It is proper, therefore, in the beginning of the thread,
to put a few more cocoons than it is intended to continue
as-they will soon be reduced to the proper number. The
crossing of the threads is considered an improvement,
though it is sometimes reeled without crossing.

As soon as the pods begin to give the threads free-
ly, the reel is turned with a quicker motion. If the
pods leap up often to the guide, the reel must be slack-
ened, and the spinner may let the thread pass between
the thumb and finger before it reaches the guide. If the
thread comes off in burrs, it must be turned quicker.
The fire may at any time "be increased or diminished,
as found necessary, that the reel may be allowed a proper
motion, which ought to be as quick as possible without
endangering the breaking of the thread, or hurrying the
spinner, so that she cannot add fresh cocoons, as fast as
the old ones are ended. The quicker the motion of the
wheel is, the better the' silk winds off and the better the
end joins to the thread. One might imagine that the
rapidity of the motion might overstrain and break the
thread ; but from constant experience it has been found
that the thread never breaks from the rapidity of the
motion ; but on the contrary, the quicker the motion is,
the more advantageous it is for winding the silk.

While the reel is turning, the spinner must continually
add fresh fibres to each thread as fast as she can find
the ends, not waiting till some of the number she began
with are ended, because the internal fibres are much
thinner than those constituting the external layers, but
must constantly prepare fresh ends by dipping the whisk

54

among fresh cocoons, of which such a quantity must be
occasionally thrown into the basin as will suffice to supply
the threads which are reeling, but not more.

The cocoons thrown in must be often forced under
water that they may be equally soaked, for as they swim
with their greater part above water, that part would
remain hard and stubborn, while the part which is un-
der water would be too much soaked ; some hot water
may be thrown upon them frequently with a brush, and
also on the cocoons which are reeling, when they grow
dry at the top and yield the fibres with difficulty. The
supplying fresh ends when the cocoons are exhausted, or
diminished or the fibres break, is performed by taking
one end of a fibre and throwing it lightly on the one that
is winding, and rolling them between the thumb and fin-
ger, or gently pressing them.

As often, therefore, as the cocoons, partially wound,
are exhausted, or the fibres break, fresh ones must be
joined to keep up the number requisite, or the proportion ;
thus three new ones may be wound and two half wound,
or four new ones, and ^the silk will then be a thread
of four to five cocoons. The adroitness in adding fresh
ends can only be acquired by practice. The difficulty of
keeping the thread even is so great, owing to the increased
fineness of the fibre inside, that we do not say a silk
of three or of four or of six cocoons, but a silk of three
to four, of four to five, and of six to seven.

In coarser silk we do riot calculate so nicely as one co-
coon more or less ; we say for example from twelve to
fifteen, from fifteen to twenty cocoons. In beginning a
thread often cocoons, from sixteen to twenty will some-
times be required to preserve a uniform thread, after a

55

portion of the first layer has been wound off. The quan-
tity of silk which can be reeled in any given time, is in
proportion to the quickness with which the spinner can
add fresh cocoons. Thus, if we suppose that every co-
coon at a medium, will either break or be wound off at
the end of every five hundred feet, then, if five such
pods are reeled together, one will be wanted to every
hundred feet that are reeled ; if ten are reeled together,
one will be wanted at every fifty feet ; if sixteen together,
then at thirtyone feet, and so on. The seldomer cocoons
end, or break, the greater number of them can one spin-
ner attend, which shows the advantage of sound cocoons
and of expert management in reeling.

The cocoons which wind off in part only and the
shells must not be permitted to remain in the water, as
they will obscure and thicken the water, and injure the
color and lustre of the silk, which can then be used only
for dark colors. The shells should be buried^to prevent
their being offensive ; as a general rule, the water
should be changed as soon as it becomes discolored.

When the spent cocoons leap up and adhere to the
guide wires, they must be immediately taken away, else
by choking the passage they will endanger the break-
ing of the thread.

When the reel has remained any time idle, the thread
between the basin and the wires may be wet, to cause
the thread to run easily.

In winding off the best cocoons some defective ones
will be found amongst them, which will not wind off or
are full of knobs ; these should be taken out of the basin
immediately in order to be wound by themselves.

The breaking of the fibres is principally owing either

56

to bad cocoons, viz. being ill ^formed, (as they will be
when the worms were disturbed and interrupted during
their spinning,) or the fibres may break by improper
regulation of the heat in the water ; first, when it is not
sufficient to make the silk come off easy, or second,
when it is too great and occasions burrs, which may stop
at the holes through which the thread runs ; cocoons also
which have two worms inclosed will "perpetually break ;
the whole thread may also break, by burrs stopping at
the holes of the guides, or by the reel being turned by
jerks. It may be fastened like the fibres, by laying the
parts on one another, and giving them a little twist.

A sharp fork may be conveniently made use of to draw
away the spent cocoons, or such as being nearly spent,
stick at her holes in the guides ; and as the whisk will
frequently take up more 'ends than are immediately to be
added, and as the spinner will sometimes haveoccasion to
employ both her hands, the brush may at that time be con-
veniently hung up by the basin, while the cocoons which
are attached to it remain in the water, and the ends will
be in readiness as they are wanted1. If the spinner be
under the necessity of leaving off work for any length of
time, the cocoons should all be raised with a skimming
dish out of the watertill her return, otherwise by oversoak-
ingthey would wind ofFin burrs ; but it is best to continue
the reeling without interruption, anc! to let fresh, but
equally experienced persons, succeed those who are tired.
The person who turns the wheel should have an eye to
the thread and to the guide wires through which they pass,
that he may apprise the spinner when anything is wrong ;
for her eyes will be sufficiently employed about the coc-
coons. The reeler may also rectify anything dis-

57

covered to be amiss in those parts of the thread which
are near the reel, for one hand will always be employed,
and a stop must occasionlly take place.

As the heat of the water in the basin will require to be
varied according to the ease or difficulty with which the
different sorts of cocoons give off their silk, the spinner
should always have some cold water within reach, in or-
der to cool that in the basin quickly, when the silk cornes
off too easily and in burrs. The water is also necessary
for the woman managing the cocoons, to cool her fingers.
More fuel should also be at hand to increase the heat
quickly, when the cocoons do not give off their silk readily.
If there should happen to be any sand in the water,
the heat causes it to rise to the surface and fix on the
cocoons, the thread of which will break as if cut; for
this reason the utmost care must be taken to guard against
it, and to remove it. Previously to being boiled, the
water should be permitted to settle, and the pan must be
carefully wiped. If necessary, the basin may be cover-
ed while the water is heating.

When the cocoons are first put in water, if the silk rises
thick upon the brush or comes in lumps, it is a sign that
the water is too hot; if the thread cannot be caught, the
water is too cold ; when the cocoons are in play if they
rise often to the guide wires, the water is two hot ; if the
cocoons do not follow the threads, it is too cold. It will
be seen, by observing the position of the thread upon
the reel, that the different layers do not lie parallel to, nor
upon, but cross one another. This is owing to the
mechanism of the apparatus, and is particularly con-
trived to effect this object, which is essential to the
perfection of the process, and one to which the acknowl-

58

edged superiority of the Italian silk is to be ascribed.
It is effected by the see- saw motion of the distributing
rod, which depends upon the relative proportion be-
tween the axle and pulley ; without this crossing, the
threads, from their gummy nature, would inevitably ad-
here and render the subsequent windings and twistings
of the silk very difficult ; this sticking together of the
silk is called glazing. But the mechanism abovemen-
tioned of the distributing rod, prevents the threads ly-
ing over each other upon the reel until after it has made
many revolutions, and the former threads have dried.
During this time the exposure of the threads to the air,
causes the first layer to completely dry and hence no ad-
hesion between them can take place.

The effect of the irregularity of the movement caused
by the distributing rod is also to imitate in the unravel-
ing of the cocoon, the same method employed by the
silk caterpillar in forming it ; for it is a fact, that the
silk fibres of the cocoon are spun on it in zigzags,
like those formed by the silk reel, and consequently
the operation of the reel is an imitation of nature, of
which the industry of the caterpillar instructed by her is
the prototype. Mr Nouaille says, that a woman at Novi,
(Italy,) experienced in the business with the assistance
of a girl to turn the reel and attend to the fire under
the cauldron, can with ease reel off one pound of silk
consisting of four or five cocoons of the most perfect
quality in a day. I am credibly informed that the price of
silk reeled according to the above directions, in Europe, is
from*four to seven dollars, according to its fineness. Mr
D'Homergue says a woman may now reel three pounds
in a day. Mr Brown thought he could reel a pound in a

59

day upon my improved reel, but 1 have never been able
to have the finer qualities of silk reeled so rapidly in my
family. The silk reeled upon my reel* sells for $4,50
per pound as it comes from the reel, and some at a high-
er price. My reel is similar to the Piedmontese, with
some considerable improvements ; it is finished in a
much neater style than any 1 have seen in this coun-
try ; it is portable and will be furnished to any who may
apply, for the sum of twentyfive dollars.

In preparing the dupions or double cocoons for wind-
ing, more are put into the basin at once than of the fin-
est kind. They must be first well cleaned from the
floss outside ; the water also must be boiling hot, and as
the silk they yield is of a coarser quality than the other,
and has a good deal of floss upon it, the person who
turns the reel must take the opportunity, while the one
who manages the basin is pieparing the cocoons for
winding, to clean and pick off the loose silk from that
which is on the reel. These make a coarser thread of
fifteen to twenty cocoons ; and perhaps as coarse as from
forty to fifty cocoons ; it is useful for filling in coarser stuffs
and likewise for sewing silk.

The satiny cocoons require water only moderately
heated. The proper heat will be found by observing
the manner in which the silk comes off from the first of
them which are put in a basin, and as already said of
cocoons generally, if it come off thick, cold water must
be added until the proper temperature be attained. The
gum is taken out of the silk by boiling it in soap suds.

*The fringe of the curtains in the house of Hon. Daniel
Webster of Boston, was made by Mr Brown from silk raised by me
and reeled in my filature. — ED.

60

METHOD OF REELING COCOONS AND MANUFACTURING
SILK IN CONNECTICUT.

Tn the first place the cocoons are stripped of their
floss and sorted according to their quality. Then a large
kettle set in a furnace or in an arch is filled with water,
and fire is kept under it ; and when it is about to boil a
quart of cocoons is thrown into it. They are immedi-
ately stirred perpendicularly in the water by a bunch of
broom-corn tied close together as large as a person's
arm, and cut square at the end, or by a corn broom, or
something similar. In this way the ends are collected
and attached to the bushy extremity. They are then
drawn up by shaking the broom or whatever they are
collected with, up and down in order to keep the co-
coons in the water, otherwise they would rise. If
enough for a thread is not collected the first time, those
ends that are drawn up are taken off the bush with the
hand and drawn to one side of the kettle. The process
is then repeated until a sufficient number is collected to
form a thread of the size required, which is usually from
eighty to one hundred and fifty cocoons.

Reeling is then commenced on a common hand reel,
(such as is in common use in families in New England for
reeling yarn from the spinning wheel), and the silk fibres
run off about as fast and with as little difficulty as yarn
from a spindle. Some of the cocoons run off before
others ; and when on this account the thread becomes
too small, all, the fibres are broken off, and what
is reeled is tied by itself on the reel and another
quart of cocoons is thrown into the kettle ; the ends are
collected and reeled in the same way as before, and each

61

separate piece is tied by itself. When the reel is full
the pieces are all tied together, taken off and immedi-
ately dried.

Most of this silk is manufactured into sewing silk and
twist in the following manner : — it is immersed for a
few moments in boiling water, taken out, put on swifts
and spun or twisted on a common woollen wheel, begin-
ning at the large end of the piece, that is at the end
which was reeled first : and when it becomes too small,
which is the case when one half or two thirds is run off,
the small end of another piece is added to it, and thus
they are twisted together. It is then spooled directly off
the spindle ; a sufficient number of spools is put into a
small spool frame to make a thread of a proper size,
which is twisted again while it is moist. It is then
reeled again and cleansed by boiling in strong suds for
three hours, then dried and colored. Undergoing this
process it shrinks about one half in weight ; after this,
for sewing silk, it is doubled, twisted and reeled on a
reel two yards long, and is divided into skeins of twenty
threads each, as the statute of that State requires. If it
be calculated for twist, it is made three- threaded, twisted
and done up into sticks with a small hand machine, and
is then ready for the market. The floss, or tow, as it is
called, is boiled in strong suds for three hours, dried,
picked, carded, and spun on a common wool wheel.
The yarn is woven into cloth, which is worn by the
women for every-day gowns. Jt is sometimes manufac-
tured into very strong and durable carpets.

Those cocoons that the grubs have pierced are boiled
as above and dried. The e,nd that is not pierced is cut
off; they then are spun on a linen wheel like worsted,
6

62

beginning at the end cut. It is then twisted together,
three threaded and knit into stockings.

The imperfect cocoons, and all that will not reel, are
boiled, carded, spun and manufactured in all respects
like floss, but they make nicer and finer cloth.

The Connecticut sewing 'sil k doesnot bring a higher
price than the reeled silk as it comes from my reel. As
there is a loss of one half of the weight in the preparation
of sewing silk, it is evident that to reel it properly and
sell it for raw silk would bring a hundred per cent more
profit.

(SEE PLATE.)

This is an improvement on the Silk Reel of Pied-
mont. The improvement consists in the simplicity of the
machinery, compared with that of the Piedmontese Reel,
the operation of both being exactly the same. A, is a
cvlinder eight inches diameter and eight in length. B, a
circular groove, half an inch deep, which has a sweep of
six inches. To lay out this groove, a strip of paper six
inches wide and of the exact length of the cylinder's cir-
cumference, is doubled, and with the compass a sweep is
made from the middle of one end of the doubled paper to
the edge and thence to the middle of the other end ; the
paper is then turned ove* and the same sweep made on
the other side, in an opposite direction. The paper is
then laid on the cylinder, and the groove marked upon it
for cutting. Thus on each side of the cylinder the
groove will form a semi-circle meeting in the middle, and
will thus cause a peculiar motion to the traversing bar, (C,

63

which it will cause to move slowly at the extremities of
its course and rapidly in the centre, thus giving time for
the threads to take hold of the rails of the reel on the
outside of the skein before it begins to move back. C,
the traversing bar, with the brass hooks through which
the silk passes. D, a bar of the frame on which a brass
plate is fixed, with small holes, for the silk to pass through,
and which stands immediately over the vessel containing
the cocoons. E, the drum, eighteen inches diameter.
F, the pulley, ten inches diameter. The size of the drum
and pulley precludes the possibility of the band slipping.

The whole frame is five feet long, four high, and two
wide in the clear, and the timber about two inches square.
It is put together with keys, for the convenience of tak-
ing down and putting up.

The necessity of the machinery for producing the vi-
bratory motion of the traversing bar, will be understood
when it is stated, that, if the threads are laid on the rails
as cotton is reeled they would adhere and become use-
less, as they could not be separated. The traversing
bar causes them to bo laid on in such a manner as to ob-
viate this entirely. By a small handle near the rim of
the drum, the reel is turned. With this reel the relative
proportionate diameter of the drum and pully is neces-
sary, to produce the proportionate movement of the
traversing bar, and the revolution of the reel, as the bar
must move back and forth five times, while the reel
makes nine revolutions, and as the groove is formed,
one revolution of the cylinder causes the bar to move
out and back once. This reel I have not seen, but
give the description of it as published.

APPENDIX.

Short Historical Account of the Efforts of Silk Culture
in this Country,

IN America the culture of the silk worm was introduc-
ed into Virginia in 1623 by James I. who himself corn-
posed a book of instructions on the subject, and caused
mulberry trees and silk worms' eggs to be sent to the
colony. He made great efforts tofihave it take place of the
tobacco in agricultural pursuits. Thirty years afterwards
it was enacted that every planter who should not have
raised at least ten mulberry trees for every hundred
acres of land in his possession, should be fined ten pounds
of tobacco. Five thousand pounds of tobacco were
promised to any one who should produce one thousand
pounds of wound silk in one year. In 1664, Mr Walk-
er, a member of the legislature, stated that he had sev-
enty thousand mulberry trees on his estate. In 1666,
all statutory provisions were repealed, because the busi-
ness was in so thriving a condition as no longer to re-
quire protection. The decline of silk business in that
state was probably owing to want of perseverance. The
new emigrants brought with them new views and habits ;
and as they brought their slaves, it became necessary
that an immediate annual profit should be realized.
Hence the culture of rice and indigo was introduced,
and on account of the immediate profit derived from
their culture, that of silk languished, which would have
required a steady perseverance for a course of years

66

The culture of silk was introduced into Georgia at
the earliest period of its settlement. The trustees ofthe
colony transmitted mulberry trees as well as seeds and
silk worms' eggs. The public seal of the colony repre-
sented silk worms in their various stages. In the year
1736 a quantity of raw silk was raised in that colony,
and was manufactured at Derby, by Sir Thomas Combe,
into a piece of stuff and presented to the queen. A
few years before our Revolution considerable quanti-
ties of raw silk began to be exported to England, which
was found equal to the best silk of Piedmont, and to be
worked with less waste than the China silk. In 1776
more than twenty thousand pounds of raw silk were
imported into England from Georgia.

No result of any consequence seems to have follow-
ed the exertions of Dr Franklin to establish a filature
at Philadelphia in 1769. The revolution came on
and put an end to the undertaking. There is little
doubt that if the United States had continued to remain
British colonies, the culture of silk would have made
an immense progress in this country, because its promotion
wasa matter of vital interestto the mo: her country, whose
manufacturers would have been furnished from hence with
the raw material, which they are obliged to purchase at
a great expense, drawing very little from their domin-
ions in Bengal, where it seems it is imperfectly prepared.

In Connecticut this culture has been attended to for sev-
enty years, and it is probable that about four tons are now
raised annually in the county of Windham. 1 was told by
an intelligent citizen of that county during my visit there
in 1828, that the culture was found profitable and was the
best business they could pursue. I found many families, in
some towns nearly all, engaged in raising silk. A family
makes ten, twenty, fifty, or a hundred pounds in a season,
according to their supply of leaves. It is evident that
they will derive much advantage from introducing Eu-
ropean skill into their manufacture ofthe article. I am told
that during the present season they have erected a factory
and employ several European artists. There is every
reason to believe that a rapid increase of production

67

will soon take place in many of the states of the Union.
In New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, silk has been
cultivated in small quantities with success. Individuals in
Massachusetts have cultivated it with success for thirty
years, and there is not, probably a farm in the state on
which it may not be raised. The beautiful specimens of
the article produced at the agricultural exhibitions in dif-
ferent parts of the Union show the degree of interest exci-
ted at the present time on the subject, and indicate that at
no distant day great national wealth will be derived from
the exertions that are now undertaken in this department.

•

EXPLANATION OF THE SILK REEL OF PIEDMONT.*

The frame is 6 feet 5 inches long, 4£ by 3 inches thick.
Distance of the upright posts AB, 4 feet 4£ inches.

CC. Length of the braces of the frame, 20 inches in the
clear.

DD. Legs of the frame, 2 feet 3J inches long. E, shaft
with a crown wheel at each end. The wheel F, 9T\j- in-
ches in circumference, has 22 teeth. The wheel G, 10
inches and 2-^ in circumference, has 25 teeth. This
shaft has an iron pin at each end 1 inch' long. The pin
at the end G, plays in a hole in the shoulder near the top
of the post O, so as to enable the teeth of the wheel to
catch and work in those of the pinion at the end of the
axle of the reel, which axle, by means of a pin at the end,
also plays in a hole in the post O. The pin at the other
end of the shaft plays in a hole in the post K, and the
teeth of the wheel F, work in the pinion H, fixed on the
top of the post K, by means of a burr screwed on the pin
projecting from the post and passing through the centre of
the pinion. This pinion has 35 feet. On the top of the
pinion H, is, a crank, having a sweep of 4 inches, and re-
ceives on its top the end of the iron wire-carrier of the
traversing bar I. The crank is fixed half an inch from
the commencement of the grooves of the pinion. This
crank is shown in the figure H. I, a traversing bar, 2 feet

* See Plate.

68

10 inches long, | of an inch wide, f- of an inch thick,
playing through the posts BK : height of the post from the
frame 17 inches.

L, an iron carrier of wire, No. 1,18 inches long, fixed
to the bar I, to work free by a screw. The other end is
fixed by a burr to the pin passing through the centre of the
pinion H.

MM. Two wire hooks or eyes, (rampins) 7f inches
apart, at equal distances from the ends of .the traversing
bar through which they pass. The wires to the commence-
ment of the turns of the hooks are 5 inches in length.

N- The reel ; arms, 2 feet*2TV inches long in the clear ;
1£ inches wide, and •$> of an inch thick ; rails, 20f- inches
long, 2 inches broad, T8<y of an inch thick ; two of the arms
are jointed, to allow the skeins of silk to betaken off when
reeled and quite dry. There ought to be an extra reel to
put in the place of the one taken off to prevent the work
stopping,

O. Upright support for the axle of the reel, on the ends
of which the pinion is fixed, to work with the wheel G, at
the end of the shaft E. The pinion of the axle has 22 teeth.
P, an iron plate with four holes, 12 inches long, slightly
hollowed, projecting 3^ inches from the bar : the outside
holes are 3 inches from the ends ; from the centre of one
hole to that of the next, j of an inch. Distance from the
two inside and nearest holes, 4-fy inches.

Q. The copper basin to contain hot water, in which the
cocoons are immersed when reeling off. It is 18 inches
long, 1 foot broad, and 4^ inches deep.

R. The furnace to contain charcoal, to keep the water
hot.

Distance from the centre of the posts AB and OK,
inches. Circumference of the reel 6 feet 1 1 inches.

Distance from the top of one arm, where it enters the
rail, to another arm, 18% inches.

From the axle of the reel and the traversing bar I, 4
feet 8 inches.

162

NEW WORK ON FRUITS,

IN PRESS BY

CARTER & HENDEE, AND J. B. RUSSELL,

B OS TON,

The NEW AMERICAN ORCHARDIST, or an

Account of the most valuable Fruits and Vegetables
adapted to cultivation in the climate of the United States,
with their Modes of Culture and Management ; Reme-
dies for the Maladies to which they are subject Trom
Canker Worms, Borers, Sec. By Wk. KENRICK.

This work will contain particular descriptions of from 700 to 800
select varieties of fruit, adapted to our varied climate, and r» ;!' in-
clude the Olive and some most useful tropical fruits which may be
successfully cultivated in our Southern territories.

The different modes by which the new varieties of fruit have been
obtained, will be described; modes of pruning and tiaining, by
which trees, &c, arc rendered fruitful : of grafting and inoculation ;
and of the modes of propagating usually adopted.

It will contain descriptions (besides old sorts) of from 100 to 120

rnrietica of Pears of UNDOUBTED EXCELLENCE; from 60 to

80 of which are not particularly described and condensed in any one

European volume which has hitherto reached us; some American,

but chiefly the new and most approved Flemish varieties.

The descriptions are partly from personal observation, and from
assistance received from some of the most intelligent horticulturists
of New England ; from the best writers of America, and the best
foreign productions ; the descriptions of Van Mons, the splt-ndid
edition of New Dohamel, the Porrio'.ogical Magazine, the superb
Pyrus Mains Brentfordiensis of Ronald, and Lindley's Guide to the
Orchafd and Kitchen Garden. From these it has been the constant
aim, to cull from their extremely varied and select lists, all that was
beautiful, excellent, productive and profitable.

From these will be formed another select list, of those sorts already
approved with us, as the best and most productive.

In regard to the new varieties of fruits of America and of Europe,
it will be the aim of the writer, to render this wo~\ particularly in-
teresting, and adapted to th( different sections of our highly favored
country.

The very txest of late English works, we refer to those just n? ied,
those celebrated works which are beyond all doubt so admi, ably
adapted to the climate and country for which they were principally
designed, and as auxiliaries to us, are exti<;i..ely deficient in regard
to those native fruits which are with us so highly esteemed.

It will be comprised in one volume of about 300 pages, ar.d will
be furnished for about,4; I per copy.