Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-08-24
AMERICAN LEGHORNs.

The, following article is from Bells
Weekly Messenger of June Sd.
Annual distribution ofthe Rewards giU-
en- by The Society Of .drts. s.
In Manufactures, there were many
peculiarly interesting inventions and i'm
provemenis, the most striking was that
Of Mrs. Wells, of Connecticut, United
States, for new material for fine plat in
imitation of Leghorn. The society
awarded the large silver medaland TWEEN
ty guinease The following extract from
the report read by the Secretary, con-
tains some curious particulars relative to
this award Sc Another branch Of manu-
iacture which had excited the notice OF
the Society was that OF straw plat Tor
bonnels, which, during the late war, had
furnished an extensive source of health
full and profitable employment for the
wives and daughters Of the Iaboring class:
in the counties of Bedford and Bucking-
ham, and other parts adjoining. On the re-
turn ofpeace, the facility of The introduce
ton of Leehorn hats, caused such di-
minution of the demand for our domes-
tic manufacture as to throw a vast num-
Der of persons out OF employ, and to &C.
casion much severe sutfering.-In the
last session a bonnet was laid before the
Society, manufactured by Mrs. Wells,
the daughter of a farmer of Connecticut,
in the United States, which in color and
fneness considerably exceeded the best
specimens of Leghorn plat. The ma
,erial i, was ascertained was one of the
Indigenous grasses otihat part of North
America; and with a view TO the revi-
val Of our own manufacture of fine plaits,
reward both honorary and pecu-
mary, was voted to the inventress, on
condition Of the particulars of the manu-
facture being communicated, together
with certain quantity ofthe seed. The
s!ipulations have been complied with,
the greater part of the seed has been
distributed and has terminated, and the
plants are now in ilourishing state. As
a collateral aid in their object, the So
ciety has gladly bestowed the large sill
yer medal on Mr.. j. Parry, for his sue
cess in first acquiring himself, and then
teaching to others, the method OF plait-
ing according TO the Italian pattern
1t is very apparent from what has ia
ken place with regard to this subject in
England, that the manufacture OF Bon
nets from the American Grass, original
ly undertaken by Miss Woodhouse (now
Mrs. Wells} OF Wethcrsficld, in the
state of Connecticut, is viewed there as
an object of great national importance,
IN pursuance Of the term on which the
first premium was awarded to her by the
Society above mentioned, she has for
warded the seed 10 Great Britain, where
it has been received, distributed, and
planted, is now growing and in a -four
ishing condition. There is little reason
TO doubt, that by the enterprise and pub
lie spirit of those who have undertaken
the task Of Introducing this grass into
that country, that in short time, it will
be so extensively cultivated, as to enable
them 10 establish the manufacture of
Leghorn Bonne,s upon very large
scale. Indeed, it would not be at all
wonderful, if they should in few years
become an article of expectation, and
the people of this country, after having
discovered the material which is the ma
tural growth Of the United States, and
begun the manufacture in the manner
most successful, should import the Bon
nets from England, for the supply orour
market. .r
All, however, that is wanting in this
country, to render this particular manu-
tactnre profitable, and Of course sue
cessful, is that species Of encourage
ment which is indisputably necessary at
the outset. There is grass enough pa-
turally produced here, to make all the
Donnets that can ever be wanted for our
market, and there are hands enough to
make them if suitably encouraged. 1t
is then much to be wished, that an assoc
citation might be formed OF our mer-
chants, and others, who would cause it
to be understood by the people in the
country that they will take all,he Grass
Bonnets that can be made within given
period, say two, four, or six years, as
they may judge proper, at stated prices
according to the quality. With. such
an assurance, the business of manuiac-
turing them, we have not doubt, would
be undertaken with great spirit and ac-
,ivity, and in a very short time, the mar
ket would be in great measure supplied
with domestic LeShorns. ~
Ilmay also be we'll to offer handsome
premiums TO those who shall produce
within short space Of time, a certain
number Of bonne,s Of . given fineness,
varying the amount according 10 the
quality. Measures of this sort would