Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-05-31
from the Baltimore Gcselie.
StI

otLns
E1'fdc' o. a letter from The House of Msssrs.
RGthbone. Brothers d Co IN Liuerpool, 10 o
lady IN The nsighbourhood Of Sumieyvitle, S.
Carolina.
I'VE sub rnitted the skein OF sik which you
sent US, and the box of your cocoons. TO a Gle
yer and experienced practical maa, who has es.
tabiished himself here as a Silk Broker and
we nov send you the result of his examination
with some remarks on the Keeling of silk, which
may be usef u, for your government aud that OF
your frisnds, to whom you are at full liberty TO
communicate them. if you think they will prove
serviceable."
The Opinion The white cocoon is decided
ly OF the best quality, from which 7 should con-
ceiye the silk was made, which accompanies il.
II is very similar TO China Silk, which is i'm.
ported into Great Britain in very considerable
quantities and. being applicable TO almost
every purchase, in a greet measure regulates
the price oil other silks. IL is now worth about
rs per ID. or 50 66 cents but on an average
state Of the market, il may be stated nj los or
81 SO cents. The two yellow cocoons, of The
deepest color, ale the best Of the remaining
three Of lighter shade, and the primrose one,
is evidently tho result Of unhealthy worms.
This circumstance was, | conceive, owing to
the temperature of the atmosphere. 90, being
sufficiently warm, or, the mulberry leaves, on
which the worms were fed not having been suf
6ciently dry. Silk worms, fed on lettuce leaves
frequently spin silk OF a pale yellow, or priln-
rose, neither of which are Of appreciated quail
ity.
Your friends cannot consult a better authori.
~. on these subjects, than Count Dandolo,
(see a translation Of this work on the cultiya-
ton of silk. published by the British, I'ish aud
Colonial Company, oil which | am a directory
He points out, IN tho clearesi manner, the va
rious changes OF thu worm, and the particular
he5t and food requisite 10 the cul walton OF
good silk.
However. whatever may be the success at
tendant upon The attainment OF good cocoons,
euery thing depends vi on the proper selection
and reeling of them INTO the hank The ltal-
ians excel in this. Threfore, tselr silks ars
peculiarly adapted to our finest manufactures
Although our importaiions from the Ea't-lndies
are great and this trade is Of such vital im-
portaucs TO our successful competition with tho
continent, it is to be- regretted, that neither the
East India Company nor the private merchants
have hitherto employed any competent persons
to superihtend the reeling OF the silk II that
was done, have not the slightest doubt but
that silks, of the eastern production, would
render us altogether independent OF either
France or Italy ! for i, is an established fac,
that silk of the best quality can be produced,
in the East iudies, at a lower rate than in Eu-
rome.
have been long impressed with the idea
that many of our other colonies are also well
calculated for the cultivation of this valuable
material and, as the silk manufacture is daily
Increasing in importance there Will be every
inducement 10 extend the cultivation OF a pro.
ducr. which has proved n source OF immense
profit TO those who hare hitherto embarked in
L.
The three things principally requisite are,
thalthe silk should be clean, epen. and not
sticky; the hrst Of these properties depends on
tho caution ofthe reeler. He ought to take
care not to aIloV any of The inferior eocoons
to be inte rink ed with those OF a good qaullty
The second properly depends upon the caution
Of the reeler, taking care that when Que cocoon
breaks. another is instantly substituted. And
the third depends upon the silk not being reel
ed too rapidly, and not being well crossed
upon the hank, but also we'll acted upon by the
croise.