Litchfield enquirer., 1834-04-17
Fsou. sh. N..s- Yors r lsaru..r.
cULT1vATIoN op sILK AT MANsprE1l

Dear Slr, 1OhrS of the s3Oth ut. has remained so long unanswered that you may think me indifferent to the subjects of your inquiry. Not so. sir; feel a deep inter- est in the growing prosperity of our coun- try, in its various aud multiplied nIannfac- turing ng.establishments, which are constant- ly springiNg into existence. and in none more SO than in the production and manu- tactnrs of silk; none which presents, in my estimation greater encouragement. both to the agricnIturist and the ganufacturer4- none which promises fairer to become of extensive utility and pro6l to this country.
 With regard to the cultivation ofthe mutt berry. and the growing of silk in this place, it may not be generally known that the business has been successfully prosecuted
 here for more than seventy years; but,
 thongl gradually increasing during this pe- fiod, there has been but very little improve
 ment in the method of conducting the bu- siness. or in the application ofthe raw ma terial to manufacturing purposes, any fur- ther than the production of sewing silk and twist, and this almost exclusively con-
 fined to the labor of the family, upon the domestic spinning-wheel. But one thing has been abuadanily demonstrated; ;, that is, that the white mulberry is easily cultiva- ted, and that the rearing of tue silk-worm, and the production of silk, notwithstand- ing all the particularity, minuteness, and mystery, with which the subject has been treated, and invested, may be proftablyi pursued, with but little more knowledge or care than is requisite for the successful rearing of pigs. or poultry. Shelter them from cold, storms and wind, and feed them when hungry, whether it be in corn-. house, barn, cider mill house, or laborato- ty. built on purpose for tho business, a profitable crop of silk may be produced.-- I would not by this remark be thought to undervalne enterprise and improvement, or to treat lightly particular attention to and neatness in every branch of agriculture. I highly value all the as- sociations aud societies of the present day, formed for the advancement and dEimproye- nleHt iu knowledge of lhe mechanic and agriculturist but describe to . person e,l- tirely unacquainted with the manner in which wool is produced, tho animal which produces 1t, und inform him how this ani- naal must he reared. fed, housed. and trea-. ted, according to the practice of some of our most wealthy and scientific farmers. its peculiar habits, and liability to disease in case of neglect. and hs sodld he very apt to conclude, that, being unable to sustain the necessary expense, lie might as well not atttempt to rear an animal that requirs ed sO much care and labor: So with re- gard to the rearing of the silk-worEsi there is reason to fearthat the minute particulars ity and delicate attention to temperature, food, cleanliness, 3se. &c. with which the subject has been treated; by most writers, may have deterred many from engaging itl it; but let them be told, and truly too3 tliat without thermometers, hot-hcuses stovs- room, or laboratory, Ahe silk worm may be. at the proper season, matched by the usual warmth of the kitchen; and that with rough board to lie on, and corn-house or barn to shelter them from wind and wet, guarded also from the depredations of rats, mice, and fowls, and well supplied with the white mulberry leaf, will produce 2 profitable crop of silk, they may be induced
 to try; and having once engaged in the
 business and found it practicable may then
 attend to all the Improvements which ex- pericnce and sound wisdom may dictate
 Many persons in this town, who have beer
 for twenty or thirty years successfully .en. gagged in the rearing of silk-wornis, should you talk to them about thcrmoneters, hot houses, and laboratories, would not know what you meant; yet, doubt not, a due attention to these may be profitable.
 With regard to the H,an0iacture of silk in this country, much is yet to Do learned ]; but consider the experiment as fayorably commenced, and nothing more is wanting than that some of our enterprising and in ge,ious mechanics should give the subject that attention which its importance de- mands; and with such improvements in machinery, and the art of manufacturing, as think the business susceptible, we may soon compete in this. as we do in some of our wool and cotton fabrics, with any por- lion of the world. Ibelieve it to be a well established fact, that no part of llie world now produces q better quality of inc rav silk than that which is produced in hi. country. Since the investigation of tho subject by resolution of Congress, ana the encouragement presented 4by the Leg. islaiure of this State. in . bounty upon the propaeaiion of the white mulberry, and Up. on raw silk, the business has received new
 impulse.
 The Piedmont reel has been introdae' cd, and with some Improvement in the sp-
 plication of a stop motion was the last sea- son used to some extenf. propelled by va