Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-06-08


SILk CULTURE.
We have heretofore inserted very interesting
and useful letter ofIudee Spencer, ri New York,
on the subject ot the cultivation Of silk III tins enn-
sry. The fact, to which he refers, are both ImPor-
tan, aud encouraging To such have the means
and disposition OF entering into 4. lie estimates
the net profits oi twenty acres SCI IA al orchard "l
mulberry at from $4,000 L. $4,000 per annlm.
This, 10 those who have not Pdncdsaly msc>t-
gated the subject, may secm an exaggerated, not
startling sum. To rs, however, II appears 10 be
creatl, under the amount which may, by JudieiouS
management, be realized from IN orrhlrd oitwentN
acres thus planted
From the facts stated by judy Spencer, II APP
pears that six worms have been raised IN W md
ham county, Conn, ever since ZOO period oi
seventy five years that during he last year, IN the
town of Mansfield, in the same state, there were
produced 500 900 worth o ,dh nli thai in
Windham county, also in the same state, 100000
worth were made during the same pcriod--'l hcsc
results are truly lattcrinp, and show, most eoncu-
sivey, what is within tie power Of American M
dustry and skill 10 accomplish, when Hnded by
well directed enterprise.
The amount OF silk imported into our country
Isl year, was $4,000, 900 and the demand must
be increased with is annual growth IN population
and resource. Hence, thru, every mducemcut
which perfectly practicable plan ct cncringintoa
acw and lucrative branch OF industry, ready sale,
and, an increasing demand, to almost an unlimited
extent can offer, Is presented 10 urge our agncn-
t,rsts to its adoption Having promised this much,
", will proceed to discuss the subject OF profit be-
licvnr that tn be tho only dchaleahe question in
VOWED, masmuch as b. experience II is proved
beyond all dispute, thai silk nay b. produced IN
the United States, TO as grcat advantage IL IN any
part of the world-lnd iaNn,s tn opinion ola gen
Gleman, whose opportunities OF adgn" rnIItle ii to
consideration our guldc--ot a quality equal, II
not superior TO any raised IN Europe.
MIR. Frost from an experiment which he de ais
in very interesting letter dated August =, lS}3,
has proved that 2l3 coeoonS yielded J ounces 81
rcced silk, being equal to rather better than lSl
ounces to 1000 worms, one pound tod traction
less than 2527 worms
Mr.. Bradicg gives it a. his opinion, thlt at
moderate calculation, 1000 worms will make
pound OF reclcd sill.
The cocoons of Mr. Irest tl2l3l weighed HIS.
5oz in the aggregate, and ~ OF diem weighed lo7.
These lasi We presume. were picked, Is thai /, H.
boyc tEe average weight The Wormsa, fed h4 Mr.
r. consumed on an average 1Ibs. oileaNrs 10 each
100, during itcir feeding. This consumption of
leaves CORE responds, according II the account Of
DIR. Mcase with singular eNactnr>> with the cNpc-
ricncc Of The Dayarian silk c,duuist> where ~ 900
worms devouI. during the rrdlue >caSun, lUUuhe
OF leaves, being precisely )Ib,. 10 each hundred
thus able Ia calculate 10 Il certainty the
nquislte quantity OF leaves Ia sustain any given
number OF worms.
1t is thus demonstrated by the actual cNpcri-
ment of MIR. Frost, that 5000 worms are able 10
make upwards of lSl ounces of silk, which would
be difference of rather better than 10 per cent in
favor ot tho rulnIriS nNpr no communication e NJ.
Bradley but as in calculations of this character.
we would always prefer 10 be under rather than
over attainable results, we shall adopt the opinion
OF MIR. Is. as the basis OF our calculations He aswc
have before shcwn, atlrms with confidence. that
at a moderate and safe calculation, 5000 worms
will produce pound of reclcd silk
MIR. Smith informs us that full grown mulberry
tree, 1.-THE white mulberry, we presumc) will pro-
duce foliage enough to feed 5000 worms bur, that
in order TO provide against failures and loss of
leaves, and TO save the trees from excessive crop-
ping, II is better TO have double the number of
trees and in matter of this kind his opinion i,
entitled to great weight X therefore in the calcu (
iatlon we shall make, We shall not fail To provide
against the contingencies of which he spcaks
Having thus stated the consumption of tood and
probable produce ofthe worms, we will nrocoed r.
our remarks. If the trees to be selected should
he the ~hite mulberry, they could either be plan,nJ
IN square rows or in hedges, might best suit the
fancy or taste of the party or the dimensions Of
the ground, and would probably answer as we'll in
the latter way, and yield as much provender as in
the former OF this we will not pretend to spcaL
with certainty, deeming it at present, an unimnor.
tant consideration Mr.. Bradley thinks that 1000
trees might be arranged in hedges, and otherwise
on single acre of ground but if il be desired ,b,,
the white mulberry should attain its full size and
maintain vigor and freshness of foliage twenty foo,
apertwould be proper distance and if at this dis.
lance, an acre would hold l08 trees, and woud
has e this advantage that the orchard could bc