The native American., 1837-10-14

The silk producers in America have found the Mora
MuAcauHs admirably adapted to the subsistence OF the
valuable insect on the products Of which their ahos
depend! AS compared with the white mulberry, the
trse used in France and Italy, the shubin our country
would seem to possess very decided advantages. re-
commencing it to general adoption. The following
article from the Philadelphia U. s. Gazette contains
much valuable information small space touch
ing the culture of silk, that feel assured that every
person interested in the subject will feel pleased and
instructed in the perusa ofit The advancement made
by New Jersey in this important branch OF industry,
whilst it promises great accession at wealth to the po-
pulaticn Of that member of the Union, will
example to stimulate enterprise in other quaTters
CULTURE OF SILK.
We have been pleased to learn that much attention
has this year been given by Jersey neighbours to
the culture of silk and that their labor has been abun
dainty rewarded. Although the first tree in Burlington
planted last spring, we learn that there are now
growing there about 1000, and that arrangements
have been made Tor vast increase in the course Of
next year.
Much doubt has been expressed in regard to the pos
sibiliy cultivate it in this country with advantage
when in France Italy and India those who engage
ed in its production very low wages, and in
with a view to form correct opinion of the prospects
of those engaged therein, and will now submit the re-
suits to our readers
In Italy and France the white mulberry tree is cult
Vlted 1t dtaln6 COnSlQerdOI6 neigDt,
tendant upon the gathering Of the leaves is great The
leaves are small and the quantity acquired for the pro-
duction of any given quantity OF silk IL exceedingly
great In this country the mOrus n'utcdus has been
adopted. This is shrub which attains in the hrst
wear height OF FOUR five six feet and its greatest
height is probably or 10 feet. There grow
ING on single acre near Burlington, from Toto $4,000
Of those trees. They bear numerous and very large
leaves. Our readers will at once how vast Is the
difference between the quantity OF labor required for
he
bearing large leaves and of exceeding five
feet and that needed for gathering small leaves from
of the size Of peach trees, when the persons
ployed must of necessity artificial means for pac-
ing themselves at the height required
In the mode Of feeding and Of reeDg, there have al
80 been. we understand, considerable improvements
tending to limit the quantity oflabor required very
important improvement has also been made in regard
to Matching the eggs In Europe the whole are hatch
&c at one time, and the business of feeding ls limited
six weeks. has been ascertained during the pre-
sent season. that they may be kept back until they
wanted, and Matched out whenever required The con-
is that successive crops obtained from the
same land during the whole season. WORMS are now
feeding in Burlington, that were Matched about the
middle Of last month. Under the European system,
three times the number of trees would be required to
yield the quantity Of silk because all the leaves
would be required in the first six weeks of the season,
and the land would he unproducve from that time IN.
til the next year. The various changes in the mode Of
cultivation that we have thus Indicated Will, we thlnK
the assertion that s made by those engaged III
il, that it will be highly profitable here, although In
other countries it is but moderately productive These
changes result from the application and intelligence,
and are similar to those which enable the people o.
the United States to make large wages fIon the culture
and the manufacture Of cotton, while its original GU
tvators and manufactures. the people Of India ohtah
with difficulty handful Of rice for days labor.
We are informed that experiments have been mace
to ascertain the quantity of silk that may be Obtained
rcm an acre, and that it has been found to yieid %
pounds. The value Of pound Of raw silk. sucn as
has been made this season at Burlington IS 20 5U.
The labor Of feeding and reeng is less than two dol-
lars per pound which would leave 90 so per pound LOT
the culvator. Sixty pounds at % SO would give $Slo
as the proceeds Of single Such ia the result o.
experiments with the first years growth, and 1t IS ex
pected that that Of the second year will be mncn
greater. ;,
We give these facts to readers as the result Of
inquiries among the varions persons engaged IN me
cultivation Of this important commodity, the consnmP
ton Of which in the United States is about ten millions
dollars. believing that they would be interested IN hav-
ing accurate information the subject further ex-
perience should prove their correctness, its culture
must extend rapidly, and the time is moi far remote
when we shall remit Europe larger amount o. raw
silk than will be required to pay for the commodities
manufactured herefrom do in regard to cotton
The production Of which was unknown in this country
half century since.