Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-08-07
SIIK MlA.IrElCTLiR

We understand that various establishments in pro-
gress, in different parts of Virginia. for the raising Of
silk. The Chinese Mulberry is cultivated at several
places it is produced from Slips with little labour, and
is productive of much profit 1t is astonishing how
pdy the taste for The manufacture Of silk is spreading
throughout the u S. discovery has just been made
in Baltimore which promises TO be of great advantage
1t i, the destruction Of the chry in the cocoon, by
means Of the smoke of charcoal.
The New York Star states that "such is the success
which has attended the manufacture Of silk at the es!ab
lishment in Massachusetts,, that the silk company at
Northampton determined at their last meeting to raise i'm
mediaely $50 O00 in addition the large capital already
invested in order 10 enlarge their sphere Of operations
This company ofthe first that was formed in this
country and had labor under all the Disadvantages at
tendant on the commencement of a branch Of ma
nuacture which those recently established have not had
to contend with. In instance a Silk Company,
which has only been in operation 2 years, has Ovid
ed 500 on each share, where but S25 were paid in.
MIR. Whitmarsh, who has put up the establishment ut
Northampton, "has visited various parts Of Europe TO
obtain information relating 10 the Mulberry the Worm
and the manufacture Of Silk. He purchased neglect
ed spot which be has improved 10 such degree that
presents Of the most tasteful country seats that
adons country, and has erected fine cottage, after
the Cornlhian order not unlike in appearance the Hall
OF Record. in the Park. The grounds are laid out with
taste that would do credit to an English nobleman -
The great objects Of attraction however are his mulher
~ grounds his cocoonery, and his factory In the hrs
are fields of the plant they placed in hedges, about
four feet high and about eight feet apart END men are
constantly EN- ployed in hoeiug them and keeping the
ground perfectly clear Of weeds and grass He has
every variety Of plant, and is making valuable exPe
riments, TO which species will best SUIT the CHI
mate and yield the finest and best silk Many OF these
plants he brought from the villas OF Italy. His cocoo
merry 10 building Of two siOes about thirty feet wide
and hundred and fifty feet long, here different
shelves tables which myIiads of worms in all
their different stages from that Of Matching from the
egg to that of winding up their balls. The whole labor
oil feeding and attending TO these myriads OF "manutdc
turerS, is done by few females and neither arduous
nor unpleasant There two manufactures, and
third building. The smallest is the one examined
1t is beyond my power detail the progress Of the
nufacure. Every thing appeared neat, and the girls
cheerful and happy The silk, from the raw to the ma
nuacured state is here perfected and sells much higher
than the imported.
II is extending also to Florida, whose climate i, pre-
sumed 10 be genial to the silk worm than Massa-
chusetts. A Correspondent Of the Albany Evening
Journal writes from ST. Augustine "a the e1perime MS
Of ancient city the present season in silk making are
successful and interesting We have, at this ,ms
growing in sandy but luXurant soil and appropriate
climate nearly MILLION m0rus muteduiis trees Of
various sizes Our light lands must prove equally valu
able (for silk cuture) with cotton and sugar soils;
and we yet shall supply silk for the whole American
sumption and for portaton. Hundreds preparing
to upon silk growing and there will be rush for
Florida al the final close Of the Indian War. We have
our thousands and of thousands Of orange trees
that will bear another and thus restore this de-
lightfu fruit Of own county
We are inclined to think from the accounts We have
received of the Brussa Mulberry brought by MIR Rhnd
Mulberry. lis ea is nearly as large-said to be
more succu!ent and TO be preferred by the silk worm;
and that it makes the silk of stronger and superior
FIBRE than any other species Of the Mulberry.