Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1838-12-05

MULBERRY AND SUGAR Bee.
MIR. Randolph, from the Committee on Aeri.s
culture, submitted the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Agriculture, who were III:
structed to inquire whether, any, aud, # any,
what encouragement may be given to pro.
mote the culture of the mulberry and the
sugar beet, report:
That IN order to obtain satisfactory informa;
ton OF the present state and condition, as well
as OF the Importance, of the culture of the
mulberry and sugar beet, they issued c,rcuI
lar on the subject shortly after it was commit.
ted to them, to which they have received MI.
merous answers, giving much interesting and
useful information some of tie most impor.
tant OF which the committee append rs tSis
report The first question which naturally
suggests itself is, whether the subject matter
is'ofsuch national importance as TO merit the
serious attention Of Congress and 10 order to
satisfy themselves On this point, the committee
ascertained from the public documents tire
amount Of silk and sugar imported into the
United States, as follows, viz:
SILK SUGAR.
1896 25033,2W l2.5l455t
This statement at once shows the immense
sum which is annually paid by the people Of
this country, to foreign countries, f,r those
two articles only; and also, the very great int
portance ofencouraging their culture amongst
-
1t would introduce to the farmer new and
valuable, and as your committee believe, profits.
able productions which IN rotatiofs With,
other crops, would have doubly beneficial
effect on our agricultural interests. It would
improve our lands, increase the amount of pros:
ductive industry, and condense, improve ahd,
enrich our population. 1t would be adding
other branchesto the home, the fireside busi-
ness of every family, and thus increase the
pleasure as well as the prosperity of the dos
mestic circle. Your committee cannot forbear
TO notice with appreciation, on this occasion.
the fact that Mr.. Lindsay, of Washington city
has frequently conferred with them on this
subject, imparting his valuable informationi en-.
| forced by the practical argument Of bis wear.
| ing complete suit Of silks cultivated and man..
utactGred on his own premises. There y In
this, as in every country, large class Of iudi.
vlduals who, SO far from adding any thing 70
the industry and wealth Of the nation. are una.
bic to support themselves, for want of suitable
employment, such as INDECENT females and
childl en- !; the aged and infifni, TO. whom may
be added the long list of paupers in our poor.
houses and asylurhs, and of prisoners 10 our
| workhouses and State penitentiasics. 10
this class, the cultivation OF silk ptesents q
most suitable and advantageous employment
Within the last year the cultivation Of The
mulberry has been much more extended than
in several preceding years, and the people and
the Legislatures of several of the States have
taken up the subject with increased spirit and
! vigor.
From all the information which the commit.
tee have been able to obtain, they are induced
to believe that no country in the world Is better
adapted to the production of silk, Or the sugar.
beet than most parts of the United States
whether we consider the soil the climate, or
the habits Of the people. The mulberry WY
grow on high, stony, sandy; and comparatiter
barren land !; althorgh the poverty Of the Dil
may decrease the Quantity of foliage; it will
improve the quality, and add fineness and
beauty 10 the silk whilst the climate is 60
varied, that no part is too far Iorth to destroy
the mulberry or prevent the production OF q
single crop of silk worms in season, yet, Ia
the southern part Of tke Union, from eight to
ten crops may BE- rated.
The Morus Multicaulis has. for some years;
been considered the most valuable variety of
mulberry: though the Br1ssa, recently inrro.
duced into this country from Turkey, Is high
ly spoken of az of superior quality. The
large white six week worm seems TO be gencr-
ally admitted to be preferable for the predue'
ton of silk.
IT, then, there are so many Inducements tt.
the introduction of these two important articles
if the market is large and yearly increasing,
our soil and climate adapted to the culture.
and the prospect Of public good and private
gain be good; why,it will asked may We not
become great silk growing and sugar.mak-
ing people! We can, and the compittee be.
lieve in do distant time viii so become. tonly
requires that public attention should be called
and kept to the subject taat oif agricultnr.
lists be satisfied of fair prospect OF success;
and that the Government should lend it's AID
| to ensure the speedy and permanent success
of the measure.
THE PROFITS.