Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-11-15
WHY VIRGINIA SHOULD ENTER TIE
SfLkGUfTDKE.

We make the following extract from long trea-
tise on S,lk Cnhne in the Formers Register II Is
b,ief view of the adyaf aces Virginia h7s over her
| Northern sistc, States m the cnltuie OF SILK:
a, WE do not pretend TO estimate nor even to have
any correct idea Of thu profits In be derived from
nakinr silk Those who willing to trusi such
rnnieriaral estimates may fn1 them in sundry pub
iicatians issued IN tho states nbrl Of virginia Bu
without discussing the claims Of any such estimates
10 be trusted and without deciding whether the net
profit may be S3oo per ac,r (which somr estimates
make out.1 the tenth ofihai amount. which IA ght
satisfy most enlfisatofs here nj his conclusion We
ara perfectly SUR, THAT wrATrfrR WAY M TN
rRorIT OF SILK CULTURE NoKTH OF PHifAprts
rniA, Much MORE PRofIT MAY ~ onrnNtnlN NlR-
GINA. And the gtounds ffoih which this eoncln=
Is dedueed are such will scarcely be denied
| questioned.
The drs superior advantage possessed by Nu-
einia is ia The climate which Is moIr suitable
10 tie silk worms. aud far suitable 10 the early,
long continued, and usuttnt growth ofthe mulberry
trees. and especially the nutleaulis mulberry, which
greatly prefers our Southcfn climate.
Secondly. millions OF dcres Of land worn down hy
iillace bel still very suitable for heating mulberry
trees. land which would necessarily he improved hy
the general system OF silk oultnre.) may he de voted
I To tbs gtuwlh which land Is worth unihiug to the
prnpfIrlots, aud would sell Tor more than - To
; The acre. Net land equally poor and nnrto-
slueve at INST. IA New Eng land, IT obtained FOR tins
purpose would scarcely cas less dian SO the acre,
#Feihlps much larger amount
Thirdly. the labor required toi feeding silk worms
T fwhie ~ elsewhere one oltbe upst important parts
II lie cxpensc1 would cost very hale ON most
fatms iu Virginia. There are very few farms
on which thrre not slaves who arc too
Young Of loo oil. or otherwise lnfrm, lof any
common ahur aud who therefore, do nothing, and are
a dead expense II their maintenance. These, now
worthless anil expensive consumers, would be pre-
ciscly suited and perfectly competent 10 perform all
The labor. of a silk establishment. under the drec
lion OF an intelligent and careful conductor, male
female. Indeed IN many cases, without any hired
supervisor, farmers industrious wife, with her BE-
/ fore useless slaves, might make crop OF coroons
that would stli ior hail as much money as her hus
bands surplus gram crop.
Euhcr ol these three advantages over northern
silk culture ~ vriy great; aud all combined, can
scarcely be less than equal 10 the production Of a
double profit. But must not be forgotten, that
to insure this Tor even any profit, there must he
applied these superior Advantages. the enterprise
industry. wntchfnuess and perseverance,, which on
northern brethren exercise n all thrr undertakings
and employ mcnts aud which requisites lor success
are generally aud DEF lataby wanting IN the Souti-
+ en- States.
Entertaining these opinions, earnestly hope
dat the prevailing Trading demand Tor mulbcf-
~ plants, aud mani, or speculation, may have the
good effect Of establishing silk culture. a. well rs
mulberry culture. ~ the south and thai the solid
and CERTAIN though moderate profits otlhc business,
may not be scorned aud rejected the sales
ot uiulncanls plants cnme down aial price, OF
cease entirely lor want Of buYcrs.'