Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-07-19
From the Brunswick Advocate.
Silk Culture.

Mr.. Editor The following particulars
in relation to the culture ofsilk in Georgia,
vii! 90 doubt BE- interesting to such Of your
readers as are engaged in the business Of
silk growing in this State. The silk of
Georgia is allowed to equal in quality and
beauty to any silk produced in o,he! climcs,
which assertion can establish from many
works on silk culture in the United States,
and particularlyin in Georgia. In 1892, the
culture Of silk became an object of at
ten.ion in .hispart ofthe State-the lands
were granted to settlers, on condition that
uIey WouTo pTaTTr uur ur.r--.i-.l .aai.a-...~l-
berry trees for every ten acres whom rieer--
ed and ten years were allowed to grow
the trees. Trees, seeds, and eggs, we're
sent over by the trustees. An Episcopal
clergyman, native of Piedmont, was sent
over to instruct the people on the raising Of
worms, and winding the silk. Every exer.
ton was made to stimulate the people TO the
culture ofsilk, even the public seal Of those
times has the representation Of silk worms
in their various stages, and the motto, Non
Sibi Sed AHis.
In 1884, eight pounds of silk was expor.
ted from Georgia, and made into rich bro.
cade, and presented to the Queen-the cost
of the manufacturing and dying the piece
of goods was twenty pounds. From this
time unit! 1850, large parcels Of silk was
annually exported 10 Europe. From 1850
10 1854 the silk exported amounted to g.
$50 dollars. In 1853, 1000 pounds Of raw
silk was received at the fIalure in Savannah.
In 1853 this building was destroyed by fire
with quantity Of silk, and 7040 pounds Of
cocoons, but another was erected. In the
year 1850, the colony exported upwards Of
10000 pounds Of silk. which sold rom
two to three sbiIlings higher per pound than
that ofany other country, and the commits.
sioners on trade and plantations, consisting
Of about 40 eminent silk throwsters & wea.
vers, declared on examination that the silk
Of Georgia is in its texture truly good, the
color beautiful, the thread even and as clear
as the best Piedmont, and will be worked
with less waste than China Silk, and Sir
Thomas Lomiee, an eminent silk manu-.
facturcr, pronounced the silk from Georgia
equal in strength and beauty to the best |.
Italian silk. According to the official sta.e-
ment of William Brown, Comptroller Of
Cusoms at Savannah, $500 pounds Of silk
was exported from that city between tn"
years 1855 and 1772 inclusive. In 1869
an act was passed in Parliament, granting a
bounty of 20 pounds on every 100 pounds
value Of raw silk raised for the next 7 years,
The last parcel bought in Savannah for ez.
portaton was in 1890, which sold at 15 to
25 shiIlings per pound. The silk raising
business was entirely broken up by the re-
volulion, and after the War, the more ready
way Of making money, by the culture of
indigo, rice, and cotton, and cane, superse.
ded i. entirely, and by many persons it Is
deemed u new thing, and we venture to say
tina. there are many native Georgians in
manhood's prime that know it not, or who
have never heard Of silk having been cultIva.
ted in their native State. Some aged per-
sons there are, however, who can still give
some instructions on the winding ofsilk, and
a few white mulberry trees that are no"
/ hourishing in the country, bear record thai
Georgia has been silk growing State.
E. II. ?,
! From the New England Farmer,