Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-04-18
CULTURE OF SILKIN TIE UNITPn
STATES.

Extract Of LeUer 10 ". Is. ,St0dddrt EOw
Some important occupations connected wuayA.
affairs Of my present situation have prevented m,
from attending the General Convention of the Sill
Growers. held in Baltimore in the beginning If u,
cember last, and | consequently regret having os,
an opportunity of conversing with you ON the rnno,
TAM subject which now occupies the attention ,f
the acrcullurasts throug bout the United States /,
had been so fortunate as TO have had an interview
with you, would certainly have been very much
gralilicd With the mutual interchange Of our view,
upon a matter which, in my opinion, deserves great,
er attention than has been bestowed on it uul tho
present time.
The que stons which you addressed to me in yonr
letter of the Goth u!tno would require greater de
veopmeni than can give to then within the imt,
of an episoary communication. | shall. however
answer your questions in the brelest and clearey
manner in my power.
As to The general views and doubts EXPRESSED h,
YOU 10 your letter relating 10 the possibility and use
fulneSs of Introducing and encouraging the culture
Of silk in tins country allow me, dear sir Say tina,
| am of "a very different opinion. The success
full attempts which have been made al different peri
DDS in some of the Northern and Southern States
and the fine specimens of silk produced in diheren,
parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut. afford sui-
cient proof that OILY the climate and soil of the
country are suitable the culture oi SILK, ban even
that American silk, if properly managed, night per.
haps surpass IN quality that OF the M st favored
countries in the world
Those very specimens. though trining IN quaint,
IT, will suffice to show that silk might become one
of the richest staples of the United States, shonH
the culture be uude riaken on more extensive scale.
and better method adopted in rearing the skworm
and in spinning the cocoons.
Suppose, now dear sir that out OF ID millions of
inhabitants in the United States, million ftheni
compose that useful and worthy class called far
mers Suppose, again, that only hall of them
would devote SIX weeks every year to raise few
Thousand silkworns. Persons well acquainted with
the arr of silk grown. will assure you that Tie PROOF
est farmer, having few hundred mulberry trees
properly cultivated, having house, however small.
and an industrious wife, may with the least Trouble
and without any extra expense, give crop OF at eas,
100 pounds of cocoons. This minimum obtained
from SOC, 900 farms throughout the tnIon would
give us an annual production of 80 00O, 0o0 pounds
oc cocoons or an average of $3.50, 900 pounds OF raw
silk. which, al the low price OF ~ pound, would
realize an annual production of S25 100000
This is not an eXtravagant calculation, nor one Of
those ridiculous exlggerations with which often
mepls in certain speeches aud addresses, in which
the most fanastical prospects are Offered 10 credu
lous audience. 1t is "A calculation founded on what
happens in every place where the culture OF silk IS
considered branch OF hnsbandry and a source oil
general welfare.
the months of Nav aud June whose hut does not
contain from 50 900 to 200 600 skworms. by which
he will be able to pay the rent of his dwelling, and
many other expenses incurred during The whole
year. There is doubt that what IS done on a
small scale by the poorest and most ignorant labor
ers in Europe might be more easily aud extensive
~ undertaken by American farmers, whose resonr-
ces and better accommodations would afford them
greater facilities and better success.