Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-06-06
Agricultural.
From the Farmer and Gardener.
Facts and Calculations Illustrating the
In,nort1ucs ffbr Sill Culture

Importance ofthe Silk Culture.
We find the following article, on sub
ject ofmuch importance. in "A late mum
Der Of the "Camdeu Mail" We COM
mend it to general perusal as it possesses
an interest which should he participated
in by every one who has wish 10 i'm
prove his fortunes.
Mr.. Editor.-In my last communica-
tion. promised to furnish some facts 10
show that very great improvements may
be made by changing a portion Of the ag-
cultural and manufacturing products of
this country. Perhaps your readers will
say that my frs, looks well N theory, bul
assertion is not argument; and will still
douh, its pracricabiliIy. Will you, Mr..
Editor, be so good as to lay before them
some extracts from a report of a commit
rec to meeting held in Philadelphia in
1887, al which the establishment of COM
pany for the production and manufacture
of silk was resolved upon.
The committee say, 1.-The periods of the
year in which the silk worm is fed, and
when ouly the attention OF the farmer and
his family is required for their care aud
management. are those. in which the usual
labors of the farm are. for great portion
of those periods, not very great; and the
large amount Of the attention aud industry
which are required by silk worms when
feeding and making The cocoon, are most
properly furnished by females. and chill
dren from twelve to sixteen years Old
In the winter season, the family fire side
Of the farmer, now comparatively without,
employment. may be engaged in reelng
the silk from The cocoons, a most agreea-
Bile aud profitable occupation for thai part
of the year."
"A large amount of free labor will be
brought into employ, and the domestic silk
trade of the North, will one day rival thar
of cotton, rice, and tobacco at the South"
Three thousand good cocpnns mako
one pound reeled silk; al thai rate. the
reeling being done at the mandatory, the
silk will cost about three dollars per ID -
When cocoons are produced in abundance
the committee are disposed to believe that
al twelve cents per pound. the r'iSing
them will be as profitable as the raising of
cotton at at IS cts"
"The estimate is made with confidence.
that an establishment for the manufacture
of silk into plain and ordinary articles, will
cost no more than about one eighth of
cotton factory. TO turn Out the same num-
her of dollars worth Of work, and with
equal, if not greater profit"
THE present prices Of raw silk are.
Bengal, SIS 25 TO Sc; Italian Sc SO to 81
per pouud.'
''Floss and sewing silk. made from Ben
gal silk would cost-raw material, say S.
25cents-dying, manufacturing aud waste
81 SO per ID. of IA oz.-S6 II. These
articles are now worth-sewing silk $40
to SIl; Floss ] | to 12."
THE amount ofsilk used in the United
States is immense. To manufacture e
nough of this article to supply the demand
almost any amount of capital might he
employed with little cost Of machinery
II has been ascertained, one year to he
535. 600"
Dr.. Lardner estimates the annual guam
tity Of silk used in England alone, at more
than four millions of pound, Of weight
Owing to the humidity Of their climate
they are obliged to purchase this vast a.
mount abroad; the amount, of silk used in
The United States would son ouadruple
even The vast quantilv now used in En-
gland were il to become generally an arti-
Gle of domestic manufacture.
We will turn our attention to commu-
nication of Robert Sinclair, published in
the Farmer and Gardener, and the re-
marks of the Editor thereon. The sub
stance Of Mr.. Sinclair's commu nicaron is,
from the first years growth Of the morus
multicauis "he raised from cuttings of one
bud each, about three inches. per acre. TO-
0e0 pounds of leaves, the Rrst season from
a large portion Of these
leaves were produced in season for feed
ing the second crop Of worms
The Editor remarks, that as 1000 lbs.
feed 2Ol.6OO worms. and rs 5000 worms
will make pound of silk, so will the az
sregate make 81 is lbs of silk.