Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-17

seen that the silk imported into the u States in 1882
amounted TO $9,ld7Sl2, and that The annual mpora
lion INTO the country has increased with growing DO.
pulaon, until the year 1885, when il amounted 10 $25.
033,200-an immense sum indeed for any one country
TO pay to others for single article Of commerce OF
this amount, pgina herself may be supposed to pay
two millions OF dollars whilst for the same product she
has soil and climate more particularly adapted to its
growth than the countries whence the article is derived
Severa! Of the Northern States, (were the climate is
far less propi,i"us TO the growth Of the and eahy
condition Of the worm have granted bounlies on the
production Of the raw material, and while laborng un
der many disadvantages have gone far ahead of us in
its particularly Pennsylvania, ever foremost in
works Of this nature, 10 whose enterprise and unweaed
industry We cannot pay too high compliment.
The position we just now hold as respects the manu-.
facture Of silk, is remarkable one. The morus multi
cauls, variety of mulberry found best pied the
feeding of the worm, owing to the enterprise of few
individuals, was found, furnishing in the grounds
around your metropolis before ii known TO exist
fourth the extent in any other State in the Union from
this source The Northern countries have derived their
chief supply their market being better one Than the
home mart has gradually distracted large stock OF the
plants from Virginia. Yet the past season. consdera
Die portion Of your fellow citizens fceseeing the meal
cuabe advantages to be derived from its culture, created
demand within the State which, thrown in competition
with that from other sources has caused the tree TO sell for
nn unexampled price, In this competition The Southern
growers in Offering The highest prices become pur
chasers OF large number OF trees In Virginia great
amounts have been expended TO obtain stock, and the
holders of such have justly inferred, that the Assembly
would lend its aid in uriherance Of the good work. by
granting a bounty the production Of the raw mate.
rial, charteng company for the manufacture OF silk,
and doing all that that body ghl deem proper and Ell
Gent 10 advance the success OF the enterprise, and
strengthen their hitherto unasssted etturs And, they
now confidently rely upon such aid as the foresight
and wisdom Of their representatives may devise
Northern cultivator has LATELY made the following
reprr, about the yield Of the Morus Mul,cauis-On
the 18th Of May last $50 Of these plant
cd on eighth Of Of land, the stem aud branches
divided, and placed, usual, in the SOIL in slips and
layers Of eyes each The consequent increase by
the LIST Of July following, making 4ySO0 trees The
quantity of leaves gathered from these trees amounted
In lG4 lbs; the number {" worms fed, 81 000, yielding
the Of ~ pounds of silk acre. which, at the
present price Isl 80 per pound) after deducl!ng the
expense of Keeling, will leave nett profit oil SoU1 per
acre. 1t is well known to many who have visited the
North and the yield Of foliage there, that on the
extent of land, it would be doubled in Virginia. So
consequently, the nett profit OF land here,
would be thousand and eight dollars II to hls you
add what might from third crop Of cocoons,
which, by of the length of growing season II
has been found practicable TO effect the profit would be
truly astonishing Take one fourth even OF this yield
and compare ii with what gain from the growth OF
wheat and tobacco why Immediately and 10 great extent
should cuvaors be tempted to plant this highly
valuable tree, by which we shall gradually be enabled
TO retain in country the twenty-five millions OF dol
lars annually expended in the purchase OF SILK
Change You will The application of this amount TO the
purchase Of bread suifS when and all would Sc
rously speak of abandoning country no longer afford
ing the staff Of life II is confidently asserted by those
well informed in all things relative to the history OF
this tree that The year after its introduction by Co
vernment into France it found its way 10 the city ct
New York and TO Richmond, where lis valuable proper
ties for the manufacture Ct silk discovered
that in America the plant has been rapidly and largely
produced By neat and udclous mode of culture, whilst
in France il has gradually crept into notice, and
does not present exist there 10 fourth Of the extent
tina, does in this country placing the nited States IN
enviable posture in the possession of so valuable
stock; holding the idea, that may in few years
successfully vie with France in the production Of all
silk fabrics This particularly, when revert TO the
fact that from the first plantation of slips Of two eyes,
large yield of foliage produced and that from the COM
mon white Italian the whence the present supply
is afforded from Europe ii requires the occupation OF the
soil for years before there is any thing like the
same produce of leaf for feeding the AS to the
relative value Of the different varieties of mulberry, the
nuliicaus holds The first rank; indeed all others uheh
the Northern men should possess,
better suited to the climate where they than TO
any Of the Southern States. w.