Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-12-15
PROSPECTS OF THE SILK CULTURE
iNTHE UNITED STATES.

pIuttiintut SUBJECTS connected with the cul-
iivaiion Of the soil, which are engaging the
attention OF our countrymen, as, at such a
time, we naturally look back upon the past,
and from II form anticipaiions Of the future.
Among these subjects, there is no one OF more
absorbing interest, at this time, than rat Of
the Cultivation Of sir.
As there exists much incredibly in the
minds Of many on the subject, and doubt OF
our being able 10 produce silk proftably; as
tfe sniris thrtt9s haen Sc cxssss y--,-r-
REQ, 6y some has been deemed manid, and
the whole matter ridiculed as "a hum5ug,"
got up merely for the purpose of speculation,
by designing men, It may be useful TO take
an impartial view Of the subject, inquire what
has been done, not simply in the raising and
sale Of trees, but in the growing and manufac-
ture Of silk, and from the practical resuiis, as
the only correct and safe criterion to form
our judgment Of the case.
The greater part Of this incredibly arises
from want of information, and from that
suspicion with which men are apt to view
any new enterprise. This distrust, this dis
position 10 doubt, we are far from censurng
provided there is at the same time, a mind
open TO conviction. Ii argues a becoming
prudence and caution. But we do disapprove
Of this wholesale condemning of a thing with
out evidence, without even examination
There needs but the knowledge of facts. and
an impartial examination of the subject Of the
silk culture on its own merits, to convince
every unparalleled mind, even the most scep-
teal, not only that it is branch of business
from which might be derived great profit to
those who engage in it Understandings, but
one of great national importance Many in
dividuals who have been entirely skep,cal on
the subject, and the most strenuous opposers
| OF the silk business, yielding conviction to the
light OF truth, are now its warmest friends
and advocates, and are preparing to embark in
it extensively.
To enter into full examination Of the sub
Ject, would require more space than can be
devoted to single essay, in the columns of
an agricultural Journal inasmuch as it would
require the introduction off multitude Of sta
tstca facts in relation to the silk business in
our country. But few of these we shall pre-
sent, for the consideration ofthe candid.
l. That silk can be raised with perfect ease,
that our climate, from north to south lis admi-
rably adapted to the constitution and health Of
the worm, far better than that of Europe, and
to the growth Of the Mulberry tree in its differ
ent varieties, has been satisfactorily proved
by thousands of experiments While in Eu-
rope, owing to the humidity Of their climate,
nearly one half of the crop of worms usually
die from disease, and they are obliged to have
their cocoonries nicely regulated in their tenn
perature by the thermometer; here, owing to
the dryness and warmth of our atmosphere,
with proper care, scarce a worm dies from
disease; and building Of the cheapest con-
strnction-any clubhouse, shed or barn-an-
swers perfectly well for a cocoonery That
/ The silk made in this country, is Of the very
best quality, for fncness, lus,re and strength.
I equal TO any in the world, has been decided
/ by competent judges. Specimens of raw silk
/ have been sent TO European manufacturers,
and pronounced by them to be superior; and
/ in our own manu- factories il is much preferred,
and receives a higher price, by a dollar or two
J on pound, than the foreign article. There
is no more mystery or difficulty in raising the
worms, then in raising chickens; children, fe-
males, aged and infm persons are competent
[ to the work, and il requires no more skill to
reel the silk from the cocoons, than any of
our intelligent females may acquire with
1 little practice. Persons have succeeded per-
fectly well, even 10 the Keeling and spinning
of the silk into beautiful sewing silk, who
never saw silk worm or a cocoon before,
/ and who had no other instruction than what
/ they derived from silk publications. IT, then,
| abundance of the raw material, of the best
quality, NAV be produced without any diff
/ Guilty, what should hinder us from becoming a
silk growing country, and from manufacturing
it, not only into sewing silk, but into all the
varieties Of silk stuffs used by our people; and
| sis.s the ssiiiiaas which annually
drained from Us, to pay foreigners for raising
and manufacturing our silk
2. Silk may be raised with profit. There
is no branch Of business which yields so large
profits on the capital invested and the labor
bestowed. IL requires, indeed, but small
amount of capital to 90 into il extensively a
few acres OF land, a few trees TO begin with,
and the necessary fixtures for feeding worms.
Hence il is admirably adapted to the small
farmer, ano persons OF limited means. II is
peculiarly OF a domestic character, and may be
pursued with profit in the family, by employ
ing the children and females, without detri-
mcnt TO other branches of the labor of the
farm. As a practical illustration OF this, we
will mention fact stated in one OF our silk
periodicals.. A Connecticut farmer, the past
season, matched out some worms to be at
tended by his three children, who were going
TO school every day, and they gatherd leaves
and fed the worm In the morning before leay-
ing home-returned at mon TO feed them a.
gain, and at night completed the feeding for
the day. The worms had no attention but
what was given by the children, and the silk,
when reeled, was sold for sI75. This was
more than the farmer made from an excellent
dairy farm, ION which several crops were
cultivated besides,) from any other one crot
10 which his attention was directed" That
silk, from the common Italian Mulberry, NAV
be raised with profit, has long since been dem,
ons,Iated in Connecticut where, 10 the town
Of Mansfield, originally one OF the poOrsA az.
rienltural towns in the siaie-the land 30 pooi
and broken thai our farmers would hardly
take il as git, and be obliged TO cultivate il