Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-03-16
Agricultural.
From thu Chicago Agdculturist.
,LGTN, Kane CO. ILL.,, Feb'y l3, 184l.


pecally, as conceive to our own State, to-
gether with the awakened interest and de-
sire for information respecting it ma0ifes
ted by the people generally, induce nee to
make an effort, through the columns Of
you: valuable paper. to sdvaRce the good
cause. If by what may say, any of your
readers be induced to begin in the business;
or having begun, shall be aided in their
progress, my wishes will be gratilied and
my object obtained.
The question then-mdking suk-shall
we make it? Can we make it if we can
is it matter of profit and of economy?
We want the article-who indeed can do
without it? We must have it, we viii have
Though the balance of exchange be
against US individually, and though it in
crease the balance Of trade against US ma
tionally, 20 the enormous and alarming
amount Of 20 millions annually.
Surely it is no part Of our character as
people, TO let prejudice beguile US Of our
interests, OF ignorance oSstruct the high
way Of enterprise.
What then can be relied on as facts in
relation to this business? ask not what
are the exaggerated statements oftheorists
and Missionaries. But what do we learn
from the numberless experiments, which,
for the last three or four years, have been
made in every State Of the Union
We learn that in it, and about it, there
is no mystery which plain common sense
cannot easily comprehend-no difficulties
in its details, which ordinary intelligence.
patience and perseverance cannot sur
IL =, 81 Ia 10 nd
profita BILE; and it is all this in as true
sense as common farming. A boy will as
easily learn to grow mulberry trees, as
other trees as readily learn TO feed and
manage silk worms and produce cocoons,
as he will TO raise poultry or pigs and 1t
is as easy TO learn a girl to manage CO.
coonery, and TO reel and manufacture silk,
as to learn her to knit stockings, spin wool
and make flannel. 1t Is peculiarly do
nestle employment ; atiording light and
agreeable as we'll as useful occupation to
the mother, the wife, the sister, the daugh-
ter-to the aged, the feeble, and the young.
AS an important item in the products of
the soiI, it commends itself especially to
the attention Of every farmer.
Thousands Of experiments have demon
strated that little attention bestowed upon
this, without detriment 10 other branches
of agriculture, would add from 800 to
$500 annually to the proceeds of the farm.
One acre of land, and a small outlay for
trees, would be sufficient; some portion Of
the farm building could be used Cor feeding
a month or two. The actual expenses of
the fixtures and labor would be balanced
by the state bounty, which is 81 for every
10 lbs Of cocoons, so cts. fer every pound
OF silk reelcd, and 81 for every pound
r9o.ed aad thrown.
The Profits.
As to the actual profits Of the business,
he results Of experiments vary but all
unite in stating, that the profits per acre,
after deducting all expenses, never fall be-
low 500, and after the second year some
times exceed $500. The crop is some
times made from one Matching in six weeks
sometimes, from several successive hatch
lEgs, in three months.
If. then, the farmer can produce 16 lbs
of raw silk worth 800, with one fourth
of the labor and expense which il would
cost him TO raise and market 200 bushels
of wheat, or 400 bushels of corn, worth
about the esmo sum and, if especially,
this can be done without prejudice to the
ordinary business Of the farm, does not
interest, does not economy, require him to
make this important addition to his other
resources This ought he to do, and
not leave the other undonc." Is it good
economy to send his daughter away from
home 70 labor three months for Il silk dress,
when she might produce silk enough in the
meantime, 20 purchase an entire new ward
robe, and 4 feather bed or cow besides?-
Or is II good arrangement TO keep the girls
at home, without profitable employ
while himself and the larger boys arc toll
ing 70 furnish them with necessary, if not
gay and expensive, apparel The true
eRcret Of economical thrift and good man.
agement, is to bling the entire family into
rcqustion, and require all, if possible, to
produce as well rs TO consume.
For the production Of silk we have soil
and climate singularly propitious-cqual to
China, superior 10 France and Italy
Compared with tho two last silk producing
countries, statistics TO be relied upon, show
q difference in our favor often per cent.
as to leaves, and Of % to 81! as 10 the
amount Of raw silk produced from a given
number Of trees and worms. This fact
alone is sufficient to silence forever the
common objection Of "high price Of labor"
Il is equally true that our raw silks are SUI
perior TO foreign, both in strength and lus-
tre-foreigners themselves being judges
and, being we'll reeIed, will command a
higher price. Besides, the ingenuity of
our countrymen has already so simplfed
and facilitated the business by appropriate