New-York tribune., 1841-10-21
PRICE ONE GENI
THE CULTURE OF SILK.
RINnENRrRGH INSTITUTE ADDRESS.


IA addr~ss was delivered on TUESDAY evening at
the Lvceum of Natural History tie Culture OF
Silk, By Nh Blyden5urg. gentleman who ma
long been engaged in the business, and VINO Is ev1-
dea,ly unite enthusiastic As to it, Ultimate success
rs great STAPLE of production and commerce. He
commenced by abiding to the great ernbarrass-
ments unaer which the country was now ia5oring
which he attributed IN great measure 20 the I'M
nen.e imporatons of articles OF luxury, in the
foremost rank Of which the item of Silks
While he repudiated the idea that our fair country
women should be deprived of those Injuries they
we're 80 eminently calculated to adorn. the cues
zion naturally arose whether there was not some
way in which they might be made producers as
well as consumers. The true foundation of all
national greatness is national industry and to the
ladies was offered an opportunity not only Of re-
trieving the embarrassment. OF the country and
loading it with wealth and blessings, but at the
same time to provide themselves with the richest
products of the loom while their charm, would be
heightened BY the exercise. IF one half OF the e..
males of this country were each 10 produce but
single pound of raw silk year 1t would bring al
the ordinary market price fory-two and half mil
lions of dollars; while in comparison to The labors
of their grandmothers in weaving wool and flax 1t
would be the greatest amusement, and requiring
the labor of but small portion of the year. As to
the advantages of employing the land in the cult
walton of the mulberry, the lecturer thought there
could be no question. We have millions OF acres
in fact useless for other purposes, while the null
berry can be grown OIL any soil. requiring no more
attention or labor than field OF corn, and almost
without fail giving an abundant yield.
In England experience has shown fully that 1t
cannot be cultivated 10 good purpose, and while
the sk-growing countries of Europe and Asia have
an advantage in the low price of labor, that was
more than counterbalanccd by our lnbor-,aving in
ventions; and it was capable Of unanswerable de-
monstration, that if our female population would
interest themselves in the production of the raw
material, which comes peculiarly under their pro-
vince as light and graceful employment in a few
years might not only cease to depend upon the
looms of Europe for our consumption, but enter
the market as exporters of staple even second
to our immense crops of Cotton. The speaker
then entered into brief history OF the production
and manufacture of Cotton in this country and ar
gued from the fact that ii had become such
source of internal wealth in such short time.
while the cotton growing region was confined with
in such narrow limits it was clearly evident that
the culture Of Silk, easily spread over our wide do
MAN, and commencing with all the improvements
in manufacturing which had required AZ years OF
cotton growing to perfect, might al least be made
equal to it as great commercial staple. hey
would therefore make an earnest appeal to the Ia
dies particularly, 20 as the finishing and most fin
ished part of creation" lend their aid and their
industry TO project which promised much
good, and while they clothed themselves in silken
attire, receive the proud tribute of filling the slea-
sure of their countrys greatness and wealth. The
address was concluded with some practical re-
marks on the noduS oPerandt Of the silk culture,
and experimental facts in the growing of trees,
worms. &c. Express.