The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-08
THE MADISONIAN
THE CULTURE OF SILK.

Madisonian some weeks ago, but the belief that tho
all-absorbing and melancholy event the death Of tho
late President announced at that time, diverted pub.
lie attention from the article, and conviction Of the
great importance Of the subject induce US now 90
publish extracts from it, N,her tine
space will permit to enlarge upon the subject at
present were il necessary DO so further than 10 say
that the successful culture Of SIX by females and chill
dren, and by The poor is no longer a matter Of doubt
The experiment has been fully and successfully tried
IN various parts Of the country in the cold climate Of
New England, IN the West, and in his District. We
were lately shown fifteen or twenty yaids of silk
OF most beautiful and substantial texture the product
OF an experiment made last summer by philanthropc
friend Of in this District whohad never even wit
messed the process OF reellng but who merely
followed the printed directions which are within the
reach Of all The nearing, however was done in
western Pennsy lvania. We Iecollect also seeing
large quantity Of various silk fabrics from Ohio
posed for exhibition and sale in the rotunda Of the
Capitol about the close of the last session Of Congress
The owners OF WORKOUT lands in this vicinity, in Vir
ginia and elsewhere and the philanthropst and pa
riot every where, will find in this a subject worthy
their attention.
Let ii be borne in mind that in England no silk
is raised, the climate from frequent pertinent has
proved 10 be too humid for the growth of the useu
little insect TO whom indebted for the silk tex
! ture All the silk that is reeed or woven in England
is imported, and yet find that, under this dis
advantage, II Is considered valuable article OF trade
and worthy of the countenance of royalty. Here we
are blessed with climate favorable to the growth
OF the siIk than that oil Italy our country
are inferior TO in industry and ingenuity and yet
few comparatively engaged in this valuable culture,
destined one day 10 be important TO the wealth OF
our Republic
Wages here are too high 1t is perhaps known to
very few, what kind of labor is necessary in cocoo-
merry flalure. There are thousands of destitute
children, white and coored from years ofage
who now do nothing, and who would willingly gather
leaves Tor q, or cents per day feeble women with
out number, with whom sitting from morning I'LL
nigh, plying the needle does not agree, who would
gladly be re iesed by the light work of cocoonery
tor the small compensation of IL or IL cents and ma
ny more still who do not know how to sew, and who
have no employment at all, and who for a tribe,
would answer a cocoonery flaure, well as the
most capable and robust We told that in France,
lame men and women who cannot walk, wheel them
selves from shelf 10 shelf rolling chairs scattering
leaves over the skworrs, and changing the hurdles,
thus obtaining employment in the cocoonery, when,
by their misortunes, deprived Of finding it elsewhere.
In fine, it appears hat the culture of silk up to
the weaving thereof is peculiarly designed for those
who are incapable Of doing any thing else and con-
sequenty for those who are now idle and who will
to their II is true that cocoonery as well as
filaure needs a judcious superintendent who It
employed, must be well paid, as it is not exactly 81
mcclure to make others work and do their duty. The
owners, how ever of these establishments would show
wisdom by dispensing with superintendent except
indeed that afforded by themselves, their wives or
daughters they will be better served than when
served by themselves those identified with them by
family ties The qualifications necessary for good
superintendent of cocoonery nothing extraoIdi-
nary, good common sense, observation industry and
perseverance, all; having the first, the rest can
easily be acquired.
Farmers and planters who have slaves and ofcourse
| among them many idle children, feeble men and wo-
men, who cannot work in the field, stand greatly in
their own light by negecng TO plant mulberry trees
on their waste lands and erecting in the midst of them
alough, cheap cocoonery. BY these feasible means,
those little oilers would not only be kept out of mis-
chief, but would be made to support themselves and
the men and women freed from many an hour of dis
content by interesting and lucrative occupation
Their young msiresses, of Is 10 years of age,
would make admirable superintendent of cocooneres
and Ieelers of silk Indeed the production of silk
designed for female hands and in every period
Of history it has received the encourageu of female
influence and particularly that of Queens and noble
ladies' With great pomp and ceremony, the Empress
of China, in presence of immense concourse of
people, every year. gathers leaves and feeds silk
worms in order TO encourage her subjects to go on in
the culture of an article very important to the
wealth of the Celestial Empire"