Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-10-14
From the Northampton Gazette.

parts of New England assembled IN ConVeh-
ton at Northampton, OH Wednesday, the
2Sth day of Sept 1912.
The Convention was organized by the
choice of
Hon. EDWARD DICKINSON, Amherst,
PRESIDENT.
Horace PIrKIN Of Manchester,
Conn. Y. Pres.
DIR. ARTEMAs ROBBINS of Bel
lows Falls, Vt.
A. w. TnAYER of Northampton, .ssc'rvs.
w. A. HAwLEY of do
Dir. DANIEL STEBBINs
Of Northampton,
I.R. Barbour of on business Conn.,
ford,
Tmornr SMITH of
Amherst,
Mr.. Barbour stated that he had large
number of letters, from gentlemen IN different
parts Of the country, in reference to the OBJ
iects of the Convention received IN reply to
the Circular issued by the Committee who
called the Convention The circular pro-
posed various inquiries calculated to elicit
information respecting the Silk business. :
lie therefore moved that the morning ses-
sion be occupied in listening to the contents
of these letters, and in hearing the expert
ences of gentlemen present. The motion
was adopted.
Mr.. Barbour then proceeded to read the
letters, and, with one exception, they gave
favorable results, and the writer's expressed
strong confidence in the success OF the silk
enterprise 1t was then
Voted, That gentlemen be called upon to
state their experience in the silk business.
DR.. BARDwELL of Whately was first call
ed upon. His operations the past season
had been very unsuccessful. His worms
were diseased. Out of 400 900, not enough
wound to produce two hands full of cocoons.
He has lost money by the business for the
last three years. He has fed lS years, and
on former years had found the business pro-
fitabIe otherwise he should almost be dis
posed to abandon the business in despair
The cause Of his i'll success is not known to
him. A gentleman from Turner'S Falls,
Mr.. Barton, commenced with the same eggs
that he did, had fine success. Mr.. B, in lS4i
from OF. of eggs produced 23 lbs. Of silk
from two crops Of worms. His cocoons
were Of the Peanut variety. He fed in a
small room, 16 by 30, and used artificial
heat, keeping the temperature at IS and 80
deg. Dr. Bardwell is satisfied that lime III
lures cocoons. His late crops of worms
have done as well as those fed early. He
feeds with the white and harder kinds Of
mulberry first, though he is not particular.
Mn. SETH S. ARNOLD of Westminster, VI.
was next called for. His location is favor
able. Soil sandy, silecious. Has four acres
Of multicaulis trees, mostly young-some
having stood out over winter. Has CO.
coonery, well ventilated. Has fed two sea-
sons Last year his first crop was pretty
good, but the second was failure. He be-
came discouraged, and thought the business
would be Improbable. He then made in
quiries at the best sources of information,
and the result Of his inquiries was, deter
minaton to go on. He obtained female
we'll acquainted with the business, to super
intend his feeding. Commenced Matching,
the present year, about the llth of July
The LIST crop of worms yielded l75 lbs. of
cocoons The last crop had been equally
successful, and would probably yield at much
more. Fed the young worms on tender
leaves, and as they grew older with harder
leaves. The weather was unusually cold
and damp. Used some artificial heat. Dis
approves of the use of lime.
Mr.. A visited other feeders. Mr. Jeuison
of VT. fed good many worms Uses the
white mulberry His second crop this year
was an entire failure His trees, before the
completion of the last feeding, widowed and
turned black.
Mn. SAMUEL WHITMARsH then appeared
before the Convention. lie made up his
mind, long since, that it was out of the ques-
ton to feed two crops the same year. He
would feed but one crop, and commence
about the tenth of June. Leaves late in the
season are not good. Would use no artif-
cal heat but would keep windows open in
all weathers. He is satisfied that cold and
damp weather does not injurc the worms i
they are prepared for it by free and uninter
rupted ventilation, night and day. In cor
roboraton of the statement that exposure
to wet is not deleterious to the worms, he
observed, that, at Jamaica, he had quantity
of worms, which, during rain storm, were
washed down a long deciivity. AS mates
Of experiment, he gathered them up, ant
those proved to be some of the finest ant
most healthy worms he had. Mr.. A. w
Thayer related similar fact Some worm
got thrown out the window, and they lai'
on the ground through a cold storm of hv,
days. They were then observed to be live
ly and to appear healthy. They were takel
up, were 6ue, healthy worms, and produce,
excellent cocoons.
Mr.. Whitmarsh feeds with branches. -
Chopping leaves is a waste of foliage, an
dangerous to the worms. Want of air
the great cause of disease among worms
Those worms most exposed to the air ar
always the best and most healthy Worm
should never be shut up. When con6ne
they sicken and die.