The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1868-07-11

pSSN3 SSoV AfS AAdhSpl hM OulUS Va
Japanese seed costs in the Italian
.market, at present, IS or 40 francs,
and does not give 80 good a result,
neither in quality nor in quantity.
In this sad state Of things, the Ital-
ian producers thought Of turning TO-
ward America, which, placed under
a latitude corresponding to the latis
tude Of Italy, offers a temperate and
genial cline eminently adapted to the
production Of silk. That the mul-
berry tree prospers quite we'll in the
United States, is no longer doubtful i;
and if this industry has not as yet
prospered on this continent, it is be-
cause, in times past, the cheap rate
Of labor ID Italy shut out foreign
competition, Now, the circumstan.
ces are changed. Italy, France, and
all Europe are in need Of regeneras
ted silk seed, and will come to pro-
aare it in America.
Let US begin with laying down one
maxim, which is, that in this country
we are not to think ofmaking, nor Of
Ispinning it, nor Of twisting it, nor of
making silk stuff. Workmanship is
too dear, and it would be always a
loss to the manufacturer, The plans
ter in America ought to limit himself
to producing sound and good silk
Iseed, and this will be yearly convert,
&c into tinkling gold by the Europe
an specuiator. If in past years the
American spectators had not the fe.
yer Of manufacturing silk, they would
not have been exposed to SO many
losses. The history Of the silk in
dustry'in America does only serve us
lin a single point of view-that of beA
ling certain that the climate Of nearly
Iall the States Of the Union is not in>
ferior to that of Italy for the produe.
ton Of seed.
In l709, the English introduced
1.-The culture Of the mulberry tree in
these regions, and in 1860 this colo
ny made present to Charles the III.
of magnificent mantle for his coro,
nation.
In 1882, two Italians, Sig. Amatis
land Sig. Camuso, were called in by
! the English to teach those colonists
the cultivation of silk, and number
of Italian women were engaged tC
come here and direct the silk womer
lin Georgia and in other States, and
bring up females instructed in tbs
art.
In 1850, Signor Camuso, with his
family betook themselves to the cul
g ture of silk in South Carolina. Ii
I 1862, Signor Ottohenghi, Of Pied
mont, commenced a plantation ii
Georgia, which increased from yea
2 to year until the English Government
/ Nominated him superintendent of it
d. cultivation in Georgia. Butalthougl
It these silks wore found to be Of ;
e good quality, still they always, wher
+ sent to Europe, were below the mark
a ct. On account Of this disadyantag
o its production was suspended AL
!, most century afterWard, that is il
$ 1943, the ardor for the cultivation 0
II the mulberry tree was renewed; AM
there were planted hundreds Of thou
!. sands Of these trees in all the State
J. from Maine to Florida. The middl
/ latitudes, that is, Massachusetts, Con
Is nectieut, New York, Kentucky, an,
n Ohio, gave the best results. Bu
! even then, the desire of spinning
e twisting and weaving prevailed, ant
k in spite Of the premiums given by tn
governments Of the different States
: this branch Of industry had to b
1t laid aside as producing but a sligh
It profit. In 1848, the culture Of tn
j. mulberry tree was totally abandoned
h the trees were dug up and the sol
II was turned to other uses.
IA Now the moment seems come t
e take up again with energy and con
fidence this industry; but with tn
10 firm and logical resolve of not con
10 Quoting it further than the rearing {
\ the seed. The Italian farmers estah
]. lished here ought at once to under
i take the task, planting as many mul
d berry trees as possible on the Italia
is system. It is needless to teaah ou
o fellow citizens what may be the fittes
q mulberry trees and how they odgh
IN to be cultivated. Every one born i
es Lombardy. Piedmont, Tuscany an
ID the Ligurian rivers have seen besid
D. the domestic hearth, in greater {
h less proportion, the exercise Of thi
as genial and prolific industry. If e7
5h cry italian would plant a thousan
ID mulberry trees, he would be alway
IN far short Of the demands that in
Or little time will be made upon him.
10 Il is enough to say that Italy alor
Mt every year exports more than fiftet
ds million francs in gold to foreign par
he for the purchase Of this seed. Franc
5; Belgium, Switzerland, and 9th,
DO countries send out a sum not le
re than twenty-five millions for the san
at object.
i, The Italians in the United Stat
e are then warned, for their great
T. good, to procure, as quick as Thy
ill can, a small portion, even if it we
r. not more than the tenth Of an oun
IN Of healthy seed produced in AmeriC
ng and to commence the work, iu I
Of spring Of the next year, from Ap
ad to june, according 10 the nature
ge the climate, and TO preserve thereaft
e. very carefully in fresh, dry and al
4 i - n