BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, JULY, 1841.-No. 8. THIS PUBLICATION Is issued monthly without charge, to all personally interested in the silk business, for the purpose of opening a cheap channel of communication, to extend among them a knowledge of the Burlington Silk Worm Frame, of the Burlington Fila ture, and of the Editor's having made it his business to raise and keep for sale the choicest kind of Silk Worm Eggs, as well as to stimulate and foster the extension o'the Silk Culture in the United States. It will be sent by mail to such as write for it free of postage. Address EDMUND MORRIS, Burlington, N. J. timony in favor of what he saw. Below will be found as many particulars as we are now able to publish. OUR FIRST CROP. Having exposed six ounces of eggs, principally Peanut, they began to hatch on the 23d of May. The whole came out by the 2d of June. The absurd advice of the books to throw away the first day's hatching, we rejected, as we always shall. For the first ten days they were fed on had passed the third moulting, when they were cut leaves, afterwards on small twigs till they to 18 inches long fed out to them-the twigs be18 days they had passed their fourth moulting, ing laid all one way, with their butts outside. In and when 23 days old a number began to spin. This early maturity was quite unexpected, and may be attributed to a constant supply of foliage, which was given at night until the labor becamo too great a task for one person to attend to, when it was discontinued. They remained upon the frames from 9 to 11 days, until all had gone up, without any cleaning of the frames being ne cessary. There was no disease whatever, and the loss, from worms dying in consequence of injuries, as well as from those which refused to spin, could not have amounted to five per cent. They were fed with branches dripping wet not less than two hundred times; as we watered our foliage constantly, with a common garden watering pot, to prevent it from wilting. Lime was It is with feelings of inexpressible satisfaction that we announce to our numerous readers and friends, that our success in rearing our first crop of silk worms this season, has been placed on our feeding frames, and twigs from 3 complete in every respect. All that we have written and published in the Record in explanation of our peculiar views of the great defects of all the ancient modes of feeding, has been confirmed to the very letter, and that too, in the face of crowds of intelligent visitors who have thronged into our Cocoonery from places both near and distant, and who have been eye witnesses of what we have actually done towards confirming what we have contended for. In announcing this most gratifying result, we call upon our readers to bear in mind that this Several times during the progress of this crop, thing has not been done in a cornerour furnace was put in operation, to warm as to bear us witness that they have maintaining a bland and refreshing atmosphere well as to dry the house. It operated admirably, been repeatedly and publicly invited at all times in every part of the building. The to come and examine our operations three occasions of sudden changes in the night. mercury never fell below 70°, except on two or for themselves,-that they might per- Our rule was, and is, to feed the worms as often sonally verify the value of our mode as they have eaten up the last meal. The branches were gathered and brought to the Coof feeding, and make up their minds coonery, where a man was constantly employed from what they saw, not from what in pulling off the twigs of this season's growth, ready for the feeders. This preparation kept they heard. Many have accepted our the Cocoonery free from any incumbrance of invitation; and we are gratified in be- useless stems, and will, by its increasing the faing able to say that each individual cility and neatness of feeding, fully repay the cost. The highest consumption of foliage per visitor has borne his unhesitating tes-day was 1040 lbs. equal to 780 lbs of pure leaf; also used frequently after the third moulting. there being an additional crop of 5 ounces going on at the same time. Six persons were required to feed the two crops, being equal to three for each crop. our whole crop, by causing the litter to become putrid; yet our worms did not suffer in the least from its effects. The frames were carried out of the house and the litter thrown off in a body, and are now ready for the second crop, as clean and sweet as if they had never been used. Our friends who read this account will share in the The expenses of the first crop are so blended with those of the second, now 16 days old, that we cannot separate them; nor can we show a strictly accurate account of the cost of our feed-gratification we feel in this most complete triing, until the season is over. But enough is umph. There is not a single drawback to all known to satisfy us that our success is so great we have stated: no qualifying if or and to lessen that a large profit must be the result. The last the thoroughness of our success; and, as may, worms, hatched June 2, are now spinning. We be supposed, we shall go on in our summer's have gathered of the crop FORTY BUSH- operation with a degree of confidence that nothELS, and have ascertained enough to assure using can shake. Our succeeding crops will be that the whole will be near FIFTY BUSHELS. fed with far less trouble than the first, as all our One bushel of the Peanuts has been reeled, and apparatus is now in order. afforded the usual unfailing average product of good Peanut cocoons, 20 ounces of fine silk. We have been astonished at the vastly improved quality of our crop of cocoons over those of last year. They are larger, firmer, and have very few double or defective ones. The mode of spinning causes them to come out perfectly free from stain or spot of any kind; and we can in truth say we have never seen a lot of as good cocoons, large or small, raised by any other person. Our second crop is now 16 days old, being hatched June 14th, and the eggs for the third crop, 6 ounces, are now exposed for hatching. We hope to be yet able to feed five crops. We have not weighed our leaves all the time. Our intention is to ascertain what quantity of silk we can raise from an acre of ground, and at what cost. This can only be known at the end of the season, when our account will be published. But in addition to our own success on this mode of feeding, we are able, even at this early day, to lay before our readers the most ample evidence of its complete success in three other establishments, as contained in the following letters : FROM JUDGE ERNEST, OF GEORGIA. June 9th, 1841. Mr. Edmund Morris-Dear Sir-The silk worm eggs you sent me reached me on the 21st, all well, and did not commence hatching till the 24th, and by the 28th nearly all were hatched. I never had any eggs to hatch so well, and up to this time they have been just as prosperous as worms ever are-none either sick or dead. I consider the sending of eggs by mail a matter of great importance to the silk culture in Georgia. Thus far our success has fully equalled our If it can be done successfully, there will be (I expectations, nor have our expenses exceeded think) a great many sent to this neighbourhood them. We congratulate our friends sincerely next season; therefore the greatest attention on this result. What we have done can be done should be paid to mark the success and failure just as well by them, and by ten thousand others. of every attempt. I wish you to inform me how Silk can be made by all of us to a great profit you expect to sell eggs next year. The worms how great we shall not now state, though we feel I now feed are large white worms; when nearly quite able to. We prefer to show it by our grown have rather a greenish cast; spin cocoons works. In the whole progress of our feeding, of many colours, a great many different shades our improved frames operated most admirably. of yellow, some sulphur, some white, others The worms cleaned themselves; they were tho- nearly white: can you inform me what is their roughly ventilated, and were therefore continual-specific name? I HAVE SO FAR BEEN ly healthy, and the atmosphere of the cocoonery COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL IN FEED. was never made foul or even unpleasant. The ING SILK WORMS THIS SEASON. I have doors and windows were of course kept open on however neither weighed nor measured my silk favorable days. Though a cleaning fork had yet, though my worms have all or nearly all been provided, yet the litter was never removed spun ; yet the cocoons are not all gathered: We from the frames until several days after the think however, we have made 40 or 50 lbs. of worms had gone up. For twelve days in suc- silk, or that many bushels of cocoons. But, cession, ending June 27, we suffered under a whether I have made much or little, I have cerclose, damp, hot south east wind, with rain and tainly astonished a good many of the folks. fog, the worst storm of the kind we remember, They did not think a Georgian could make silk and which, under the old system of close surface at such a rate as I have done. A Turk, Italian, feeding, would have unquestionably killed off Frenchman, or even a Yankee, they reckoned of you produced the finest looking worms I ever might make silk, but not a Georgian! But here is the silk, and they know I made it. This is an argument almost as strong in favor of the silk cul. ture as their prejudices are against it; but they say, "You can make the silk, but you can't do any thing with it—you will never reel it." Then my wife unlocks her drawers and shows the reeled silk. Then the next objection is that it can't be made by negroes. Unfortunately for this objection, I have a blackman that has made we think three bushels of fine cocoons in his own time, and without being missed out of my ser. vice! I dont tell them these things, but shew them. These, you will allow, are a kind of arguments not easily refuted by men, of ordinary intellect. So I am fast convincing the good people in the neighbourhood of Macon, that it is a monstrous easy thing to make silk in Georgia. And that it will be made in Georgia extensively, some of them now begin to admit. I HAVE I have a grand stock of eggs. When I comTRIED YOUR FEEDING, FRAMES, AND I LIKE THEM VERY MUCH. I wish to know whether you can continue to supply me with eggs through the summer, as I expect to keep sending should these I have do well. I think perhaps some of my friends will send also. I do not wish you to send me eggs for nothing, nor for less than you can afford; nevertheless I have no objections to your giving me as good bargains as you can; this I think you will do; and for what you have already done for me, you get my sincere thanks. Yours truly,' A. E. ERNEST. FROM H. WILKES, ESQ., F. M., AT HALIFAX, N. c. menced I intended to make different heads, but HENRY WILKES. in Now we put the question to every person who reads this, to say whether there has ever been, within his knowledge, a crop of THIRTY OUNCES of eggs hatched out and spun up Halifax, N. C., June 23, 1841. Dear Sir-I have waited until the last mo- any cocoonery in the United States, ment before writing, for the purpose of giving until Mr. Wilkes performed the truly you all the particulars with regard to my pre- important achievement. He deserves sent crop of silk worms, and in fact I have waited too long. I intended to make up a report of the thanks of the whole country for what I wish you to publish to day, but I found his enterprize and perseverance, and this morning it was absolutely necessary for me to be at the Cocoonery all this day, and I have we doubt not he will have a splendidnot time to say what I wish. I will, however, ly profitable season of it. Nothing give you the heads for publication, and must ask but his own neglect can prevent it, if the favor of you to write out what you wish. I authorize you to do so in my name. his eggs and foliage do not fail. The crop above described must be worthat least one thousand dollars. FROM HUGH CASSIDAY, Esq. GEORGIA. My Cocoonery you know is 200 feet long by 20 wide. It is handsomely fitted with your frames. I use no other; and can safely recom. mend them to the public, in preference to any thing I ever saw to feed on. I have now the brood of 30 oz. of eggs on them, and not a sick worm. They are all winding up handsomely, Dear Sir-I have attempted to make silk this and I expect to be well paid for all the trouble year in a small way, and as it may be interesting and expense I have been at. The mammoth to you and the public to know the result, I will worms commenced winding up at 27 days old, and the Peanut at 29. The eggs I purchased give it to you. June 22d 1841. I purchased On the 20th of March my silk worm eggs after two weeks, fed but three times in a day; worms all healthy; and in all that I have ever fed, have never known any thing about the diseases of which so much is said in your Record. My worms have been of the Mammoth Sulphur will stand any thing but the old hen and chickens. We have been successful in reeling into raw silk, and in producing a good article of sewings directly from the cocoons. Our silk was the best at our annual fair, and bore off the premium of all western New York. The amount of the last year's crop was about 20 lbs. (which were raised in this county and had been | We had each day's hatching by themselves; and exposed to different degrees of temperature,) commenced hatching: the young growth on my mulberry trees had been twice killed previously by the frost, and were then just beginning to sprout a third time, and by carefully picking every bud as soon as it appeared, I succeeded in raising about ten bushels of cocoons, which I am reeling, and find to produce a pound of silk to the bushel. These worms were fed four times a day: slacked lime used on them three times a week, and were healthy, although the season was unusually cold. I received a small lot of Mirabel Jaune eggs from G. B. Smith Esq., which hatched on the in the raw state. 14th of April; these were fed on your Burling- This season I have a friend in company with ton Frames according to directions, using branch-me, and if fortune smiles, as she is beginning to es, dry or wet, as they came to hand, and slacked dò, no telling what we may accomplish. We lime freely; they were put on the frames imme-are now laying down what will produce us 40 diately after the third moulting, AND WERE or 60,000 of the multicaulis, and intend feeding NOT CLEANED TILL THEY WERE DONE SPINNING. They commenced spinning in 33 days from the time of hatching, and were remarkably healthy throughout. I can now say from experience, that your Silk Worm Frame is an important improvement which should be in the possession of every silk grower, as IT LESSENS THE LABOR OF FEEDING MORE THAN ONE HALF, AND POSSESSES ALL THE ADVANTAGES IT IS SO HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR. Your Peanut eggs were received by mail on the 5th inst., and hatched on the 9th inst. Please let me know through the Record what would be the price of frames 3 by 4 feet, with straw roofs made ready to put together. Very respectfully yours, HUGH CASSIDAY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SILK RECORD. Adams's Basin, Monroe Co., N. Y. Dear Sir-I acknowledge the receipt of your Silk Record, for which I am truly grateful, and in return send you a short account of what I have done in the business, and what we are in hopes of doing the present season. I have been engaged in feeding, and manufacturing silk thread, for a number of years, on a small scale, having never fed more than 100,000 in one season. The last season I had what I supposed to be 80,000, fed by myself and family, consisting of four children, within the ages of 16 and 7, one boy and three girls. We fed on the Italian alone; our apparatus was nothing but plain shelves one above the other; we picked the foliage, fed and changed them, within ourselves, with the exception of two small boys two days, while I was preparing the winding apparatus, which was nothing but bushes from the forest. 3 or 400,000. Our machinery is propelled by water power, and a girl of 14 can perform the labor of a man, and will complete from the cocoons from 50 to 70 skeins per day. The machine is cheap and simple. We have read, with much interest, your Record, and especially that part which relates to your Frames, and are willing to make the trial of them, and assist you in introducing them into this part of the country, and would propose acting as agents if you wish it. As this business is increasing rapidly in this section, and bids fair to become a permanent and settled part of the agricultural pursuit, we wish to encourage all who engage therein, and especially your Frame. We will do all in our power, with your permit, to forward the use and sale of an article which bids so fair to be useful. Please send us a full description, so that a common mechanic can make one without mistake, and we will use them and test their utility, and reward you for your labor. Yours truly, Mr. Editor-Last week several numbers of the Burlington Silk Record came to this office, which were the first I have seen; indeed I knew not till then that such a periodical had an existence. A periodical of the nature of yours, can but result in good to the community among which it may circulate, and especially in Tennessee, where thousands are going to embark in the business the ensuing season, though comparatively ignorant of it. Two years since, there were not more than five persons within the limits of my acquaintance who had procured worms or multicaulis, and even these few were laughed its final passage took place on Wednesday, May at by their neighbors as attempting something 26, 1841. We presume the bill as originally alike useless to themselves, and unprofitable to reported has been passed, as we have carefully the community; but now, Tennesseeans have watched its progress through both branches of become alive to the great advantages accruing the legislature, and have not observed that any from silk culture; they have opened their eyes amendments were made. The bill, of course, to their own interest. Consequently, those who requires the action of the governor before it shall were among the foremost in deriding the small become a law, but we believe he is in favor of beginnings of others, eighteen months since, are the measure. We therefore, consider it a law. By now embarking in the business themselves, with the provisions of this law, fifteen cents per pound more zeal and interest than they once manifested for the production of cocoons, and fifty cents per opposition. Hundreds even among the rocks pound for reeled silk, are to be paid by the treaand hills of this county, (Smith) have procured as surer of the state, on a certificate of the treasurer many eggs as possible, and are increasing their of the county in which they are produced. This multicaulis at an enormous rate. They are de- is equivalent to a bounty of Two DOLLARS for termined to test the matter for themselves. Mr. every pound of silk produced in the state of New White, formerly of Ohio, has done much in York, and will pay the whole expense of propromoting the silk culture in our state. He is ducing the silk.-Silk Journal. now establishing a silk manufactory in our me tropolis, Nashville, which in a few months will be in successful operation. His skill in the business, I have no doubt, judging from other sources as well as from the fine specimens of his workmanship lately exhibited in our state, will ever recommend him to a silk growing community. Why, then, can not our state compete with any of its sister states in the growing of In May last we forwarded by mail, four silk? We have intelligent and enterprising citi- ounces of eggs to Miller Hallowes, Esq. at St. zens. Our climate and soil are as well adapted Mary's, Georgia. They were six days on the to the silk culture as any state in the Union. road, and reached their destination as described And I have no doubt but what it will be as pro- by Mr. H. in a latter dated May 29th, as folfitable a business as any in which we can em-lows:-"On the 13th I received the four ounces bark, and that silk will be grown in this state and elsewhere, at much less expense, in a few years, than has ever been anticipated. Though Tobacco at present is our staple production, stock next, still I believe both of these will be abandoned for the profitable business of silk culture. If not, we can engage in the silk business and these too. The tobacco crop is not commenced till the middle of June and July. The majority of our friends belong to the working class, and in our humble conception of the matter, they could do nothing more profitable 'than growing silk. Hence, if the male portion of our community enter largely into the silk business, we undoubtedly must be greatly benefitted; and if none but the female portion engages in it, both individual and public good will be undoubtedly enhanced to a great degree. Respectfully yours, S. W. OWEN. Bounty on Silk in New York. We have the gratification to announce that the legislature of New York has passed the bill that has been for several months before it, offering a very handsome bounty on the production of silk. It had not heretofore passed into a law as had been so frequently stated by the newspapers Value of good Eggs. Mr. S. Witherow writes us from Gettysburg, Pa., June 12, as follows:-"I wish you to send me on two more ounces of eggs as soon as you can. Those I got from you came out admirably, and are doing fine: indeed they appear more lively than any I have ever seen.' of Peanut eggs in excellent order, which began to hatch on the 20th, and are now coming on remarkably well. I have never seen healthier worms; and if they continue to thrive as they have done thus far, I expect them to complete their labors in 24 days from the time they were hatched." We also sent to Judge Ernest, at Macon, Georgia, an ounce of our choice Peanuts, by a more circuitous route than the foregoing. Yet the Judge says, writing to us on the 9th of June, "The silk worm eggs you sent me reached me on the 21st ult. all well, and did not com. mence hatching till the 24th. I never had any eggs to hatch so well. I consider the sending of eggs by mail a matter of great importance to the silk culture in Georgia." Two oz. were sent to Mr. E. Bacon, Louisville, Ky., and received by him on the 3d of June. They did not hatch until the 7th, four days afterward, and Mr. Bacon writes that "they hatched exceedingly well." We could add other proofs of the entire safety and expedition of the mail. Our eggs have been kept as carefully as possible, and are now, July 1, in a temperature varying from 48° to 52°. We do not think it has ever gone higher than |