Слике страница
PDF
ePub

IN ASSEMBLY,

March 1, 1832.

REPORT

Of the select committee on the practicability of introducing the manufacture of silk, and the propriety of giving a bounty upon the cultivation of the mulberry tree:

Mr. Van Schaick, from the select committee appointed to take into consideration the practicability of introducing the manufacture of silk, and the propriety of giving a bounty upon the cultivation of the mulberry tree,

REPORTED:

The origin of the culture of silk is lost in remote ages. The Chinese assert that their nation was employed in its manufacture 2,700 years before the Christian era, and it still continues to be a primary article of the consumption and commerce of that vast empire. In process of time the secret of its production and manufacture became known in Europe, but centuries elapsed before they were permanently established among its people. The advantages to be derived from its introduction were so obvious and important, that frequent and long continued attempts were made by the governments of that continent to ingraft the culture of the mulberry tree and the production of silk into their systems of agriculture and manufactures. Many of those efforts failed from a want of knowledge and experience in the process, some from the intervention of wars and consequent neglect; and the failure of those made in England is ascribed to the nature of its climate, which, from its humidity and coldness, was found to be unpropitious to the perfect development of the culture in all its branches.

[blocks in formation]

The more genial climate of France offered facilities for the culture, unknown to that of the British isles; but even in France the difficulties to be encountered in converting old habits into new modes of life, and in acquiring a knowledge of the art, were such that all their projects failed, until in the time of Louis XIV. when the government offered a reward of three livres to each cultivator, for eve ry tree that should be found in a thriving condition at the end of three years after it had been planted. This measure appears to have been crowned with entire success, as no complaint is made after that period of any failure, except of such partial injury as arose from sanguinary wars and dreadful revolutions; and at this day we find France next in importance to the Kingdom of Silk itself, as China is called, in the extent of its production and commerce in that valuable article.

The culture and manufacture of silk is pursued as a national branch of industry in many other countries of Europe, but no particular accounts are given of the methods adopted to familiarise the people with its culture, except as to Russia. Peter the Great, the most industrious of men, and the most persevering in his endeavors to raise his country in the scale of nations, caused several plantations of mulberry trees to be planted and carefully cultivated in many parts of his wide dominions. Catharine followed his example. She planted and furnished with every thing necessary, a colony of four hundred men, besides women, to whom she granted ten years' exemption from all kinds of imposts, after which the cultivators were allowed to pay their taxes in silk, at a high value.

The results from these and other extensive plans of encouragement are given in the following accounts of recent date: "Establishments are now regularly formed in Russia for manufacturing silk of native production, and the inhabitants flatter themselves with the expectation that in a few years they shall become independent of Persia for a supply of this article."

In Sweden, the energy of the present government is disseminating the culture wherever it can be pursued, and it is said of the silk produced, "that it has confirmed in the most ample manner the superior pureness and solidity of silk grown in the north, compared with that from more temperate climes."

The difficulties that Europe had to contend against will not be found in our progress. We can go to the work with the lights of

her experience, and carry it forward under auspices more favorable than any she ever knew. All that will ever be required from the government will be the immediate Lut moderate encouragement of the culture of the tree, and the establishment, at some future period, of one or more filatures in suitable parts of the State. And in support of those measures, your committee report the following important and decisive facts, which are derived from the communications of gentlemen, whose general ability, and whose particular acquaintance with this subject entitle their opinions to unqualified accept

ance.

1. The soil and climate of this State, and indeed of every State in the Union, is entirely favorable to the culture of silk. The white mulberry, on the foliage of which the silk worm feeds, and which is better adapted for the production of good silk than any other vegetable substance, can be raised in every part of the State. It has been successfully cultivated as far north as the county of Jefferson in great perfection. Your committee are favored with a communication from Le Ray de Chaumont, Esq. of Jefferson county, a gentleman celebrated for his agricultural skill and public spirit, in which he says that "He this year exhibited nearly five hundred small trees, and a fine specimen of cocoons, and from a neighboring farmer a specimen of sewing silk, which he describes as being truly beautiful. His experiments warrant the conclusion that we can raise the worms with as much success, and a great deal less care, than they require in many parts of Europe, and that our climate is not only suitable to their existence, but uncommonly favorable to produce the best kinds of silk."

The culture of the mulberry tree from the seed is an easy and certain operation, and almost every kind of soil is propitious to its growth. The expense is absolutely insignificant, all that is required being a little attention and care.

2. It has been ascertained by actual experiment, both in France and England, that American silk, if not superior, is at least equal to the silk of any other country. The cocoons yield more than those of France and Italy, and their produce is of as fine a texture and equal in nerve to the silk of any other country, and when well reeled it loses less than the Italian in wastage.

For nearly seventy years several towns in the county of Windham, in Connecticut, have paid attention to the culture of silk, and

your committee learn, of late years, with great and increased profit, insomuch, that farms which had become nearly sterile, having been devoted to the mulberry have richly rewarded their proprietors, and yet for causes which will be hereafter mentioned, the profits have been much less than they might have acquired by a perfect sys

tem.

3. The treasury reports present the astonishing fact, that in some years the importation and consumption of silk fabrics in the United States have been of greater value than the whole amount of bread stuffs exported, so that the industry and labors of the farmers of the United States, have been appropriated to the purchase and introduction of a luxury, with which the country could, with the greatest facility, supply itself; and indeed, not only do that, but in a few years produce a new staple, which would not fail to become a source of wealth.

If, then, your committee are so far correct, what is to prevent the people of this State from going extensively into the culture of silk? Will this new branch of industry detract from or impair other agricultural pursuits? Your committee confidently believe it will not; the feeding and care of the worms, until the cocoon is produced, is the work and employment of women and children, and other persons physically incapacitated for hard labor; it requires only a small portion of time in each day to gather the leaves and feed the worm; the whole process from the hatching of the egg, to the formation of the cocoon comprising only about forty days. When it is considered that the extensive introduction of machinery in our manufactories of wool and cotton has greatly superseded the household productions of the spinning wheel and the loom, and thus exempted our women in a great degree from those labors; an employment in some other department of industry, seems not only desirable, but necessary.

There is another point of view in which the culture of silk is strongly to be commended. The system of county poor-houses is going extensively into operation; these establishments must necessarily contain aged, infirm, and decrepid persons, and many deserted children, who could be most agreeably and profitably employed in the culture of silk. These establishments having each a farm, would in a few years, if the work was begun with spirit and zeal, have a sufficient number of mulberry trees to employ their inmates during

« ПретходнаНастави »