Dennis' silk manual

Front matter

'LIBRARY or CONGRESS,

UNITED S A. ES nF AMERICA ^ iVwV^VV,

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PART FIRST.— Directions for raising the various kinds of Mulberry Trees

.Part .second.— Directions for hatching and feeding Silk Worrtis, and fbr preserving the Eggs and Cocqons.

PART THIRD.— Diroctions for winding the silk from the Cocoons, and manufacturing Sewing Silk ; accompanied with Cuts of the most approved Silk Machinos.

A SUPPLEMENT of Extracts from various Authors in relation tojhe Pcofit of raising Silk. ~ - ~

lS7l

PRESS OF MAHLON DAY & CO.

No. 374 P E A RL-S TREET,

AND FOR SALE AT THE BOOK AND SEED STORES IN NEW-YORK, AND

THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES GENERALLY.

James Egbert, Printer. 1839, r

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1839, BY JONATHAN DENNIS, Jr.,

In the Clerk'* Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New-York.

Section Fourteenth of the Patent Laivs.

And be it further enacted, That whenever, in any action for damag-es for making-, using, or selling' the thing- whereof the exclusive right is secured by any patent heretofore granted, or by any patent which may hereafter be granted, a verdict shall be rendered for the plaintiff in such action, it shall be in the power of the court to render judgment for any sum above the amount found by such verdict as the actual damages sustained by the plaintiff, not exceeding three times the amount thereof, according to the circumstances of the case, wnth costs ; and such damages may be recovered by action on the case, in any court of competent jurisdiction, to be brought in the name or names of the person or persons interested, whether as patentee, assignees, or as grantees of the exclusive right within and throughout a specified part of the United States.''

TWENTY-TWO REASONS,

"WHY THE FARMERS IN THE UNITED STATES SHOULD RAISE MULBERRY TREES AND SILK.

1st. Because it is a very certain crop.

2(3. Because silk is as easy raised as wheat, and much less laborious.

3d. Because raw silk or cocoons will command cash in the market, and at a handsome profit to the producer.

4th. Because a pound of silk can be raised to a much greater profit than a pound of wool.

5th. Because three pounds of silk can be produced from the same land that would produce one pound of wool.

6th. Because one pound of raw silk will sell for six dollars, and one pound of wool for fifty cents.

7th. Because the labor of raising silk is performed in six weeks, while the labor of taking care of sheep, and providing them with food lasts all the year.

8th. Because the labor may be performed by children or feeble persons, whose services would be worth but very little for any other purpose.

9th. Because there can be considerable quantities raised, without materially diminishing the other products of the farm.

10th. Becfause the climate and soil is as well, if not better, adapted to the growth of the mulberry, and the production of silk, than any part of Europe.

11th. Because there is no probability, and scarcely a possibility, of the business being overdone.

12th. Because mulberry trees are easier raised than almost any other tree.

13th. Because the timber of the mulberry tree is worth 1* as much as locust, for building ships, fences, or any other purpose.

14th. Because large mulberry trees injure the crop growing under them, less than almost any other tree.

15th. Because mulberry leaves, when green, are greedily eaten by cattle, sheep, and hogs ; when cured like grass, to make hay, are an excellent food for cattle and sheep.

16th. Because land cultivated with mulberry trees, and the litter from the worms spread upon it, would be impoverished less than if cultivated with almost any other crop.

17th. Because it will cost no more to transport a pound of silk to market, that will sell for six dollars, than it would to transport a pound of bread stuff, that would sell for six cents.

18th. Because the small sum of five dollars, or even one, expended in purchasing mulberry seed and cuttings, with a little care in cultivation for a few years, will enable a farmer to produce considerable quantities of silk.

19th. Because the eggs can be kept in an ice-house until the middle or last of the Seventh Month, (July,) and then the worms can be hatched and fed after the busy season of mowing or harvest is over.

20th. Because a man, with a little land, who has a family, can increase his mulberry trees and keep his family employed at home, without the risk of sending them abroad for employment, where they would be liable to have their morals corrupted.

21st. Because it would relieve the nation from paying millions of dollars annually, to other nations for silk.

22d. Because there are twenty or twenty-five silk manufactories already established, several of which have been stopped, waiting for the arrival of importations of raw silk.

Preface

I HAVE been so often solicited by my friends, to write some plain, simple directions for raising" mulberry trees, feeding- silk worms, and winding silk, that I was induced to make an effort which has produced the following treatise. I have endeavored to confine myself to plain practical directions, that are absolutely necessary to be put in practice, in order to insure success. Also, to avoid any technical terms that would not be readily understood by every practical farmer, for whom this work is especially designed. I have had another object in view, — that was, to put all the directions necessary to be observed, in a small cheap form, that the price may be within the ability of any one who may wish to purchase. Having this object in view, induced me to have it printed with a small type, and put up in the cheapest manner possible. Also, by making it concise, to save my readers the trouble of reading a great deal of superfluous matter, in order to find the directions sought for, and thereby save his time ; by having less to read he might have more time to practice, which he must necessarily do, if he reaps the profit.

J. DENNIS, JR.

*^* If the present edition meets with a ready sale, it is my intention to add Complete Directions for Manufacturing Silk ; that is, Directions for Winding, Cleaning, Spinning, Traming or Doubling,Throwsting or Twisting, the Silk, with Remarks upon Weaving, &c. &c. And, also, such other information as will be interesting to the Silk Manufacturer. J. DENNIS, Jr.

The Silk lVorm>8 Will.

On a plain rush hurdle a silk worm lay, When a proud young princess came that way: The haughty child of a human king, Threw a sidelong glance at the humble thing, That took, with a silent gratitude.

From the mulberry leaf, her simple food ; And shrunk, half scorn and half disgust, Away from her sister child of dust — Declaring she never yet could see Why a reptile form like this should be, And that she was not made with nerves so firm, As calmly to stand by a " crawling worm !"

With mute forbearance the silk worm took The taunting words, and the spurning look ! Alike a stranger to self and pride.

She d no disquiet from aught beside — And lived of a meekness and peace possessed. Which these debar from the human breast, She only wished, for the harsh abuse, To find some way to become of use To the haughty daugliter of lordly man; And thus did she lay a noble plan, To teach her wisdom and make it plain, That the humble worm was not made in vain; A plan so generous, deep and high.

That to carry it out she must even die !

'' No more," said she. "will I drink or eat ! I'll spin and weave me a winding sheet, To wrap me up from the sun's clear light. And hide my form from her wounded sight, In secret then till my end draws nigh, I'll toil for her; and when I die, I'll leave behind, as a farewell boon.

To the proud young princess, my whole cocoon, To be reeled and wove to a shining lace, And hung in a veil o'er her scornful face ! And when she can calmly draw her breath Through the very threads that have caused my death; When she finds, at length, she has nerves so firm As to wear the shroud of a crawling worm. May she bear in mind, that she walks with pride

Contents

Page.

Twenty-two reasons why the farmers in the Uniled States should

raise mulberry trees and silk, 7

PART I. Climate of the United States, 11

Soil of (he United States, 12

Mulberry Trees, c 12

Of the different species and varieties of mulberry, 13

Directions for purchasing mulberry seed, 17

Of the different kinds of mulberry seed, • 17

Directions for preserving- mulberry seed, 18

*• planting mulberry seed, 19

*' transplanting seedling trees and others, ' 19

** purchasing mulberry trees of various kinds, 20

" purchasing multicaulis trees, 21

" purchasing cuttings 22

*' preserving multicaulis trees and seedling trees of various kinds, through the winter, 22

" preserving cuttings during the winter... 23

" planting raulticau'is cuttings, 24

" planting various kinds of cuttings, 25

" planting multicaulis trees, 26

" planting multicaulis roots, 27

" grafting mulberry trees of any kind, 28

" inoculating mulberry trees, 29

" raising trees from suckers, 30

" packing trees for transportation, 30

" packing cuttings for transportation, 3]

PART II. Directions for purchajing eggs, 32

" preserving eggs, 32

*' building cocooneries, 34

" preparing feeding shelves, 34

Space required for silkworms, 35

Directions for protecting silk worms from their enemies, 36

" raising successive crops of silk worms, 37

Substituted feed for silk worms, 37

Directions for gathering leaves, 38

" preserving leaves 38

Remarks upon chopping leaves, — 39

Directions for hatching the worms 39

Observations upon the diseases of silk worms, 41

Directions for feeding worms, 42

Removing the litter, and remarks upon hurdles, 44

Directions for preparing the apparjttus for the worms to wind their

cocoons, 45

'• gathering the cocoons, 46

*' selecting cocoons to produce eggs, 47

" the management of the moths 47

*' picking the tow or floss from the cocoons, 49

*' destroying the moths to prevent their coming out of

the cocoons, 49

" preserving cocoons, 51

" measuring cocoons to sell, 51

Transporting cocoons, 52

PART III. Directions for sorting cocoons 53

Hints to tliose that raise cocoous, 53

A description of the properties necessary lor a machine to possess,

to wind silk from the cocoons to advantage 54

Directions for reeling or winding silk 56

" mauul'acturing tow or floss, 57

" manufacturing the cocoons that aie perforated by

the moths, and that cannot be wound off 57

" manufacturing the waste made in winding, or any

other wastr, 58

Tne patent spinner and twister, for making sewing silk and twist, and to prepare silk for weaving. — Invented by Jonathan Dennis, Jr , Portsmouth, R. 1 , 59

The patent contra twist silk reel.— Invented by Jonathan Dennis,

Jr., Portsmouth, R, I., 62

Directions for cleaning silk, or boiling out the gum, 66

" stretcliing silk to make it glossy, 67

" sizingsilk 68

A few dyes that are cheap, and may be used by any person that

wishes to color small parcels, 69

A few short receipts, 73

Remarks upon adding weight to silk in dyeing, 73

Concluding observations, recommending the cultivation of the mulberry and the growing of silk, to farmers, proprietors of board -

ing schools, and town officers, generally, 74

Appendix

J. Danforth's letter to the Committee on Silk, American Institute,. 80

D. V. McLean's letter to the National Silk Convention, ^t3

Chauncey Stone's letter, 87

Timothy Smith's letter to the editor of the Yankee Farmer, 89

A proof of the short time required to realize the profit from planting mulberry trees and feeding silkworms, 90

Silk for domestic purposes, 90

Harvey Clark's communication, 91

Interesting fact 9 i

Bark Silk,' 92

An error corrected, 93

Quality of American silk, 93

White mulberry, 94

To lurmers, 94

Remarks on the culture of silk, 96

Letter from Europe, fay Gen. James Tallmadge, President of the

American Institute, 98

An act to encourage the culture of silk in the state of Maine, 101

An act for the encouragement of the culture of silk in the state of

Massachusetts, passed 1836, 101

An act to encourage the culture of silk in the state of New Jersey, 103 An act to encourage the growth and man>factureof silk in the state

of Connecticut, passed 1 832, 103

Act ef Vermont, passed 1835 104

" Georgia, 105

" Pennsylvania, 105

»' Delaware, 106

Part First

jdirections for raising the various kinds of mulberry trees.

CLIMATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

That the climate of the United States is admirably adapted to the production of silk, does not admit of a doubt, since millions of silk worms have been raised without artificial heat, and the silk obtained from them has been acknowledged, by experienced manufacturers of Europe, to surpass, in strength and beauty, that of "any other country, and to exceed in quantity by nearly one-half, from the same number of worms, that obtained in Europe : and a further proof that this climate, without the use of artificial heat, is superior to that of most parts of Europe is, that silk worms in America complete their labors in thirty-one days, which, in Europe, require forty-five, or even forty-seven days : and it is remarked by travellers, that there is more clear sunshine in America, in proportion to the cloudy or damp weather, than in Europe : and, it is presumed, there is no person that has raised silk worms, who is not aware that their health was improved, and growth hastened, by clear weather. In addition to this, although further proof seems unnecessary, it may be remarked, that Indian corn, which requires a warm and rather dry climate, is raised very successfully in all parts of the United States, while every attempt to raise it in Europe, except in the southern extremities, has failed. The superiority of the Chinese silk over the European, (which, with some exceptions, is, I believe, generally admitted,) has been attributed to the difference of climate in the two countries ; and the situation of China, on the border of a vast ocean, and the climate of the country, strongly resemble our own. In Europe, moreover, expensive buildings are require;d to shelter the worms, which are successfully raised, in America, in old buildings that are considered useless for almost any other purpose.

SOIL OF THE UNITED STATES.

The mulberry, like other trees, grows best upon the richest soils, and most rapidly upon wet soils ; but when the growth is very rapid, the wood does not ripen so well, and is more likely to be killed by the winter, than those upon dry highlands, where the growth is slow, and the wood well ripened ; and the leaves are considered better that are grown upon dry land, than those that are raised upon very wet, although the leaves from wet land may be used to as good advantage as any, if they are mixed with an equal or double the quantity of leaves, grown upon dry land. It is better, however, to plant them upon a rich soil, and if the soil is poor, manure it, as the growth will be so much larger, although there may be more killed by the winter, than where the growth is small. For instance, if a tree grows twelve inches in one season, and three inches of the top is killed by the winter, there will not be so much remaining as if it had grown twenty-four inches, and the winter had killed six: in the first instance, there would be but nine, and in the last eighteen, inches that has survived the winter ; but I do not suppose that a large growth is liable to be killed in the same proportion that a small one is. Any soil and cultivation that will produce a fair crop of Indian corn, will produce a large crop of mulberry leaves, and light, sandy soils can be cultivated for mulberry plantations to greater profit than for almost any thing else. If the litter from the silk worms is spread upon the land, it will be likely to become rich, faster than if cultivated in almost any other way, and land planted with mulberry trees, if very rich, will be impoverished less than if cultivated with any other crop.

MULBERRY TREES.

There are several species of the mulberry, as the black, white, white Italian, red, paper, Brussa, and morus multicaulis, and from some of these there is a great number of varieties, which are sold by some cultivators imder any name that they choose to give them, such as Chinese broad leafed, Chinese curled leaf, hybred morus multicaulis, Florence, dandola, Morettiana, hybred short jointed, morus expansa, rose of Lombardy, Asiatic seedling, Alpine, Canton, Tartarean, Perrottet, shining leafed.

The leaves of all the above named species and varieties will answer to feed silk worms, and it is very desirable that every cultivator should have as many varieties as he can conveniently obtain ; for if he obtain but one tree of a kind, or one cutting or scion, and have plenty of stocks of the white mulberrv, be can soon have a quantity by grafting, or raising them from cuttings.

Mulberry trees are more profitable for farmers to raise than any other kind of tree, except fruit trees, and they are raised and cultivated with greater facility than almost any other tree. They injure the crop that grows beneath them less than almost any other tree, either fruit or ornamental. When a farmer has more leaves th»in he wishes to use himself, there is generally ah opportunity to dispose of them to his neighbors, and the price is half-a-cent per pound, if the purchaser picks the leaves himself; or, one cent per pound, if picked by the seller. The wood of mulberry trees is excellent for fuel, and is as valuable for building ships, fences, or for any other purpose, as locust ; as a proof of which, contractors, who build vessels for the government, have the privilege of putting in either mulberry or locust timber. The leaves of most kinds of mulberry are eaten very greedily by cattle, sheep, and hogs ; the leaves may be cured like hay, and fed during winter, when there is a scarcity of other provender.

Of the different Species and Varieties of Jlfulberry.

The black mulberry \r one. The tree grows twenty. five or thirty-five feet high, and produces very good fruit, of which birds and fowls are very fond. The leaves a-e from three to four inches wide, and, when fed to worms, produce very strong, handsome silk, and the worms ar© as healthy when fed upon these as upon any other kind. The leaves are so much larger than those of the white mulberry, that the same quantity may be gathered with half or one-third of the labor. It is a very hardy tree, capable of enduring- our most severe winters, and is raised from the seed, or by cutting and grafting.

The red mulberry tree grows thirty or thirty-five feet high, bears most excellent fruit, and the tree is very hardy. The leaves will answer to feed silk worms, and should be given to the worms before they are wilted» for they are very porous, and wilt in a short time, and when wilted it is very difficult for the worm to eat them. This kind can be raised from ihe seed and cuttings.

The paper inulberry tree grows twenty-five or thirty feet high, is of a very rapid growth, bears berries that are not fit to eat, and is raised from suckers or cuttings. The leaves are f.-om three to five inches wide, and very rough and porous, but will be eaten by silk worms, if given before they are wilted.

The Brussa mulberry tree is very beautiful. Its leaves are six inches wide, of a very bright glossy green, and an excellent kind for feeding worms. Every cultivator should have some of this kind, as they are very hardy, probably the most so of any, and may be raised either from seed, or from cuttings or layers ; and they grow very fast in rich land. They are very fine ornamental trees. The leaves grow very near together upon the twigs, are very thick, and of a firm texture, and when raised from cuttings, the cuttings should have at least three buds.

The white mulberry, and the different varieties of it^ has many names. VVhite, Italian, Florence, and several other names, are given to what are believed, by some cultivators, to be varieties of this. It is raised with the greatest facility from the seed, and from cuttings and layers. The trees grow thirty-five or f )rty feet in height, and the fruit is eaten greedily by fowls, birds, and bogs. The leaves, in best soils, are seldom four inches wide, and in light soils, but few of the leaves grow more than two inches wide. This kind makes excellent hedges, and the leaves have been used more for feeding worms, in the United States, than all the other kinds put together — although it appears likely to be superseded by some of those kinds with a larger leaf, its leaf being smaller than that of any other kind. It may be cultivated to great a<lvantage as an ornamental tree, for some are of the opinion, that pastures interspersed with these trees, would produce more grass than they would without them.

The Alpine mulberry tree is very much esteemed by Whitmarsh, who imported it. The leaves are four or five inches wide, and thicker than the leaves of the multicaulis, and grow nearer together upon the branches. It is raised from layers and cuttings, and is without doubt, a good variety for the production of silk, and is moreover very hardy.

The morus expansa produces leaves four inches wide, very good for feeding silk worms. The tree is very hardy. All that I have seen, appear to have been grafted upon the stocks of the white mulberry, and all attempts to raise them by cuttings and layers, that have come to ray knowledge, have failed.

The Canton mulberry is said to be hardy, and the tree of rapid growth ; the leaf thicker than some other kinds. Also, short-jointed. It deserves the attention of cultivators. I have a few of this kind that I intend to increase by cuttings and layers.

The Chinese broad-loafed, Chinese curled-leaf, hybred morus multicaulis, dandola, Moreitiana, hybred short-jointed, rose of Lombardy, Asiatic seedling, Tartarean, Perrottet, and shining-leafed mulberries, have been cultivated but little in this country, and what difference there is between them, if any, I have not been able to ascertain. They are undoubtedly worthy of the attention of silk growers, and are very proper subjects of investigation.

The morus multicaulis possesses ve-ry decided advantages over all other kinds of mulberry. It bears the largest leaf of any variety, some of which I have seen twelve inches wide, and it is said to have grown to fifteen or sixteen inches. They have been knowii to grow six feet high, in one season, from cuttings, and from layers, seven feet ; and, where the roots have remained in the ground during the winter, the tops being cut off in the fall, shoots have grown eight feet high in a single season, in New England. I have heard of much larger growth in the South. I have seen scions that were set in stocks of the white mulberry, that grew seven or eight feet in a single season. The genuine multicaulis leaf may be known by its being much rounded upon the upper surface, and when the leaf is pressed flat, it tears open the edge in several places, or doubles over, or makes folds in the middle. Silk worms will eat this kind greedily, and eat very nearly all of the leaf, so that but little litter remains. This kind has sold to so great profit, that few have been left standing through thewinter without protection ; but of those that I have left standing in dry land, the ends of the twigs have been killed, that were very green, and the entire top of a tree that stood in a w'et place w'as killed, but the root survived and sent up astonishing shoots, several feet irr height. 'I'hey are more hardy when grafted upon the stocks of white mulberry, but there is no doubt with experienced cultivators, that the roots will live in the ground where they grow, if the tops are cut off two or three inches above the ground, and covered with a little earth. I have seen those that had been managed in this way three or four years, and, when I saw them, there were numerous thrifty shoots, one of which was seven feet high, and several more over six, besides a great many smaller ones. With the multicaulis, the silk grower can begin to make silk the same season that the trees are laid, or the cuttings planted ; and if the roots remain in the ground during the winter, the crop of leaves will probably be double or treble what they were the first year.

I will here insert the reply received from John Macomber, an experienced nursery man of Westport,Mass.t and his son, upon my enquiring of them how the multicaulis endured the winter, in comparison with other trees. They stated that they lost

37A per cent, of their cherry trees,

95 do. peach do.,

75 do. quince do.,

50 do. multicaulis do.,

8 do. multicaulis grafted upon

white mulberry stocks.

The trees were -all situated alike in rather a gravelly soil.

I think this is conclusive evidence that the multicaulis will endure the winter unprotected in highlands ; for tfee winter here spoken of, was that of 1885 — 6, which was allowed to be the coldest that had occurred for many years. Upon a lot of ground in Portsmouth, R. I., where trees grew in 1887, and were dug up and taken in before winter, in digging the trees many of thi; roots were broken off, an J remained in the ground. The ensuing spring the ground was ploughed, and sown with oats, ■and the oats harrowed in ; and. notwithstanding the Toots of the multicaulis trees were disturbed vi'ith the plough and harrow, a considerable number of multicaulis trees -came up, and grew among the oats.

Dirtctions jor 'purchasing JMulbemnj Seed.

Mulberry seed is generally put up in small paper hags, so that the purchaser does not see it, but if there is any •opportunity to see it, take a few grains and mash them between the thumb nails, and if they appear to be full of meat, and the meat fresh and oily, it is likely to be good seed ; although, I believe, there is no certain crite- Tion whereby to ascertain whether it will grow or not, except by planting it. If you want to purchase a certain quantity, purchase it of as many different kinds as you can, and in as many different places, for you will thus be likely to get a greater variety of trees, and probably some good varieties ; and I consider it an advantage to have a variety, for ray experience leads me to believe that worms do better fed upon a variety, than they do upon any one kind alone.

Offhe different kinds of Mulberry Seed,

There is, generally, pitenty of the seed of the common white or white Italian, (morus alba,) in the market, at a low price, and sometimes what is called Chinese mulberry seed, but it will not be likely to produce multi- 'Caulis trees. It may, however, produce a very valuable 'tree, with a leaf much larger than the common white 2* mulberry. I raised some from seed, called the Chinese, that grew more than three feet high the same season that they were planted, and produced leaves six inches wide. There is but little of the Brussa mulberry seed offered, but it should be purchased when it can be obtained. The genuine trees of this variety are very hardy, and the leaves larger than the common white. It is a most beautiful tree. Sometimes there is seed offered, called the rose of Lombiirdy, of which I have purchased some to plant next season. The three last named kinds of seed generally sell for a high price ; a small quantity of each is not much to risk, and may prove very valuable. The black and red mulberry may be raised from the seed, but 1 have never seen any for sale. I have never known of any other kinds for sale, except some that were called multicaulis, besides those above mentioned, except Alpine seed.

Directions for Preserving JMulberry Seed.

When the mulberries are ripe enough to shake off easily, spread a cloth under the tree and shake thorn upon it, then spread them in the sun to dry. After they are quite dry, put them up and preserve them like any other seed, and take care that the mice and rats do not get to them. If it is desirable to have the seed clean, mash the berries within three or four days after they are gathered, and then pour in water and stir up the whole. If they are not mashed so that the seed separates from the pulp, mash them more, and the seed will settle to the bottom, and the pulp that is separated from the seed may be poured off witli the water. The seed may then be spread upon a board or cloth, to dry, in the shade. Some prefer to rub them through a seive, to separate the seed from the pulp ; then wash them afterwards, to clean the seed from the slime. After the seed is dry, it may be put up and preserved like other seed. As the mulberries ripen very irregularly, the trees should bo shaken every other day, and the morning is the best time, before the birds pick off the ripest of them. Some are of the opinion, that the vitality of the seed is preserved to greater perfection, by mixing it with sand after it is dry, and letting it remain until it is wanted for planting, but this is not absolutely necessary for its preservation.