As the mulberry tree is scarce in some parts of this country, attempts have been made to feed the worms on other plants. Miss Croft of York, in 1792, sent to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, a speci men of silk produced by worms fed en tirely upon lettuce leaves. The respec table society just mentioned, continue to offer premiums for the production of silk in this country ; but as all former at tempts, made at a time when land and labour were much cheaper than at pre sent, have turned out unprofitable, and consequently been abandoned, there can be little ground for hope that better suc cess would attend future trials.
King James the First, whose zeal for raising silk in this country has been no ticed, at the same time extended his views to the Amercan colonies. He se veral times urged the Virginia Compa ny to promote the cultivation of mul berry trees, and the breeding of silk worms, particularly by a letter address ed to them, in 1622, expressly on this subject, in which he charged and re quired them to see that the people there used all possible diligence in breeding of silk-worms, and erecting of silk works, and that they bestowed their labour in producing this rich and solid commodity in preference to tobacco, an article to which he had a violent aversion. The company appear to have been determined not to be outdone by the King, in zeal for the accomplish ment of this object, and accordingly transmitted his Majesty) letter to the Governor and Council of Virginia, with very particular instructions to employ all their endeavours for establishing the staple commodities of silk and wine; for the better accomplishment of which, they sent a number of copies of a book on the subject, written by Mr. John Bonoeil, a member of the company, who engaged earnestly in the attempt, and was so fully convinced of its practica bility, that he says, such quantities of silk might easily be made in Virginia, if there were a number of hands, as in a very short time would serve all Christendom. The misfortunes which the Colony of Virginia experienc ed, and the dissolution of the company soon after, must have checked the exe cution of this project very materially ; and though a considerable number of trees were planted, and were found to flourish, but little silk appears to have been produced.
In 1654, it appeared that the culture of silk had been revived in Virginia, by Mr. Edward Diggs, who was confi dent that he had conquered all the principal difficulties respecting this com modity, and made its profit so evident to all the Virginians, that in a short time there would be great quantities of silk made. It does not, however, ap
pear that the culture of silk has since been carried to any considerable extent in Virginia, which is probably owing more to the attachment of the planters to the growth of tobacco, than to any natural Impediment.
The settlement of the colony of Geor gia was begun in the year 1732, and the trustees, soon after the commence ment of their undertaking, caused a common nursery garden to be laid out for white mulberry trees, for the produc tion of silk. It was at this time raised in Carolina, in small quantities, some fami lies making about forty or fifty pounds weight in the year. In order to instruct the colonists of Georgia upon this subject, some persons from Piedmont in Italy, skilled in tending the worms and the winding of silk, were sent thither ; and notwithstanding the difficulties attending the attempt, and the public misfortunes of the colony, many persons persevered and experienced some success; an act of parliament was in consequence passed, in 1749, for encouraging the culture of raw silk in the Amercan colonies, by which raw silk, certified to be the real growth and culture of those colonies, was exempted from any duty on impor tation into the port of London. The culture increased gradually, though slowly, both in Georgia and the adjoining province of South Carolina; but a few years after the produce became more considerable. In the year 1757,1,05215s. weight of silk balls were received at the filature in Georgia, and the next year produced no less than 7,0408s. weight thereof. In 1759, there were received at Savannah, the capital of Georgia con siderably above 10,000/5s. weight of raw silk, although it was thought an unfa vourable season. As the culture of this valuable article thus appeared to be mak ing some progress in the southern colo. nies, an act of parliament was passed, in 1769, for the further encouragement of the growth of raw silk in America ; by which a bounty was granted of 251. for every 1001. value of such raw silk for the next seven years, and lesser bounties du ring the two following periods of seven years. The Society for the Encourage ment of Arts, Manufactures, and Com merce, also offered large premiums for encouraging the same object; but still the quantities raised were but small, and the cost too great, for competition with silk from other parts.