in Spanish Jamaica
There do not seem to be any references, in the printed sources, to the growing of mulberry trees or rearing of silk worms in Jamaica under the Spanish regime. However, there seems to have been a strong tradition in Spanish Town, which was, as St Jago de la Vega, the capital of Spanish Jamaica, that mulberry trees and silk worms were present in that city then.
In the 1990s accounts of Spanish Town's Spanish past were written in the Gleaner by T. O. B. Goldson, who was treasurer of the Georgian Society of Jamaica and a resident of Spanish Town for sixty years. He wrote:
There do not seem to be any references, in the printed sources, to the growing of mulberry trees or rearing of silk worms in Jamaica under the Spanish regime. However, there seems to have been a strong tradition in Spanish Town, which was, as St Jago de la Vega, the capital of Spanish Jamaica, that mulberry trees and silk worms were present in that city then.
In the 1990s accounts of Spanish Town's Spanish past were written in the Gleaner by T. O. B. Goldson, who was treasurer of the Georgian Society of Jamaica and a resident of Spanish Town for sixty years. He wrote:
'The Mulberry Garden is not now much remembered as a part of the history of Spanish Town, but many many years ago during the occupation by the Spaniards, mulberry trees were grown by them to feed the worms needed to support a silk spinning industry. The area used for this purpose was that bounded by the Rio Cobre river, and sections of Adelaide, Monk and Barrett Streets. Alas, the Mulberry Garden no longer exists, but is still remembered as a part of the town's history.'
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Some years later Mr. Goldson wrote more specifically:
'The records disclose that it was a long long time ago, during the period of the Spanish occupation, that is, prior to the capture of Jamaica by the English in May, 1655, that the Spanish inhabitants of the town grew silk worms for their silk-spinning industry, and fed them on the leaves of the mulberry trees!
History tells us that the Spaniards first settled at New Seville in St. Ann before moving to St. Jago de la Vega (Spanish Town), in 1534. The island of Jamaica was given to the Columbus family as a personal estate, but they did little to develop it. However, there was a silk-spinning industry here, the base of which was the Mulberry Gardens.' |
In an article in the Jamaica Journal, Vol 6, No 1, March 1972 R. Duncan Mathewson writes:
'Just behind the Infirmary there is an area commonly known as "Mulberry Gardens". It appears as such on the English map of 1786, although it probably dates further back from the Spanish period when the growing of mulberry trees was promoted for the development of silk cultivation. By the mid-sixteenth century the silk industry had become established throughout much of Spanish America. It therefore seems likely that there were mulberry tree plantations along the right bank of the Rio Cobre, which survived into early English times and gave their name to the area.'
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Francisco Morales Padron, in the authoritative Spanish Jamaica, speaks of cotton production, but makes no mention of silk production in the island.
more about Mulberry Gardens
It is clear that a section of Spanish Town was known as 'Mulberry Gardens', but it is not so clear that this name originated from Spanish times. There seems to be no mention of mulberry trees, and silk worms, in St. Jago de la Vega, in James Robertson's Gone is the Ancient Glory which details the history of Spanish Town. In April 1874, however, the Mulberry Garden was advertised for sale:
It is clear that a section of Spanish Town was known as 'Mulberry Gardens', but it is not so clear that this name originated from Spanish times. There seems to be no mention of mulberry trees, and silk worms, in St. Jago de la Vega, in James Robertson's Gone is the Ancient Glory which details the history of Spanish Town. In April 1874, however, the Mulberry Garden was advertised for sale:
Robertson records that the Parochial Board purchased the Mulberry Gardens from the Anglicans in the 1870s, to use it to relocate the Poor House.
From the items below it appears that the Garden[s], or some part of it, was also used for other purposes.
After these accounts of children enjoying functions at the Mulberry Garden there seem to be no further references to the Garden in the press; if I find any more, I will put them in.
in the 1830s-40s
It seems that mulberry trees had been imported into Jamaica, possibly from the 16th century under the Spaniards, but it is not clear whether they were being used in the 18th century to rear silk-worms.
The extracts below, from early 19th century horticultural journals, seem to indicate that mulberry trees were grown in Jamaica, but silk-worms were not being reared at that period.
It seems that mulberry trees had been imported into Jamaica, possibly from the 16th century under the Spaniards, but it is not clear whether they were being used in the 18th century to rear silk-worms.
The extracts below, from early 19th century horticultural journals, seem to indicate that mulberry trees were grown in Jamaica, but silk-worms were not being reared at that period.
'. . . it is only to be regretted that we have not yet succeeded in bringing the silkworm into the island.'
It seems, though, that there were attempts at rearing silk worms in the 1830s, or perhaps even earlier, according to the following account of a farmer in St. Ann, who was rearing them on the leaves of the Ramoon tree.
The move to establish major silk production in Jamaica was the result of the spread of 'Mulberry mania' from New England.