Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-14
From the New-York Commercial Advertiser.
ON THE CULTURE OF SILK.

on the leaves of the white mulberry. Silk was
manufactured in that country long before It's
introduction into Europe, which was not Until
the time oil Augustus .As tfftminacv and lux
ury increased, it came TO be in great request
among the Romans: and Juvenal makes the use
of it by men sub j"ct Of his satire. Its cost
was enormous, as il was brought al great ex'
pense from China, and manufactured Tor use by
the Phoenicians. The commerce Of this article
was interrupted during the reign OF Jnstin'a"'
in consequence OF the descentS oil the northern
Lordes In SIS TWO Persian monks had the ad.
dress to introduce some OF the eggs into Con-
staminople, conc ealed in hollow canes. They
were carefully ha'caed and ;he breed propa-
gated. The Manufacture was carried on IN
Greece, and Sicily subsequently; and introduce
ed into France through Italy. The following
plain directions for raising silk worms, were
taken down in the words OF Connecticut SILK
cul,i,ator. We prefer these practical dlrec'
tons, derived from our attention to the subject
in our own climate and country, 10 any hne
spun theories taken from Encyclopedias
The eggs should be kept perfectly dry 'hro
the winter, in cellar or other cool place. II
there is d frost, it will not I'M ure them. Keep
them in box, covered light, so as not TO be al
frcted by the air. In the spring, as soon as The
mulberry leaves Gre of sufficient size to iced the
worms, put the eggs into warm room un'iI
they hatch, which will be in four or five days II
the weather is warmth The weather is cool, II
will take longer time. AS soon as the worms
are hatchrd, commence feeding them with null
berry leaves. When they are first ha'ched, the
young leaves are the most suitable Tor them
A small quantity Of leaves suffices 10! the first
few days-con,inue TO feed them regularly,
three times day, as long as they will eat, and
that will be until they begin to wind, which is,
in general, no, more I'D Avr or FIVE weeks
While they are feeding, tlfe old leaves and filth
should be cleaned away as often as every other
day-cleaniness is essential to their health.
When frs, hatched, they are mere mites; as
they increase, in size, they must be spread, so
as not 10 crowd each other; they require rom
in which to stir themselves. About once q
week, for about four weeks they change their
coats. When they are undergoing this change
they lie in dormant state, aud ought not to be
moesled. AS soon as they have changed their
coats, they come forth with new life, and gree
dy appetles. After they are done eating, and
are ready for winding their silk balls, procure
small bushes from any sweet tree, such as wal
nut, chesnu,, but,on.ball, beach. or maple, say
two or three feet high, and such as are full Of
green fresh leaves-set up Two rows parallel,
s s .h ermingle lose!hsr
bic rows. as will accommodate the number of
worms with sufficient room to go on ID, and
wind their balls.
For raising The worms, any room may be u.s.
ed. They may be put on the f1oor OF garnet,
or on shelves, but they must be kept from the
sun and rain. Fresh air is requisiIe for their
health. They are about three days winding
their slx-baIls. The fourth day, after they
have all gone On TO the bushes, take the bushes
down and pick off the balls, aud put them into
a kettle Of scalding water, which mnst be kept
in scalding state. The end Of the silk fibre,
will float as the gummy substance on the ball
becomes dissolved, which may be caught by
small brush of brlstles or broom-corn. Take
upa number Of these Ebres from different balls,
sufficient to make thread Of the size desired
and commence reeing--any common reel will
answer The purpose The silk may be reeled
with incredible rapidi,y from the balls, which
will be rolling in the water. Hard water musl
not be used--rain water is the safest. The f.
bres very seldom break, if the water is not too
hot, TOO cold, or TOO hard. In this simple way,
children, from ten to fifteen years Of age, may
be learnt TO attend 10 every part Of The process.
! never Gu, nor dry the leaves, but if thsy are
wet, the places occupied by the worms mast be
cleaused more frequently, as in Case Of long
storm. In order TO have supply Of eggs, be-
fore YOU pu, any Of the balls into hot wafer,
seec, as many as will supply you with eggs
he next year. In eight or ten days, the mil
lers will eat their way from the centre uf the
ball, through the silk; then, spread some pa
pers, and lay the millers upon them: old news,
papers are just as good as white paper. In
about week they will lay their eggs: the eggs
will stick to the paper, which may be folded
up and put into box, as before described.
Each miller will lay from four tc fye hundred
eggs. The White Mulberry affords the appro
pirate food for The worms. II will grow any
where but in swampy, or very wet land. 1t
will enrich poor; barren land, as is proved by
the barren laads in the town Of Mansfield, Con-
necticut Two crops Of silk may be raised in
a year. An acre Of good Mulberry trees will
net, the interest Of one thousand dollars per
annum. The trees may be raised by sticking
twigs in the ground. The trees, when a, ma.
turity, are often found three feet in diameter
k,o co,d IL,