Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-04-01
The SILK CULTURE.
From the Cannes zee Farmer.

est But it has attained IN very small
degree The Importance 1t is yet destined
10 acquire: and years must elapse, and
the subject receive far greater attention,
before the demand tor silk goods in our
own country alone, can be near y sup.
piled from domestic manufacture. But
the fact that there is gradual and con-
stanty increasing attention to the sub
iect, shows that il is advancing towards
its place as an extensive and important
branch ofthe American industry.
The history fthe silk culture in this
country, shows that the better it is under
Stood, The more it is appreciated; and is
full Of encouragement to those who are
engaging in the business. The irsr at
tempt in America was made in Virginia
so early as the year 1923, but it was not
carried on to any extent until after the
middle of the last century. About that
time, and for several years subsequent
ly, it received considerable attention in
the Southern States; the quantity man
ufaclured, however continued small. -
Early attention was paid to its culture
in Pennsylvania; in 1910, Susanna
Wright, of Lancaster county, made
piece Of mantua Of Sirty CARDS III length
other own cOcoons; in the same year, a
EIature was established at Philadelphia,
and in l77l, 230G lbs. was brought
there to reel. The business declined
during the Revolutionary war In con.
necticuI the business was earl ly commen
ced on firm basis, and has since been
constantly increasing. The white null
Q berry and the silk worm were first intro.
duced into the town of Manstiedin Wind
ham county, by Nathaniel AsplnwaIl in
the year 1850. Immediately after which
an extensive nursery of the trees vas
planted by HIM in New Haven, and after
wards dissl minated throughout the state
In 1889 two hundred pounds ofraw elk
were made in the singh town Of Mans
field alone. In 1910, the value Of the sew
, ing silk, aud the raw silk, made in the 8
counties Of New London, Windham, and
Toland, was estimated by the United
States Marshal at $23, SOB; but the val
lie of the domestic fabrics manufactured
from the refuse silk, which may fairly be
estimated at half thai sum. was not taken
into consideration. 10 1928, the value
of the silk aud of the domestic fabrics
manufactured In the county OF Wlndham
had doubled. During all this time, the
only machines for making the sewing
silk, we're the common domestic large
and small wheels; with better machine
ry sewing silk OF a superior quoIity would
have been made, and AT less EXPENSE
Three iourihs of the families in Mans
field we're engaged in raising silk, anC
made Annually from 5 to 10, 20, and 5l
pounds in a family, and one or two
each zoo lbs. IN Il season In 1882, lou
or five tons of raw silk were grown Their
worth $35 900; when manufactured IN
10 sewing silk this would he worth abou
S60,000. -Four or five ol the ndIRcen
towns each produced about Us much a
that town About the same line, tn
quantity of silk raised in WIndham an
Toland counties, WAS sufficient to Civ
constant employment to 81 lonms weav
Jog live yards each per day, or IN all a
bout $4,000 yards per year. In our ow
state, the subject has not until recently
received much attention; during The lat
war however, one individual, the lat
Samuel Cbidsey, Of Casusa county, sol
sewing silk ofhs own manufacture,
the amount Of 600 dollars year, raise
from trees Of the white mulberry IntroG
ccd by himself at The first settlement
the country. A few years ago, at on
establishment IN Pennsylvania, (Econo
my,l Que hundred silk handkerchiefs, {
an equal number Of vest patterns, OF 81
perlOr quality to foreign articles, wei
/, made annually. ln Massachusetts, Jc
alhan IL Cobb, Of Dudham, commence
the culture VI silk ia 1926, and has sin
that time extended his operations
much as to be in the habit o! bringing
to the Boston market, American silk nj
uiaclured 10 the amount Of one huDdr
dollars per week, the year round. J.
spinning machine, propelled by wal
power, is capable of preparing annual
1000 lbs. Of silk for The loom. In
same town there are number Of s.
looms, as well as in several neighbour
towns which are worked by hand, and
most instances by persons in their o'
abodes.
We have deemed il proper to exhl
This view Of what has been done alreat
in order that those who are deferred ir'
entering the business on account OF
posed difficulties, may perceive that th'
difficulties have been surmounted
others with ease. The subject has
deed been supposed TO be involved
much mystery, and a great deal
been written upon it. Many pers'
reading the elaborate articles which HI
been published, describing SO minut
every process, are led to suppose the
mess iatricate and difficult. 10 the
experienced it must indeed be ne'0'
cause il is different from most other P
suits, and has none similar to 1t TO SO
,,o ou;da hnt when once understood