Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-05-31

began in the silk business IN 1889, and have
increased as follows:
1889, made 40 lbs. cocoons.
1910, l65
1S4l, 53l
1912, S56 q
1913, nearly 1900 "
have used different kinds of leaves. but never
found any difference where the trees were cultiya.
ted alike. They must be cultivated and kept clean.
otherwise it is useless to try to make silk 1t is
also useless to try to feed after harvest where the
old leaves have not been taken off the early part of
the season.
have fed for two seasons out of doors in omen
Shantees, after the worms had passed the third
mouting ana fed altogether on branches. 1t is a
very great saving of expense and labor"
Roswell RICE, Charlemont, Franklin Co. Mass.
"We consider the silk business noble one
therefore, if we can, by sending in our statement,
small though it be, yield any assistance or encour-
agement, we gladly do it. In answer to questions:
list. We have fed worms six seasons and our
abors each year have been crowned with Success
2. Feed in a close building; regulate the tenn
peraturo by artificial heat, the mercury standing at
IS or 50 degrees.
3D. Have never fed in an open tent or shed.
Did we live in a latitude where no chilly blasts
were ever felt, but all were warm and pleasant as
sunny day IN July, we might feed in tents; but we
think the rgors Of this our northern cline, are too
severe for the silk-worm to endure
4,h. We prefer, above all other kinds, the pea
nat worm consider the texture finer, and the yield
greater.
9th. We use the multicauis and white null
bery-the white IN the early part Ct the season
before the Others are grown. Cut the tops from
the multlcaus trees in the fall and leave the roots
in the ground.
9th. Have fed both in the early and late part of
the season, and or success in each is equally GOOD
9Th. AS 10 the causes of bad success in feeding
we know no need Of having bad success. We al
ways Leep our room warm, feed as often as the
worms will take leaves, and attend well to cleanti-
ness and by so doing, the worms are all in the
busarEIh iouf weeSa from The time of l,aicliing
If this seems in any degree incredible, please try
II, and see.
Our only crop this season amounted to one hun
dred and eighty pounds OF cocoons. consider the
silk business well worthy the attention of our
New England farmers and believe it is one that
will yield much better profit than ordinary agri-
cultural productions"
JoHN d. DIX, Ithaca, ~ VI received your
Silk Circular some days since and take the first
opportunity upon recovering from severe illness,
to answer your questions, as many of them as
can satisfactorily to myself.
To question /, | answer, have fed worms three
years, and the general results have been favorable
the second year better than the first and this year
better than both together. ] have raised forty
bushels this gear, at an expense of $50, which is
about the amount Of premium l have drawn from
the State, leaving me the amount received from the
sale OF cocoons as so much made.
| 2. The fist year, | used the upper rooms of my
house. badly ventilated, md was very careful to
shut the windows nights, and build fire cold days
| -dH lrr0ng. Second year, used third story of
store, long room, windows at each end--no artii-
cial heat---wlndows closed in cool weather. Third
year, used an open ropewalk and barn. from which
took oil boards all round, and let the air circulate
! freely night and day, in all kinds of weather.
very few diseased worms, Spun in thirty days and
made the best cocoons | ever saw. ! also fed the
| leaves as they came from the trees, wet or dry
used lime freely, and changed the litter but once
during each age.
g. Have not fed in an open shed or tent, but
think it would do well.
a. Prefer the Mirabel Jaune or mammoth Nam
/ kin peanut worms
D. Trees, Multcaulis, and heretofore they have
managed themselves. Hereafter, intend to cut
them down close to the ground in November, and
lay down the tops at the same time, instead ofwat-
ing till spring.
g. have found a great difference in favor of
early feeding: for Instance, from two ounces
Matched 18th June, | obtained 1876 pounds of the
very best cocoons ever saw. From ] 2 ounces
hatshed June 9s, obtained 2l3 pounds not equal
TO the FIRST From four ounces Matched July TO- |
obtained ll2 pounds, decidedly inferior to the first
though good.
7. The causes Of bad success in feeding that
have come under my observation are, Ist.-Want
of the pure air of heaven. I'd. They do not gem
orally have sufficient room on the shelves 3D.
Their food is kept too long in cellars or some 9TH
er vile place, where 1t gets wilted or dried up
Give sk-worms plenty of food fresh from the
trees, plenty of room the shelves, and plenty OF
pure air, and then do not handle them too much,
and there is no difficulty in raising them success
fully"