The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-09-21
California SlIk.

From the earliest settlements of this country
,wn TO the present time, public attention has
different periods been directed TO the subject
silk raising Indeed, this appears to have
zen one OF the earliest and most successful in
lstries of this country, for it is related that silk
ade from material grown In Virginia was worn
Charles H. at his coronation in 1851. Plant
g mulberry trees for rearing silk-worms was
equently. in the early history of the colonies
AIDE incumbent upon property holders by leg
lative action, and prior 10 the Revolution it was
'nsidered quite fashionable for ladies to devote
cir leisure moments. TO tending silk-worms, the
coon silk being sent to England to be manu-.
ctured. The state of Georgia was settled chief
because the climate was deemed peculiarly
liable for raising silk, and liberal appropria-
ons were made to the colony by Parliament for
encouragement. A rich broca1e woven from
eorgia silk was worn by Queen Caroline as
,urt dress. Nor were the Southern states the
ily ones interested, for each Of the older states
ave ut times been extensive silk raisers, but
ON various causes the industry has finally fall
n into disrepute.
Although practically failure in the Eastern
ates, this employment seems destined at no dis
mt day to assume Importance in the Pacific
ates, particularly in California. The climate
this favored region is dry, warm, and equable,
sving all the requisites Tor success. Our ex-
ranges from that state speak quite favorably Of
lie new adventure and anticipate its develope-
.ent in time into an important industry. A pi-
leer in this enterprise is Mr.. Louis Provost, of
/ IN Jose, who has had some previous experience
this line, and who, in his system of treatment
as deviated somewhat from the usual manner
raising the worms, introducing improvements
hereby time and labor are saved, and conse-
uently increasing the prospects OF making the
usiness paying one.
One of the most marked innovations on the old
iethods, is feeding with branches Of mulberry
ices instead of leaves, change which seems to
'ork admirably. Sufficient food can now be gath
red and distributed to $4,000 hungry worms by
My three hours labor per day then again the
-ees prosper better by cutting away portion
the shoots entire instead Of partially stripping
II the twigs, while the leaves themselves retain
neir freshness much longer in that warm cli-
late, by remaining attached to the stalk. So
~ is the air in San Jose that remnants of leaves
nd other otfal are soon completely desiccated, so
| hat in a room where $4,000 worms are feeding
trays that are never removed for cleaning, the
ir is at all times entirely free from smell
The demand for worm eggs, both for home use
nd expectation, is so great that Mr.. Provost de-
| ided this year to save no cocoons for silk but
las allowed all the Larvae to undergo the full
netamorphosis and pass through the crystals in
the moth state. He estimates his crop at
rom 12,O00,0O0 to 1900, 900 eggs, and three
reps may be raised a season. The French and
talian,silk masters do not preserve any larva
hat are not Matched by the fourth day Of incu
patton. Mr. Provost Matched out all his eggs
his year and kept each days production sepa
ate. The first days crop Of worms and the
welfth days as shown by the results are equally
aluable, the worms last Matched growing to al
arge size, and the cocoons being as fine as from
hose that first left the shell. All these exper
ments go to show the Superior vitality and thu
healthy condition Of California worms owe
European.