The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-03-09
For the anderson Mtelzigencsr.
Silk Culture.

Mr. EDITOR: design to write for your pa
per few short articles on the subject of Silk
culture in our upper counties. In the Agricpl-
tural Report of 1868 is published full ac-
count of the. mode Of treatment of the silk
worms, from the Matching of the eggs to the
finishing of the. cocoons; as well as the profits
of the business. The whole management of
tho worms is conducted indoors, and is partic-
ularly adapted to the tender management of
females From the Matching of the eggs to the
finishing of the cocoors usually occupies from
thirty-six to forty days, beginning from the
putting out Of the mulberry leaves about the
first of May to the 10th of June. If desired,
two crops, and even three, omay be raised the
same summer, ,by making the eggs Of the first
crop supply for3 the third, and by, keeping
eggs of last year in tin cases, and that buried
under ground until the 10th of June; and then
brought out for the second crop. The Report
states that the silk factories in New York,
Philadelphia, Connecticut and New Jersey, all
give cash So per pound for the cocoons. New
beginners would do well to confne themselves
to the raising and selling the cocoons. Let the
reeling and subsequent manufacture be carried
on by those better prepared with the machine.
ry for that purpose.
1t is stated that one woman, and boy to
collect the leaves, can successfully attend
10000 worms. 1t takes from $50 to 400 CO.
coons to weigh a pound. The experience of
silk-raisers is, that usually $4,000 of the 10000
will complete cocoons. Divide $4,000 by $50,
the average to the pound, and it makes 181
pounds, and at s. per pound, makes S393
This is stated as the usual income of two hands
with 10000 worms, when proper preparation is
made and properly attended to forty days. The
second crop, from the 10th of June to the Goth
of July, is generally tho better one because
the temperature is higher and more uniform to
the Goth July. Thus the amount of the first
crop may be doubled. And even third crop
is often successfully raised.
During the past year good crops of oats,
wheat and cotton have been raised Now oats,
corn and wheat are high and cotton low; and
rs a. general thing planters have made small
profits II is easy to sec the cause of this re-
suit is planting too much cotton. Also not
resorting to other modes of labor that pay as
we'll, if not better than cotton
Besides, by the last census there are in our
county some five or six hundred widows, made
80 by the late war, most of whom are scarcely
able to support themselves and children, hav-
ing only the spinning loom and needle
to furnish their meat, bread and clothing.
This class particularly, as well as all others,
may not only improve their own conditions,
but largely improve the wealth of the country
by adopting other methods Of culture which
docs not interfere with ordinary farm opera
tons, but comes in aid of it by employment,
easy and rcmlncrative, to all the otherwise un-
employed women, girls and boys in our COM
munty.
In my next article will exhibit the prcpa-
ration necessary for all now beginners:
SEMEN.