The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-03-16
For the anderson Mtelzigencer.
Silk Culture.

should be sealed, kept we'll aired, and as near
as may be of the same temperature all the
time. Fire should be used to warm the room
when necessary to keep the air in it dry in
cold, damp weather. A room in common
ment in this business, by placing plank shelves
about three feet wide around the room, at con-
venient height for feeding the worms. If ne
cessary, one shelf may be made above the 9th
er. These may be of rough plank.
There are three varieties of silk-making
worms introduced into the United State. One
kind, and the one that feeds on the mulberry,
is most generally used. Another, that feed on
Ailantus, tree better known among us rs the
Tree of Heaven. 1t is said the silk made by
this worm out-lasts any other. The third feed
on the leaves of the common oak, and is har-
dy enough to live on the oak in the open air.
For these the oak saplings must stand thick, so
that the worms may freely pass from one tree
| to another, and the trees must be covered with
network to keep birds from destroying the
worms. l have no eggs of either kind yet, nor
do I yet know how best to procure them, but
am advised they can be had Of any Of the
three varieties at New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore or California. With my present
knowledge shall prefer the seed of the worm
|
per ounce, and an ounce will yield from 10000
to 1000 eggs. This number will require from
1000 to 1900 pounds of leaves. In the life
of the worm it has four moultings-that is,
four days it lies still and does not eat, and at
the end of each time it sheds its old skin. The
first moulting comes on the sixth day, and du-
ring that day must not be disturbed by putting
leaves over it. Up to this time the worms re-
quire but little feed but from the first moult-
ing the feed must be increased in proportion to
their growth. 1t is necessary that each days
Matching of the eggs be kept separate, other
wise the eating worms and those that are in the
moult would be together, which is said to be
injurious to those in the moulting state
Therefore, long box or frame, provided with
q basket split-bottom, should be ready for each
days Matching, and be placed on different parts
of the shelf.
When the time comes for the worms to spin
their cocoons, of which they give notice by
rearing their bodies on their hinder legs and
move their heads about as if feeling for some
thing to begin their cocoons upon then small
small dried bushes, thick with branches on
them, should be provided, and laid over tho
worms for them TO climb into to spin their CO.
coons A better plan, as practiccd by AL i'll
telligent lady of my acquaintance some years
ago, was to cut small oak bushes, thickly lcayed,
some ten or twelve days before the worms are
ready to make their cocoons. In that time the
leaves will wilt and curl inwardly. Put these
bushes on the shelf or tables over the worms,
and as they seem to love darkness during this
process, they climb up and hide themselves in
curled leaf and finish their work. For
twelve days after the cocoon is finished, the
worms lie still, at the end of which time they
begin to cut out. Before the time for them to
cut out, all the cocoons intended for market
must be killed, either by putting them in an
oven pretty we'll heated, or by putting them in
the sun. Two days of hot sunshine will kill
them. The female cocoon is considerably lar
ger than the male. Select for seed the largest
together The female lays her eggs and dies.
She should be placed on paper for that purpose.
The Morus Multcaulis and White Mulberry
are recommended as the best kind of mulberry
to use, but our common mulberry will make
healthy worms and good silk. An acre at least
should be planted at once. If of White or
A1ulticaulis, by cuttings with three eyes, in the
following manner: Lay off the rows four feet
apart, and plant the cuttings every foot along
each row. The first years growth will furnish
food for something like $4,000 worms, the next
year more; and when the quantity Of leaves
become sufficient to feed 10000 or more, then
the practice is to dig out every other row, and
leave your permanent mulberry acre eight feet
between the rows. The second year an acre
will furnish leaves enough to- feed 100000
worms. Allowing $4,000 to die or not make
perfect cocoons, the balance, 1885, 900 cocoons,
will weigh 420 pounds; if sold at So per pound,
will bring 81, 200, for the labor of two females
and two boys for forty days. In gathering the
leaves, care should be used not to take of the
three top leaves of the young stems.
However, until the planted mulberries will
leaves as may be at hand, either in the yard or
on the plantation.
The first year with beginners unprcparcd as
we all are now, the experiment should be on q
small scale, because, 1st, to learn by experience
how to manage the worms End, because the
leaves may not be abundant, and 3rd, because
the eggs cost high, Sc per ounce. An ounce
turns out about 10000 worms If beginners
should start with 1000 eggs, an ounce would
supply Is families. And as a female lays from
500 to 600 eggs, each family may supply them
selves with as many eggs as they may want for
the next year by letting rs many worms to cut
out and lay as they may choose.
There are now silk manufactures in New
York, Philadelphia, Connecticut and New
Jersey that have been in operation for several
years, making ribbons, laces and dress goods,
and recently a company has come from France
and are preparing to erect mandatory for
silk in New York city. AT the present time,
American silk fabrics are competing favorably
with European goods. The raising silk in
many of the Middle States and recently in
California is increasing rapidly, and is so
profitable that we of the South and especially
South Carolina, should make haste to share in
the profits In this way, too, we will very adj
vantageously diversity our employmcnts.
1t is duty that every philanthropist owes
to his fellows, and every patriot owes to his
country, to aid in every way he can TO advance
the prosperity Of his countrymen. And espe-
cially to afford to widows and orphans any and
all information concerning any new business,
snitable to their condition, and which by LIGHT