Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-15

1t will be a surprise to people who have given
no attention to the subject TO learn that more
than twenty-five millions OF dollars and some
sixteen thousand operatives are engaged in
manufacturing silk in this country 1t is also
true that the climate Of many of our states, and
especially, perhaps, that of California is better
adapted 10 the wants of the silkworm than that
of Europe, whence we import annually more
than three millions Of dollars worth of raw silk
In Europe about One-half Of the worms are uu-
productive from disease, while the loss here is
but OnC-lourth
The history Of silk culture in this country
dates back to the time OF James /. That mon
arch, having failed to intrpduce the culture Of
the skwoFm into England, sought to establish
it in the American colonies, and forwarded, we
are told, "eggs from bis own store" to Virginia
But that colony was devoted to the growing OF
tobacco, and neither penalties nor rewards cOuld
induce the colonies TO abandon the culture of
their chief commercial staple. In Georgia
grants Of land we're given by the government
10 the settlers in order to induce them 10 raise
the mulberry tree on which the silkwOrm de-
ponds fer food; and in 1860 the production
in Georgia amounted to $4,000 pounds Of CO.
cOOns. But a reduction in the bounty offered
by the mother country proved serious injury
to the business, and in 1910 the quantity ex-
ported had fallen to $50 pounds The revOlu-
tiOnary war put an end TO the culture, but eX-
perence had proved the adaptation of the soil
and climate to this particular branch of indus
try. South Carolina had just made a good be-
ginning in raising the silllWOrm when the same
cause that stopped this culture in Georgia also
pat au end 10 1t in the adjoining state. At
Mansfield, Connecticut, there was an extensive
"silk plantation" which yielded FIVE tons of raw
silk in 1899. The business has also been sue
cessful in massachusetts,, Maine, Vermont and
New York. IN the latter state as carly as 1871
the convicts of the Auburn state prison manu-
featured from domestic COcOOns el2 600 worth Of
spNiuu silk q thn first OuHlitV I'm 1914 tb,,
whole product Of the county in silk fabrics and
thread amounted to 81 100000. In OHIO, the
eastern part OF Tennessee and Kentucky and
Southern Pennsylvania the culture has been
tried at different times and with success
The silk worm requires warmth, dryness,
plenty Of proper food and pure air and as the
mulberry tree, whose leaves furnish the food
Tor the worm, also requires lOnT-cOntinued
warm and dry weather, California seems to offer
unusual facilities for silk culture That this
fact is appreciated is shown by a single plauta.
ton in Sacramento valley, which consists of
100000 mulberry trees, The bounty law, which
was repealed in 1868, induced many persons TO
engage in the business, and were il not for the
great heat of the last summer, which killed i'm
mense quantities OF the worms, the silk crop Of
this year would have been very large. The great
est drawback to its entire success is the cost of
IeeliBg the cocoon into raw silk. But already
the enterprsiug agriculturists have devised
means Tor remedyng this difficulty. Another
fact that should stimulate our silk raisers TO re-
newed activity is this, that Of all the silk annu.
ally imported into tins country two-thrds come
from countries which themselves DO not produce
silk, and are incapable of doing So Last year
the United States imported silks to the value Of
S28, eO4 ,04S. OF this amount FRANCE sent ST..
O000 900 worth, the rest was obtained principal
ly from England and Germany, countries that
raise no cocoons. There seems to be no reason,
therefore, save lack Of enterprise why silk pro-
gNpul6 hn i'm.
portant features OF our Industry, - Eceaing
Post