The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-11-30
silk,

While no section Of this country can ut
prese Mt boast of a very large production Of
raw silk, the advance in this industry is
quite remarkable, considering the difficult
ties that were to be sRrmounted. This is
particularly true of California, where there
are now about two and half million
Of the white and black mulberry trees in
various stages of growth. The raw silk
sent from this State to the Vienna Exposi-
ton received marked attention and the
exhibitor was awarded medal for his
specimens, which were very beautiful, and
compared favorably with the best varieties
of Eastern growth.
Mr.. Joseph Newman has published some
valuable statistics in regard to this indus
try, Of which We gladly avail ourselves in
this article. He says that California has
more inducements, and 10 better adapted
to silk culture, THAI almost any country in
the world, and that this statement is fully
substautiated by competent judges, both
travellers and residents. In consequence OF
the length of the Summer and the mild
climate, the mulberry trees in most parts
OF the State grow ten months in the year,
or from February to the end of November ;
thus enabling the worms to be fed uninter-
ruptedly during the eight months. Spring,
Summer aud Autumn are each uncommonly
dry seasons, and in consequence the food
of the worms is seldom wet, aud their
sickness thereby to great extent obviated,
as they are especially susceptible to damp
ness. The mulberry tree throws out new
branches and leaves four times year, and
worms can be fed after the fifteenth day on
the required food necessary for their sub
stance. Mr.. Newman says that in some
localities in California, most favorable to
their growth, trees that are five years old
surpass those in Europe of fifteen years
growth. The leaves, also, are much larger,
and one can gather six or eight times as
much material in the same length of time.
Experience and statistics both testify that
the cocoons increase in size from year to
year, and the improvement of the silk
thread corresponds to the improve
ment of the cocoons until both reach q
high standard of perfection. In California
thunderstorms very seldom, if ever, occur
during the feeding season, and the worms,
therefore, are not disturbed. The dryDese
of the atmosphere prevents the remains OF
the leaves which the worms do not consume
from decaying, and the beds need to be
cleaned only about twice during the sea-
son. This is performed generally at the
time of the spreading of the beds.
According to the statements of Mr.. New
man, one Louis Provost, botanist from
Normandy in France, introduced the Gull
tivation Of the mulberry tree and the pro-
duction of silk at San Jose, California, ia
the year 1856. But his efforts in this di-
rection were not very successful. At this
time the immigration was composed chiefly
of gold hunters, and they ridiculed the idea
of pursuing any occupation that did not
give promise Of immediate wealth. NJ
Provost, after three years of indefatigable
labor, became Disguised, and for the time
abandoned this field of employment. The
success of Mr.. Mueller, a native of Switz
erland, who had also planted trees and inn
ported few silk worm eggs in 1861, en-.
couraged NJ. Provost to renew his efforts ir
the production of raw silk, which he quite
successfully pursued up to the time of his
death, in 1869.
The Legislature OF California, on one oc
casiOn, recognizing the Importance of this
| industry, passed law to pay bounty o
$3.50 for every five Thousand newly planted
mulberry trees, aud $500 tor every on'
hundred Thousand cocOons produced ii
California. The object of this aid, how
ever, was thwarted by the action of u larg'
number of inconsiderate spectators wh'
planted over twenty million trees, mosti,
90 multicaulis," which have been rejected VI
all silk producing countries of the world ii
| favor OF the " alba" and " moreta," Tia
white and black species of mulberry. Th
result of this offer was disastrous IN tn
| extreme, and the law was subsequently re