The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-21
SILK CULTURE In AMERICA.

THE COLO ED PEOPLE OF ALABAMA PROPOSE
TO EsTA BLrsH THIS INDUSTRY IN TElIn
STATE
While crazy dreamers In tho North are filling tho
heads OF foolish workingmen with the idea OF becom-
ing rich by plum deriDg their neighhors few colored
people down In Alabama have set to work TO point
out to the men and women OF their a
and p actcablo way 10 themselves comfort.
able and independent The means by which n
is proposed to achieve this desirable end Is
the introduction OF the skworm culture, for
which the mild ana genial climate OF Alabama seems
admirably suited. This happy idea occurred sono
years ago to Mr. Samuel Lowery principal OF colored
school At Huntsville, Ala, and being OF practi-
views no resolved to tost by experiment the pos
sibiliiy OF the scheme.
MAKING A START.
In January, 1876 he procured from mar nam-d
Theobald, residing Nashville. 500 silkworm eggs,
which in due time nat-hed out. Only 200
OF these proved fruitful; but. nothing dscour.
aged, Mr.. Lowcry resolved to continue his ex-
pertinent. From the cocoons spun by these
native born silkworms about afteon spools Of silk
thread were made by very rude hand process. TINS
thread OF course, Inferior In quality,
owing to the want OF skill in its manufacture; but
the raw material proved to be excellent The thread
resulting from this first experiment was exhibited
AT tho Huntsville air, and was awarded two prizcs
This nrst success attracted considerable attention
among the prominent citizens, and generous offers
assistance made by some OF the largo landed
propr.ctors, who in the introduction OF tho new
cultivation a source oil wealth capable OF well nigh
indelnic development.
Among those who take active interest In the in.
PRODUCTION OF the silkworm culture of ante
tetum Governors oil the State, Reuben Chapman, ON
whose estate Mr. Lowerys Indus trial Academy Is sit
uatei. This gentleman has granted lease twenty
Ave acres OF suitable land, which valuable
buildings erected by the United States At
u cost OF 100000,
GENEROUS OFFER.
As proof OF his oarnost desire TO advance the In.
erests Of the coored people OF his section Governor
Chapman has offered make a GIFT OF tie land ana
buildings TO tho Industrial Academy condition
ihaL tho promoters OF tho enterprise succeed
IN obtaining an endowment equal value
TO tho lands and buildings which he proposes to pre-
| sent To them. The favorable reception winch tho
scheme met with encouraged Mr. Lowcry to contiauo
| his experiment He succeeded during the year 1915
IN Eatchipg auO s!lkworms, which produced equal
number oil cOcoons- From these some twenty s,,oois
OF thread were successfully spun. The difficulties in
the way OF success were very great arising from want
oil experience Ia the cuilivatos and tbs absence OF
proper machinery Tor The winding oil anu sp!nning
Ol tho rnw SILK In cases where the sukworm
cuts tho cocoon recourse must be had .
cardiug process similar 10 that used In
Ing wool, and here It necessary 10 TALL
back on The common cotton carding board, which IS
quito unsuitable Tor Oh the finer SILK lbro OF the
COCOON From these causes the thread aud yarn pro-
duced were rude anu nicrior but these detects would
at once disappear, It is thought, were proper ma
| OF yarn mado the common spinning wheel provo
conciusvey that the yarn made from the cocoon by
tho cardng process could be advantagcously applied
IN the manufacture ofsocks crochet work. mixed and
| inferior silk stu1s.
! THE sILKwoRM pRospgRs.
The question OF tue accinatation OF the silkworm,
Mr.. Lowery thinks, has been satisfactorily solved by
their rapid Increase since tner Introduction lLtle
over two years The OF cggs had grown from
600 IN January. 1876, 10 100000 1877. The silk.
worms have been led on twonty white mulberry trees.
Tue slkworms appear 10 get on in the Alabama cli-
l mate, ana so TAR no symptoms OF disease have been
noticed. Il funds can be procured Il IS intended TO
plant twcnty acres with mulberry cutiins which, in
the course OF one yoar would furnish food Tor Two
three million worms. Should tho result be favor
able Is hoped largo numbers OF the colorcd people
would turn their attention TO the new industry Il
would afford them the means Of 4ta.ning inuepen-
Dance. tho cultivation OF the silk worm not
| quire largo tracts OF and
/ PRoPRIEroRs.
/ Farms OF ten or twenty acres, II 10 said would
su icc employ and support families
gagged In IT. and THIS amount could be easily obtained,
~ 10 $50 an acre In France the silk culture IL almost
wholly carried on by small farmers OF this class, and
in Alabama tho cultivators would have the advantage
OF being able 10 collect two harvcsts Ia the year-tne
first crop IN June and the second In August. family
which cultivated from nty TO ono hundred pounds Of
cocoons In the year would DO better able TO 1.-Two
than they ny the cotton culture Raw
siik sells IN tho American market for 81 and 80 q
pound, whio cotton only produces eight cents pcr
pound People engaged In raising cotton are obliged
To work very hard, and yet can scarcely make ends
meet Al prescnt tho value OF raw silk imported 10
America amounts TO $6,o0oo0O per annum, with u
constantly increasing demand III this important
branch oil human industry can DO successfully planted
In Alabama 1t is claimed II would afford rcmuncratiye
employment to u large population and keep largo
am0unt OF money In tho country Mr. Lowcry hopes
10 be able to obtain from persons desrous OF nd.
vanciug the well being oil the coorcd people funds
enable MIN to SGT up the necessary machinery Tor tho
man uacturo of tho silk such form would
| render II marketable
Tomorrow Sir. Lowcry win lecture At tho Cooper
| Institute tcfore tho Farmers CluD.