Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-08
Silk Culture-The AiIanthas Silk
Worm.

After reviewing in a recent number of Scienca
NparS the attempts to substitute some other silk
producing worm for the mulberry silkwOrm due
to the general failure of the silk crops from this
last the present year, in Europe, Prof. Riley,
who has given much attention to the subject of
silk-culture, gives an extended account Of the
Ailanthus silkworm. He discusses its m erits
and the inventions to unwind the cocoonS and
comes to the following conclusions:
cannot see from the accounts that have so
far reached us that NJ. LIE DOuX'S Invention ac-
complishes anything more than that of Mr.. For
gemOt above described, and, whatever I'm )etlS
1t may give to dtt0nti-culture, we may rest per-
fectly satisfied that such culture will never be-
come general, and that the Atditfhts SilkWorn
will never replace that Of the mulberry.
The prime reason why the mulberry Silkwo"m
must ever be the silk producer Of commerce,
aside from the superior quality and Quantity Of
its silk, is that 1t IS domestcated In sect, and
that the worm can be fed in large quantities in
partial confinement and under control; fur lhar,
that while enduring this artificial life 1t shows
no disposition to escape from the shallow ttlvS
upon which 1t IS fed All the other worms suffer
more or less when brought together in large
numbers, or when confined or sheltered and III
this fact more than in any difficulty in
using the silk. lies the secret Of the failure 10
substitute any OF them for nlori. The hardi
ness and adaptability OF Cyis'hia to differen.
climates cannot Offset this objection; for 1t re-
mains essentially wild worm and it will re-
quire many centuries Of selecting and artificial
rearing ere 1t can be domeSticated to the same
extent that is the SoTtctLFJI HIDTt. There never
can be any dependence placed on the production
of silk from worms growing wild on their food
plants. as in such state their exposure to bril-
and other enemies will always render the cocoa
harvest uncertain, and 1t Is far more expensive
and troublesome TO protect both the wild worms
and the trees on which they grow, than 1t IS to
rear the mulberry worm by the ordinary me
thodS employed.
The question OF cultivating our Ahdcrs cerro-
pid is again being discussed in France. Its silk
is less valuable than that OF CyI,hia and all the
Tn Y CT ~
to CecrOpia. The following conclusions which
came to in 1871, after considering all the intro
duced and native SlkwOrmS of any importance
hold equally true to-day.
"There can be no good reason given why silk
culture may not become one OF the Industries of
this country especially If fOStered at the star.
l would, however advise no one to enter into 1t
on large scale, as business The raising of
silk is seldom lucrative, even in the most favor
able countries; for in this, as in most other in
duStrieS, principal profits accrue to the middle
men, reelers, and manufacturers; but on small
scale. and prosecuted in connection with other
branches OF agriculture and horticulture, 1t will
give most desirable returns for the time en-
ployed. The erection OF a few Keeling establish
mentS Is absolutely necessary to establish this
industry.
"For indoor culture no worm SURPRISES the
mulberry species OlorD for outdoor culture
none at present SurpaSS the ailanthuS species
(cyllthjd), though II HIInt-HlIi and perRyt can
once be acclimated. their cocoons are more VAL
liable. OF the native worms DOiyDl,enlus Is the
most valuable and important, its silk being
easily reeed and of excellent quality; cecIoD5I
comes next in order, It's silk being reeled with
less value, has never yet been, and probably
cannot he reelpd.