The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-27
Silk Culture in the United states.

NOW That nOtable part OF tne mhnulac-
tured silk bought in this country is OF do
nestle workmanship, 1t Is natural attempts
should be made TO further the native pro-
duction OF the raw staple. In various quar-
ters experiments are making in the direc-
ton Of silk culture and a pamphlet con-
tanning directions and suggestions touching
this new industry has lately been Issued by
Mr.. CHARLES V. RILEY, the Government en-
tomologist Some OF the data brought out
concerning the methods and profits OF rear
ing cocoons and silk Keeling will be found OF
much utility. We do not propose TO discuss
just now the propricty Of protecting the
production OF raw silk. but simply to point
out the condition and prospects OF this in
dustry under the existing tariff
1t is not generally known that the chief OF
the French Commission to our Centennial
Exposition affirmed there was no silk in
France superior to some there displayed,
and that had been grown in North Carolina.
II is also worth remark that from 1871 to
1874. in the vicinity Of New Orleans an Ital-
ian named RoCA made a business Of rearing
silk worms, and his invoices, passed dur
| ing the latter year, were appraised at some
| $4,000. In this case, too, the cocOons were
| adjudged at Milan superior to those OF that
| part OF Italy. Some good results have like
wise been obtained in the Italian settlement
! ~ Ninoia,d No.- $780, --A .L~-- -
stances seem 10 Indicate that silk culture
might not be difficult TO encourage in the
more southern Of the Atlantic States, al
though the climate has been pronounced too
damp by some experts. II is certain that
parts Of eastern Louisiana abound in null
berry trees planted by the early colonists,
and that in these trees cOcoOns OF the wild
insect are somewhat plentiful. 1t would
seem, on the other hand, that no decisive
success has yet attended the enterprise un-
dertaken at Silkville, Kansas, by NJ. DE
BoIssIRRE, who brought TO that place
colony OF European silk growers, and set
out many thousands Of mulberry trees inn
| ported from France. The mulberries are
understood TO have thrived, but in respect
to the insects themselves he is said TO have
been less fortunate. Mr. b. A. WEBER. how
ever, Of Rockford, Illinois, last year raised
forty pounds OF cocoons, which were shipped
TO Europe, and Mr. +. FASNACH OF Raleigh,
North Carolina, has for some years been in
the habit Of thus shipping the considerable
quantities Of cocoons reared by his family.
From 1860 TO the present time good deal
of attention has been paid to silk growing
in California. About that date NJ. Provost,
a botanist from Normandy, after one or two
abortive experiments, entered in earnest upon
the promotion Of this industry. He made no
silk, however. Of any consequence, the eggs
being in constant demand for export; but he
contrived to reel his thread tolerably well,
and his samples of the raw staple We're
favorably received in Europe. In 1866
JOSEPH NEWMAN, German silk weaver,
commenced rearing worms and reeling the
fibre OF the cocoon in the vicinity of San
Francisco. Four years later he had raised
enough cocOons TO make 1870 pounds Of raw
silk from which two flags were woven, one
Of which, by the way was displayed at the
Philadelphia Exhibition. At the outset the
silk growers Of California hoped to make
extensive use Of Chinese labor in their bust
ness. But although in China or Japan the
skilled labor OF the artisan, inherited
through more than thirty centuries of the
same kind OF toll, is amply repaid by from
five to ten cents day, yet once landed in
America the poorest Chinese recler demands
from scventy-iive cents TO a dollar,
Under present circumstances those who
desire TO raise silk worms in this country
for profit have three alternatives. They
may snip lne cnOkeu cOcOOnS 10 Europe, OF
they may reel the silk, or they may raise
eggs and sell these. As TO the process by
which the chrysalis is killed before the
cocoon is injured for reeling purposes
stcaming is the quickest and the safest
method although in the warm Southern
States dry heat suTocation can be effected
by simple exposure TO tho sun. The stifed
cocoons are packed in bales, and command
according TO the rates at Marseilles last
December about $l,G6 per pound, although
some North Carolina choked cocoons have
brought as much as $3.50. According tC
Mr.. RILEY's estimate, a Keeling establish
ment in this country could now afford TO pay
81 80 per pound, or, in other words not much
below the ruling rates In France. There Is
very little profit In the sale OF stihed cocoonf
at these figures, and no one probably would
be advised by experts 10 invest capital OF
this basis. Neither would 1t be prudent, II
Mr.. RILEY's judgment, for individuals u
r rely on Keeling their own silk, now that the
, art has been carried to such perfection il
, ! modern hlatures equipped with steam ap