The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-10-21
SiIk.GrOWing in America.

There is good reason for believing
that silk-grOwing can be successfully
introduced into the United States, and
gradually developed to an extent that
will very greatly reduce, if it does not
entirely stop, our present heavy and
constantly increasing importations of
raw material used in the making of
silk. The manufacture of silk has be-
come one of our leading and most pro-
gressive Industries. There are now in
this country 200 ilk-manufacturing
firms, which give employment to
about 20 900 operatives, and use annu-
ally $5,OOO,OO0 worth or more of raw
material, all of which is imported.
The notable extent of the increase in
our impOrtations of raw material
the statement that the imports of raw
silk into this country advanced from
73S.331 pounds in 1870 to 1,590,6 ,633
pounds in 1873, Silk manufac turing
in the United States is at present in a
highly-prosperous condition through
out the country, and especially at
Paterson, N. j., where silk goods and
novelties of all kinds are very success
fully manufactured, and where several
large silk mills will probably be erect
ed III tho course OF the year. Not on
ly are Americans manufacturing large
quantities of silk, but they are making
goods Of superior quality. 1t is main-
tained that the American mills turn
out the best silk thread now manufac-
tured in the world.
What are some of the reasons that
favor the Introduce ton of silk-grOwing
into America? The mulberry, the
natural food of silk-worms, fourishes
well in many parts of this country.
The black mulberry is very common
in the South, and attains a thrifty
growth there. 1t is also stated that
no native tree in Connecticut made a
larger years growth than did the
uo7.us multtcaulss, or Chinese mulber-
nv, of the speculative bubble OF 1889
40. The mulberry is said to be of
Persian origin; but, like wheat, bar
ley. rye and other leading cereals and
plants not indigenous i'll this country,
it has shown itself capable of admi-
rable acclimation i'll North America.
AS common white anu black mulberry
have been found to do we'll in all but
the extreme portions of the North and
South, we may conclude that silk
GROWN may yet be advantageously
carried on in the large area extending
from Tie MluUle SlllcS W tile Ouli VI
Mexico and through the sou thern ter
ritOries westward, so as to include a
considerable stretch of the Pacific
coast. Moreover, science is discover
ing various substitutes for the null
Jerry The leaves of the mOck-Orange
are now said to be almost, if not quite
as good food for silk-worms as are the
leaves OF the mulberry itself. Prob.
ably, therefore, several native plants
OF trees may yet be found well-adapted
to the requirements of silk-wOrms.
In several instances where silk-grOw-
ing has been attempted in this coun-
try, good success has been attained.
DR.. i. U. Ball, of West Feliciana, La,
says OF his experiments with silk
worms during the past several years
that he has been ''uniformly success
full in raising them i'll large numbers"
Mr.. L. S. Crozier, formerly of Mar
seillcs, France, has plantation of
mulberry-trees at Silkville, Kansas,
and intends to Introduce the culture
Of mulberry trees at West Feliciana,
La.
Probably the most notable instance
Of success in the culture OF silk.W0rMa