The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-02
farm aud Garden.
Conducted by DIR. Thomas POLLARD, State
Commissioner of Agriculture
Silk Culture.

There have been repeated attempts to
raise silk in Virginia. Even from the
time of James. l, who sent silkworm eggs
to the colony, and offered high rewards
for its culture One cause of failure has
been the want of systematic effort, and
well;prepared plans, and want of mar
ket at home for the raw material. This
last difficulty is removed, the demand is
on the increase, and new silk mills are In
course of erection. There are now in the
United States 200 silk mills in operation.
Weaving last year 1,499, 666 pounds i'm
ported raw silk at cost of $10,0OO0OO
1Circular of Women's Silk Culture Asso-
citation, Philadelphia We have seen a
statement recently that there were more
than 800 such establishments. Another
difficulty in making silk culture success
full in this country has been the COMPETE
ton of the cheap labor of Europe and
Asia; in the former the silk reeler receives
80 cents per day and in China and Japan
6 to 10 cents. This serious obstacle has
probably now been overcome. I quote
from Reports from the Consuls of the
United States on the commerce, manu-
features, etc., of their Consular districts"
published by the Department of State,
January, 1881. Mr.. B. F. Peixotto, our
Consul to Lyons, after saying we can raise
the SILK worm because we can grow the
Mulberry leaf, and that silk worms have
been successfully raised in the U. States
for more than 80 years, asks
But how can we overcome the COM
petition of Europe and Asia with regard
to labor? 1 am happy to be able to an
<swer the question here and now In the
month of June last ~ there came to
Europe a young American engineer, who,
before leaving home, had already given
much time and study to the subject, and
who since has devoted several months to
visiting and carefully inspecting the prin-
cipal failures of France and Italy. This
gentleman, Mr. Edward w. Serrell, Jr.,
of New York, believed it possible to in
vent machinery which, by the use and
application of electricity, would not only
overcome existing difficulties, produce a
superior quality of thread, but solve at
the same time the all-important labor
question, and render silk-reeling in the
United States as possible and profitable
as anywhere else in the world
1t affords me very great satisfaction to
say that In my judgment Mr.. Serrell has
at length been successful, and that very
shortly this fact will be abundantly and
incontestably proven, both for the now
unhappy and, rapidly declining silk-reel-
ing industry of Europe, as well as for.
from an American point of view, still
the successful planting of silk industry
IN the United States in all it's varied
stages and branches, from the mulberry
tree, the naagnanerie or hatching-house,
the reehng maiH to still higher perfec-
ton than what we have already attained
in the fabrication Of tissues. What the
cotton gin has done for cotton, which
with US ninety years ago hardly had
commercial value, the Serrell invention
may yet do for silk, and the United
States become as pre-eminent for the lat
ter and costlier product as for the former
and cheaper culture"
The declining silk reeling industry Of
France, the Consul says, is produced by
inferior crops, decreased consumption of
pure silk goods superiority of Italian
failures, and the competition of Japanese
and Chinese labor.
In conference with DIR. Ruffner, our
efficient Superintendent Public Schools,
we find he is very anxious to introduce
this industry into Virginia, in behalf,
particularly, of female teachers in our
public schools, whose time is so imper-
fectly taken up in their school duties
the children too of the same school might
also find this profitable employment in
their long vacations At DR.. Ruffner's
suggestion wrote to the Secretary of the
Association above referred to for their
Prospectus and plans, and was promptly
and kindly furnished with the following
which we here present
The Women's Silk Culture Association
of the United States.
The rooms Of this Association are at the s. W
corner Juniper and Chestnut streets, Philadel
phia, and are now opened daily from to
o'clock, for the inspection of the public, and for
formation of classes. The object of this School
Is to teach all branches of Silk Culture, with
view of introducing it into households as a
branch of domestic industry
1t is to be hoped that the cordial support and
patronage of the public will be directed to this
school as tending to encourage the development
oil the culture of one of the most valuable com
medities in the world, and for which a large
revenue goes to foreign lands
The culture Of silk is better adapted to home
industry than any other branch of work which
opens as large a field in the commercial market
II being valuable as a commodity and largely
IN demand. 1t particularly commends itself to
women and children of tho rrfra1 d;str;cts =, -,