The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-06-08
DeIand Vousia County, Florida Wednesday, June S. 1884,

States. Past efforts have failed for
want of steady perseverance in the
new work and a market at home for
the raw materials.
This latter want no longer exists.
for the demand is yearly or the in
crease, and new silk mills are in the
coarse OF erection. AT the present
time, 200 silk mills are in daily oper
alton, weaving last year 1,599,666
pounds of imported raw silk, at a cost
OF about $10,000,000. Raw silk COM
mands from 81 to $S per pound,
according to its quality, and cocoons
and floss silk, 81 to $1.50 per pound.
Two hundred mulberry trees will
grow well on two acres of land, which
would yield about 10000 pounds of
leaves. About sixteen pounds of
leaves are required to make one
pound of fresh cocoons, which would
yield about 1855 pounds of fresh
cocoons. These stuffed, would Weld
about 58S pounds. Dried cocoons of
good quality should bring about 50
per pound, or $l,176.
EXPENSES.
grown person, first 10 days. 10
2 boys or girls first 10 days..
grown persons second ten days. 20
boys or girls second ten days. Is
grown persons third ten days -. so
10 bows or girls, third ten days ..... 4S
$129
If we add few dollars tor fuel, a
few days work for pruning and cul-
tlvatlng the trees, and few sundries,
it would cover all the expenses which
woald not exceed $160. This de-
Quoted from above $1,176 would
leave us 81, ,016 on two acres of land,
aud in.one months time How does
this compare with one bale of cotton
to the acre, the bale at $40, and the
crop Of which it takes six months to
make and gather? These statistics
are the result of actual personal oper
| lations under favorable circumstances.
THE BUILDING REQUIRED.
/ Two cheap buildings of rough
boards, with fixtures, built with a
view to thorough ventilation, each
100x24 feet is all that is required.
The aim OF this Association is to
create a market Tor the exchange of
small quantities of silk, before it can
pass to the manufacturer who pur-
chases only in large quantities and
persons raising cocoons are invited
to correspond with the Association
and state the quantity raised by them.
Trees can be planted from the 1st
Of October until the lst of May.
Standard trees thirty feet apart, in
avenues; medium trunks, fourteen
feet apart; dwarf trees, four feet in
hedge, the rows twelve to fifteen
feet apart. Prices range about as
follows :-Ordinary cuttings, $150
per hundred ; one years growth, SIS
per hundred, or 81 for ten trees !;
trees three to five feet high, 81 per
hundred; five TO seven feet, $40 per
hundred; seven to nine feet, SIS per
hundred. An agency has been
opened for the sale of trees and cut.
tings, also tor eggs, at 81 per 1000;
So per half ounce, S. per ounce.
Also, later In the season, after the
midle Of May, worms at 81 per hun.
dred,
The Morus Japonlca, or Japanese
Mulberry, and the Morus Alba, or
White Mulberry, are the best for
food. Books of instructions and
pamphlet on trees at 81. Certificate
of scholarship in the silk school, $5;
certificate of membership, 81.
Reels will soon be put in operation,
and we do most earnestly urge the
agricultural people to enter persever.
ingly into this work, and help to re.
tain within their own pockets the
millions of money which are now
sent abroad for foreign silk. Orders
will be taken for racks on which the
worms are reared, or these can be
made in most simple form.
All information can be had by ad-
dressing the "Women's Silk Culture
Association of the United States,"
rooms at Permanent Exhibition Build
ing ard 1928 Chestnut street, Phila-
deIphia, Pa. MRS. j. LUCAS,
! Miss H. ANNIE LOCAs, Pres.
N0r Coo