New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-06
THE SILK EXHIBITION.
AN INDUSTRIAL REVIVAL.

ACTIVE EEEOkJN 10 fROhOlE I'M TiDDbNiiCN VIZ
sILK-THE PROGRESS ACCOMPLIsHED-LEADING
FEATUREs OF THE PHILADELPHIA DISPLAY.
IRON A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE rRIBUNEl
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. Am interesting step
In the development of domestic Industries has taken
in the opening of the first exhibition OF the WOmens SILK
Culture Association at ST. Georges Hail. " Our object
said leading member to lay silk culture before the
country urge people the rural districts to take hod
OF it and thereby part all Of the SlJ,OOOOOO IN
gold which yearly exported from this country In pay
ment for silk years ago it thought necessary
10 go to Berlin tor fine wool, but the sheep we're I'M
ported and fine wool now be obtained here.
A leading manufacturer has stated that silk culture
has better prospects here than cotton growing had forty
years ago. Now, lady, the daughter Of planter living
near savannah who has been engaged in silk growing,
gives as the opinion himself aud others that Is less
trouble and expense TO raise pound OF SIX than a
pound Of cotton And cotton is worth 12l9 cents a
pound while pound of silk will bring from - to So"
The specal of the association is however TO intro
ducc silk raising into into rural homes means OF ad
dtona income for those who need to earn money aud
wish to earn it at home order to attract public at
tention and to enlist sympathy TINS exhibition was
opcned The progress which has been made may be
briefly outlined. After the sik-worm craze OF ior'y
years ago, in which the multcaMus,
as that variety of the mulberry is
called, played disastrous part incredibly sue
cccded enthusiasm and silk worm culture fell out OF
favor Attention was, however, attracted to the sub
ect again at the Centennial Exhibition. Afterward
silk growing was illustrated at the Permanent Exhbi
ton In November 1879, Or. s. Chamberaine, Of this
city who had interested in the subject for years,
In company with Mrs. william Eltonhead Mrs Charles
D. Thum and Bishop simpson began TO take steps
to revive industry In May 1850 the present asso
citation was organized with MIRA Bishop simpson IA pres
dent A stock eggs presented by the Permanent
Exhibition Company and school was opened. Two
classes formed for the first crop lasting from May
l until July l. about six weeks being the duration Of
the process OF patching and spinning by the worms.
second crop started in July and exhibition OF CO.
coons and worms was made the state Agricultural Fair
In September 1880. This attracted much attention,
and interest aroused increased by subsequent
exhibitions at the Ncw-York Institute and at fairs IL
New-Jerscy. Concentrations were received from the
Commissioner OF Agriculture at Washington and from
the State Board Of Agriculture of NewJersey. Letters
began to be received from all the country
aud the Association. which has been supported by
voluntary subscriptions, members fees aud small
sums the sale of its publications, was called upon
to supply eggs and mulberry cuttings. This has been
its most important work. well circulating nfOrna
ton and buving cocoons having the silk reeed Any
intelligent person. Is stated, learn the method
from the printed Instructions issued by the society
An ounce Of ergs costs -. aud under favorable
dions will produce 40. 900 1t requires 1000
dry cOcOOus weigh pound, a rule, although 100
Of the largest viii make mp this weight The so
cicty paws Fl "A pound for cOcOons From one pound
there can be- reccd quarter OF pound OF SIX. The
rreIuc Ii done an Italian employed by the society for
there are as vet Americans skilled IN reelinS The
Italian is paid ~ day reels Oft daily three pounds
OF silk Manufacturers III Paterson, n. j., and large
New England firm pay for this $50 pound although the
members of the society CONSIDER It to be worth -.
This leaves for the society very little profit but the OBJ
ac il not money-making and The essential poiat IS SIM
ply TO pay expenses aud obtain large return as pos
s,i,lc for those actually engaged u the culture
A. la- been said. tina intended industry for
women and children To carried at homes wherever
thrr ground enough for the trees to grow. SIPS ana
cuttings of the white mulberry are obtained from the
society coming largely from South Carolina and Lousi-
ana aud are out requiring three years to attain a
useful size. This variety Of the mulberry. 1t Is said
will flourish wherever apple trees be grown, thus
brfviny even New-Iugland winters.
The six worm eggs must be kept cool until the time
comes for Matching. THIS ia in May, the
leaves OF the mulberry Tree are ns large a. a monses
ear" Then warmth is applied To the eggs, and the
,iorns when hatchrd. supplied with The leaves Of
the mulberry. Warmth AMI sufficient leaves only are
necessary and their 1t is said may be undertaken by
an intelligent child In about six weeks the
worms begin to spin their cocoon Some
breeders place small branches IN the tray around
the ucsin by spunlrc ho.- silk Afterwards
su~pcudiug the between them There Is danger
in tai, method OF the formation Of double cocOous one
cor"nn spun 10y and containing two worms is valuable
only as wn~tc SILK for the threads become so mixed
and cntaus.ad that rrrInS impossible; therefore in
some c.isrs the "ccllIar" system has been adopted
Each worm is placed M small paper horn or Otherwise
hrpt separate and allowed to spin 10y itself When the
cocoon il spn the worm within be killed. if not it
eats way ont cutting the threads OF the co'oon ana
emerging as the moth Usually the worms are suted by
subectng the cocoous to dry heat. OF
ho rod bp pt
Three crop, of cocoons secured yearly in the south
crp States twoin PENNSYLVANIA and III New England.
From she foregoing details It he judged very well
the industry is adapted As part of woman, work,
RccIng which is the next process after the cocoons
have spun and the worms killed II rot as yet per
formed bv the silkgrowers II is illustrated at the pres
cnt exhibition of the society AT end Of the hall
sands large frame supporting a small spindle on
which wires are arranged and larger two or three
feet distant These kept in motion by turning
wheel by hand If neither steam nor electric motive
power here the is used At one end OF the
reel sits the Italian woman. having directly IN front OF
her a small tin tub set IN the frame before the smaller
spindle. Ia this tub, which is filled with boiling not
water kept heated by lamp underneath placed the
cocoons Carefully finding the thread IN one the woman
pas es 1t 10 first spindle. and IT Il unrayeued being
finally wound on larger spindle whence the silk is
taken off in skcns This work has proved one OF the
most interesting features OF the exhibition.
Near the reel is the collection of Professor e. v hey
of the United states Department of Agriculture Here
eggs chrysale> ana moths, both domestic anu foreign
are exhibited Particularly noticeable are the cocoons
and reels from new species Of which has been fed
uou The leaves Of the Usage This may lie readily
raised in almost any part OF the country ana - the
worms thrive upon its leaves producing excellent CO.
coons its use bids fair TO extend silk culture Several
skns of silk and bottles are also shown here
their shades Of white yellow and gray indicating different
bile EXHIBIT is made bY
Miss sadie Atkinson Here IL shown cluster of twtgs
md branches bound together with cobwehby floss SIX
hch are suspended several cocoons inst as they were
spun An examination Of "wild spinning" IA also eN
nibitcd where the worm instead of forming cocoon
has wandered backward aud forward across piece OF