The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-06-16
THE NEW SILK INDUSTRY.


The greatest incentive to engage in
silk culture is the knowledge that there
is home market for S15, 900, 900 worth
of floss, which American manufacturers
are obliged to import from foreign lands.
The other consideration is, that silk cul-
ture furnishes women and children in
the rural districts with a congenial oc-
cupatiOn that does not require constant
attention, and so will not interfere with
household duties.
In view of these facts the Women's
Silk Culture Association of PHILADELPHIA
was organized two years ago. for the at
tention of the women of the country to
the opportunity given them for estab-
lishiug anew industry, both suitable and
profitable and also to give the neces-
sary instructions to all desiring to en-
gage in silk culture,
The success of this pioneer association
is remarkable there has been aroused
wide spread interest in the cultivati on
of cocoons, which must go on increasing
until the aim of the association IS full
filed.
This fact was most forcibly presented
at the last exhibition of the association
at which the display of coccoons was
very fine and interesting. The chief
! feature of the exhibition was the display
of specimen cocoons by the twenty-six
contestants for the Strawbridge & Go
thieT premiums. The first of which, by
the way, was carried off by Mrs. Rebec-
ca Taylor (mother of Bavard Taylor)
who is over 50 years of age, and a suf-
| ferer from paralysis.
The association announces that thro'
the liberality OF Messrs. Strawbridge &
Clothier, the well-known dry goods mer-
Of DhiIadaInbio ;o ooro;,, ~,
abled to offer to the silk culturists the
sum of five hundred dollars in ten prem
, tums, as follows first premium, 500 ;
second premium, SIS third premiun,
S65 fourth premium, $50: fifth prem
ium, $50 /; sixth premium, S45 ; seventh
premium, $40; eighth premium, $50 ;
| ninth premium, S25 tenth premium,
SO. For these premiums any resident
of the United States may contest. From
the ten largest amountsfOf cOcOons. one
pound will 0e taken, without selection,
and the test of reeling applied the
quantity and quality will be the condi-
tions for premium, Application for
competition must be endorsed and the
amount of this years cocoons raised by
the culturist, testified to by some respon-
sible person. Stock must be sent no la
ter than December /. 1892.
Anyone with sufficient land to grow a
few mulberry trees can add the rearing
of silk worms to their daily care and
find it a source of pleasure and profit.
The work occupies but small portion
of the year, and child can attend to
the daily gathering of leaves and fee d.
ing the worms. If supply of mulber-
ry leaves cannot be had, an Usage orange
hedge will answer every purpose. The
Usage orange leaf is admirable food for
the silk worms, from which they spin
splendid silk
A very interesting event of national
interest, connected with the subject of
silk culture, has just occurred in Phiia-
delphia. The Women's Silk Culture
Association selected silk from twenty
six families living in fourteen States !;
had it spun on a y ankee" reel, made
into a web of twenty-eight thousand
webs of silk, and woven as a brOcade on
Jocquad loom, requiring three thous-
sand six hundred needles to form the
original and striking design. This is
3he first brocade ever woven in Ameri-
ca of American silk; and probably the
the heaviest in texture of any brocade
ever woven, 1t is known as the Gar
field dress, as it is the intention of the
association TO present this magnificent
fabric to Mis-. James a Garfield.