Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-13
AN EXHIBITION OF SILK CUL-
TURE.
How IL IL Proposed shat Every WO-
man Shall Grow Her own SILK
D-eaG.
New York Sun,


The first American silk rearing exhibition
oDened yesterday under the auspices OF the
North American Silk Exchange, IN Turn
Hall, East Fourth street. The objects of
the SILK Exchange are to encourage silk
culture In this country, and to open a
market in Europe to American silk
producers until such time as they shall
be able to sell their products at home.
This exhibition is for the purpose of show
ing everybody how simple and Interesting
silk culture is, and how easily 1t can Ee car
ried on. The arrangements for doing this
have already resulted in an exceedingly
novel and pleasing show, which will, in
day or two, be greatly enhanced iI attract
iveness by the addition of processes in silk
reeling, for which the operatives have not
yet arrived.
AS it now stands, the greater part of the
exhibition consists of q series of two dozen
or more trays partly covered with mulberry
leaves, and dotted over with silk worms In
various stages of growth, from the black
mite thirty-second Of an inch In length up
to the full grown semi translucent worm
two inches long, ready to quit feeding and
go to making silk. At the end of this long
series of trays are some branches, upon
which the worms are busilY masking them
selves in with cloud of floss silk and
winding cocoons about them. An illustra-
tion of silk culture In its various stages is
shown by the exhibit made by Mr.. and Mrs.
Gigerfch, of Amityville, L. l. Beyond the
trays Of worms are great jars Of cOcoons,
some beautiful ones grown by Mrs. Rebecca
Taylor, the mother OF Bsyard Taylor; 9TH
ers by Mrs. H. NJ. Button, of Camden, N.
j., and other silk culturists In several States,
and some fine specimens of raw silk and
silk products. Then there is jacquard
loom, worked by the weaver who made the
famous dress for Mrs. Garfield out of silk
grown In eleven American States.
Mr.. Hermann Rocke is the chief mover
and backer of the exhibition, and Mr.. Viriou
des Lauriers, thoroughly informed silk
culturist is the explainer. 1t is the inten-
ton of Mr.. Rookie, who is an enthusiast on
the subject, to keep the exhibition open as
long as silk worm eggs can be got for hatch
ing and fresh young mulberry leaves for
feeding the worms. Mr.. Virion des Lauriers
says that in France one ounce of silk worm
eggs produce 120 pounds of cocoons,
which yield six, seven or eight pounds of
raw silk, and American growers can do
better. The great trouble here as yet is in
the matter of reeling, but 1t is expected
that machine lately introduced in Lyons
by an American inventor will meet that
difficulty. II It does not, there viii still be
a profitable business in raising cocoons,
which are worth from 25 cents to 40 cents
pound green, or 81 to 81 25 pound dry,
and sending them 20 MarSetlles and Lyons,
where the American cocoons are known to
be better than French ones. In time Ameri-
cans will find mechanical appliances to do
their own reeling, which will be important,
since in 1881 the United States imported
$l1 936, 900 worth Of raw silk, all of which
might have been raised at home.
In the evening the exhibition hall was
well filed when the opening exercises took
place. A large number of prominent resi-
dents were present. Mr.. W. B. Smith,
President of the Exchange, delivered the
opening address. He said that there were
25 600 persons in the United States engaged
in silk culture last year, and that there will
be fifty thousand next year. In this
exhibition are silk products from
Mississippi, Louisiana, TexAs, Ala
bama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Nebraska,
Utah, California, Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey, New York, and the District of Colum-
bia. There are in operation three hundred
and twenty-five American silk msnufactur-
ing establishments. Land planted in null
berry trees would yield, by small outlay of
labor and capital, $40 to $500 per acre, all
of which could easily be earned by the wo-
men and children of the farmers family.
Letters expressive Of regret or unaVoid-
able absence were read from President Ar
thur and Mayor Grace.
The exhibition is open every week day
from 9 a. m. to 10 p. m.