Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-06-17
Tho Now SILK Industry.

Inc NOW DIX 1uuubsTys
The greatest incentive to engage in silk
culture is the knowledge that there is a
home market for SIS, ,OOO, 600 worth of floss,
which American manufacturers are obliged
to import from foreign lands. The other
consideration is, that silk culture furnishes
women and children in the rural districts
with congenial occupation 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 pur-
pose of calling the attention of the women
Of the country to the opportunity given
them to to establish a new industry, both
suitable and profitable and also to give
the necessary instructions to all desiring
to engage in silk culture.
The success Of this pioneer association
is remarkable there has been aroused a
widespread interest in the cultivation of
cocOons, that must go on increasing until
the aim Of tho association is fulfilled.
This fact was most forcibly presented at
the last exhibition of the association, at
which the display of cocoons was very
fine and interesting. The chief feature of
the exhibition was the display of speci-
men cOcoons by the twenty-six contestants
for the Strawbridge & ClOthier premiums.
Tho first one Of which, by the way, was
carried off by Mrs. Rebecca Taylor,
(mOther of the late Bayard TaylOr), who
is over 81 years of age, anda sufferer from
paralysis.
The association announces that through
the liberality of Messrs. Strawbridge s.
Clothier, the we'll known dry goods mer
chants of Philadelphia, it is again enabled
to offer to the silk culturalists the sum of
five hundred dollars in ten premiums, as
follows : first premium, $lOO; second pre-
MUM, SIS !; third premium, SG5 fourth
premium, $50 fifth premium, $50 sixth
premium, $45 seventh premium. $40 {:
eighth premium, $50 ninth premium,
S25 tenth premium, $40. For these pre-.
miums any resident Of the United States
may contest. From the ten largest
amounts of cocOons, one pound will be
taken, without selection, and the test of
reeling applied the quantity and quality
will he the conditions for premium. Ap.
plicatiOn for competition must be cndors-
ed and the amount OF this years cocoons
raised by tho cultur:st. testified to by
some responsible person. Stock must he
sent not later than December 1, 1882.
Anyone with sufficient land to grow a
few mulberry trees can add the rearing of
silk worms to the daily care and find it
source of pleasure and profit The work
occupies but small portion Of the year,
and child can attend to the daily gather
ing Of leaves and feeding the worms. If
a supply of mulberry leaves cannot b. lad
an Usage orange hedge will answer every
purpose. The Usage orange leaf is ad-
mirable food for the silk worms, from
which they spin splendid silk.
A very interesting event of national in.
terest, connected with this subject of silk
culture, has just occurred in Philadelphia.
The WOmen's Silk Culture association
selected silk from twenty six families liv.
ing in fourteen states ; had it spun on a
yankee" reel, made into a web of
twenty eight thousand threads of silk, and
woven as brocade on a jacquard loom,
requiring threo thousand needles to form
the original and striking design. This is
the first brocade ever woven in America of
American silk !; and probably the heaviest
in texture of any brocade ever woven. 1t
is known as the Garfield dress, and it is
the intention of the association to present
this magnificent fabric to Mrs. James A.
Garfield