Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-17
FARM TALK.
Silk Culture.


tainly thrive in the Ohio River Valley.
Our readers have probably noticed the
recent meeting of the Women's Silk
Culture Association or fair held in Phil
adeiphia, which was very interesting to
those in attendance. Through time,
and a considerable amount Ofpatiencethe
ladies of this association have achieved
results of which they may well feel
proud.
We were recently shown piece ofthe
dress which the ladies Ofthis association
have presented 10 Mrs. Garfield. 1t
has taken three years to bring it from
the egg of the silk worm to the beautiful
speciment of brOcaded silk which We
saw; it was solid silk, not loaded down
with colOring matter and starch.
a Our readers know something of the
silk worm, and its food. The mulberry
tree is natural to this section of the
country, grows wild. Besides this the
silk worm feeds on Usage Orange, as the
following correspondence will show.
silk from Usage Orange Leaves.
For The Public Ledger.
Mr.. EDITOR:-The WOmen's Silk
Culture Association have for some time
past been testing Usage Orange leaves
as food for the silk worms, there being
a great abundance of Usage Orange
trees throughout the United States al
ready, for persons to commence raising
silk worms, the white mulberry tree
not being so plentiful. A number of
persons have raised worms on Usage
Orange during the past summer with
very satisfactory results. In the first
place the average number of cOcoons to
the pound of cocoons is from six to
eight hundred, and about three pounds
of cocoons make one pound of reeled
silk. The quality of silk in appearance
is equal to that of the best Italian reeled
silk. At the exhibition of our Associa-
ton, at st. Georges Hall, Mrs. DR.. Van
Dusen, of Tioga Station, presented to
the Association, eighteen ounces of CO.
coons, raised on Usage Orange leaves,
these cocoons were reeled during the eX-
hibition, and produced 6! ounces of silk.
This silk was placed in the hands OF
Messrs. Itschner Il Rossmasler, the
large and well-known silk manufac-
turers of our city, to give it a
thorough test, to prove its good or bad
quality, and, if equal to silk raised on
white mulberry leaves. We now have
the results: Mr.. Richard ROssmasler
put the silk into organzine and tram,
after that it was dyed beautiful red,
then Mr.. Werner Itschner, the we'll
known ribbon manufacturer, made it
into some twenty yards ofribbon, which
he sends with the following statement:
712 Market street, Philadelphia, April
9Th, 1SS2;-Ladies of the Silk Culture
Association Yves send you twenty yards
of ribbon made from the silk raised on
Usage Orange leaves, handed to us dur
ing your late exhibition. We see no
difference in the dye or weaving from
other silk. Respectfully,
WERNER ITsHNER.
We herewith present you with a
piece of the above ribbon. We can
assure you we are highly pleased with
the above results.
Yours, Respectfully,
Mrs. WIN. b. ELTONHEAD,
Chairman of Committee of Keeling.
With the letter of Mrs. EltOnhead
comes beautiful slip of broad crimson
silk ribbon, which can beseen on applica-
ion at this office.
Women Grow the Silk. The Men the
Wool.
While the men are growing the wool,
the women grow the silk.
An occupation just adapted to their
respective tastes. The women OF the
above named ASSOCIATION have made
silk culture q success.
The Ledger says:
They have sent out $500 young null
berry trees and twenty-five millions of
silkworm eggs, besides a good many in
struction books and other literature
giving information about the industry
they are commercially striving to pro-
mote. They have got also to a full I'M
Outstanding of one precious lesson in the
philosophy of all such undertakings:
that they must have abundant patience,
and not expect to go otherwise than
slowly at first. There is this evideace OF
wisdom also: they owe no debts, and
have a balance in their treasury,
although it is only a little one. This
cheerful exhibit of their financial posi-
ton is to be taken, hewever, rather as a
proof of prudent management than as
an exhibit of their opulence. They are
not rich, and, not to put too fine point
upon it, they need money help, and
deserve all the help they can get.