The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-22
A GROWING INDUSTRY.


A GROWING INDUSTRY.
Silk culture is just now engaging
a great deal of attention throughout
the United States. Texas should
produce large amount of silk, and
it certainly will when its production
is better understood. Already there
are several persons, notably lady
of San Antonio, engaged in rearing
silk worms, and it is hoped that in a
short while the experiment will be
tried all over the state. Especially
in southern Texas would the silk
worm grow in luxuriance. There,
a moist, warm atmosphere pro-
duces vegetation admirably
adapted to the taste of the silk
worm. and especially does the null
berry tree grow there with greater
vigor and freshness of foliage than
in almost any other country. The
woInan's silk culture association of
Philadelphia are very Jealous in
their efforts to arouse general in
terest i'll this industry. A circular
gives some of the results of their Ia
bors. 1t sets forth briefly that the
main incentive to engage in the cul-
ture of silk is the knowledge that
there is home market for fifteen
million dollars worth of floss, which
American manufacturers are Oblig-
ed to import from foreign lands, and
that silk culture furnishes women
and children in the rural districts
with a congenial occupation that
does not require constant atten-
ton, and so will not inter-
fere with household duties.
The success of this association is
remarkable; widespread interest
having been aroused in the cultiva-
ton of cocoons, that must go on
increasing until the aim of
the association is fulfilled. This
fact was most forcibly presen-
ted at the last exhibition of the as
ISOLATION, at which the display of
cocoons was very fiue and interes-
ting. The chief feature of the exhi-
bition was the display of specimen
cocOons by the twenty-six contes-
tants for the Strawcridge Il Clothier
premiums, the first one of which was
carried off by Mrs. Rebecca Taylor
(mOther of the late Bayard Taylor,
who is over eighty-two years
of age. The association an
nounces that through the lib
erality of this same firm it IS
enabled TO again offer to the silk
culturists the sum of $500 in ten
premiums, as follows: First pre-
MUM, 500; second premium, $75;
third premium, sos; fourth pre-
mum, $50; fifth premium, $50;
sixth premium, $45; seventh pre-
MUM, $40; eighth premium, $50,
ninth premium, $25; tenth premium,
$40. For these premiums any resi-
dent of the United States may con-
test. From the ten largest amounts
of cocoons, one pound will be taken,
without selection, and the test of
reeling applied; the quantity and
aud quality will be the conditions
for premium. Application for COM
petition must be endorsed and the
of this years cocoons
raised by the culturist, testi-
fed to by some respon-
sible person. Stock must be sent
not later than December l, 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 a source OF
pleasure and profit. The work oc-
cupies but a small portion of the
year, and a child can attend to the
daily gathering of leaves and feed
Ing the worms. if supply of null
berry leaves cannot be had, an Usage
orange hedge will answer every
purpose. A very interesting event
Of national interest, connected with
this subject of silk culture,
has just occurred in Phil
adelphia. The woman's silk
culture association selected silk
from twenty-six families living in
fourteen states; had it spun on a
Yankee" reel, made into a web of
thousand threads of
silk, and woven as a brocade on a
Jacquard loom, requiring three
thousand six hundred needles TO
form the original and striking de-
sign. This is the first brocade ever
woven in America of American silk ;
and probably the heaviest in texture
Of any ever woven. 1t is known as
the Garfield dress, as it is the inten-
lion of the association to present |
this magnificent fabric to Mrs. James
A. Garfield.