Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-25

Here and There.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, May 24.-The late arti-
Gle of your correspondent Potomac" upon
the subject of silk Culture" with the statis-
tics collected by the special agent of the
Census Bureau in relation thereto, is OF great
interest to the people Of Florida There can
be no doubt that this industry can be rendered
very profitable in this favored climate. The
outlay is small. the labor light, and the re
turns certain and handsome. 1T is peculiarly
adapted to the weaker portion of the popula
tion-the women and children-and offers a
means by which this class can earn a COM
Portable livelihood without severe labor around
their own hearthstones. To the numerous
Southern families who have never recovered
from the loss Of property occasioned by the
war it would seem that such an easy opportu-
nifty of adding to their limited incomes would
be eagerly grasped.
In Florida all the varie les Of the mulberry
attain perfection, and grow with singular
rapdity. twig. cut at random, and inserted
carelessly into the earth, requires no other at
tention than a supply Of water for few days,
and will soon become a vigorous shade tree.
purpose merely. Here also the leaves appear
early in the spring, and are fit for the food of
the young worms in February. This is a
marked and important advantage, es it permits
several successive crops of the worms to be
raised during the same season. AS you can
obtain certain amount of pork by the use of
a fixed quantity Of corn, so you can expect a
known weight of cocoons from so many pounds
of leaves. This calculation has been reduced
to a very fine point.
In addition TO the steady demand for the CO.
coonS and raw silk, 1t will be remunerative 10
raise the eggs for transportation to Europe, as
the eggs produced in that country are not re-
liable. Japan now controls this trade, and the
shipments from that remote region, via San
Francisco, reap hundreds of thousands of dol
lars annually. This nice little item could be
left here by the exercise of a little skill and
industry.
There is full time yet for those who desire to
test the matter to try the experiment, and at
least obtain sufficient supply Of eggs for the
next season, for which they can readily obtain
a market. France purchased in 1877 $40, 600
worth of eggs from this country.
1t is said that one person can tend 40 COO
worms, and that this number will produce one
hundred and twenty-five pounds of cocoons,
worth from 81 80 to So 30 according to quality.
Averaging these at two dollars a pound, the
handsome sum is obtained of $3.50 in six weeks,
as it requires that length of time for the worms
to reach maturity after being hatched. AS
three crops can be made during the season. it
will be thus seen that woman can realize $3.50
during the summer, an amount not attainable
from any other occupation. She cannot earn
this sum as a teacher. or in factory, or by
standing behind the counter of store, W tn
the needle. and it can be made within the pri
vacy Of home an ineStimaDle advantage to the
majority of women.
Several ladies in this State are now giving
this industry a fair trial, and their success,
which can scarcely be regarded as problemati-
cal. will have the effect of inducing many next
year to initiate their example. man in
Florida, who could make fifteen bales of cot
ho n
pretty smart and industrious fellow. His crop
at fifty dollars per bale would bring him just
seven hundred and fifty dollars, out of which
nauSt be deducted various expenses. This would
just equal the silk crop of his wife, produced
almost without cost, and with inconsiderable
trouble. A comparison between the results
would show very large balance In favor Of
the good housewife.
From a valuable article in a recent issue of
the Louisville Courier Journal make the fol-
lowing extracts:
Several ladies, who represent the ''Women's
Silk Culture Association" visited Washington
last week and exhibited the dress or American
brocade which they intend to present to Mrs
Garfield. The association is only two years old,
and is designed for a charity, or rather to fur
nish employment for women and children in
the country. If the wives and children of far
mers would interest themselves in raising silk
worms, they would nnd an occupation which
would diversity their employment, and break
the monotoDy Of raising eggs, chickens and
butter. The association upon application
furnishes mulberry treeSand gives instruction
in regard to the culture of silk. This branch
OF industry in Italy is entirely carried on by
women and children, and appears to be pecu
liarly adapted to them. Now, any industry or
occupation which will keep women and chill
dren from fiocking to the cities for employ
ment will prove a boon; therefore, the Phi la
delphia Assc citation is anxious to establish aux
iliary branches in every State. This country
imports eighty-two million dollars worth of
silk every year. and sixteen millions of raw
silk which is used by the silk manufacturers in
this country. 1t would certainly be patriotic
thing to raise our own cocoons and distribute
he.S16, COOO0 among our own countrymen.
AN element Of permanent belongs also to
such movements, and the establishment of silk
factories all over the country demands that
our people should prepare themselves to pro.
vide the raw material These industries deserve
the encouragement of the State and the nation
The cotton, wool and silk factories bring to
our shores thousands OF skilled workmen, who
IN turn transmit to succeeding generations
their talent and skill. The silk industry, which
l take to be the true significance of the words
silk culture, is the third great industry of the
textile class in this country, amounting to $780,
1000, as compared with $3.50, 900 900 in cotton
and $500, 600 900 in value in wool manufac-
lures. The importation of silk goods is about
S35 600, 900 in value, making with home manu-
factureS, &S5, ,O0O co., the value Of silk goods en-
tering into consumption In this country for
one year. The industry Of silk manufactures
has grown very rapidly, from very moderate
proportions ten or fifteen years ago. to $45,-
100000 at least, according to the census Of 1880
In cotton and wool we produce the raw mate
rial of these vast industries here, but in silk
we stand in the anomalous condition of pro-
ducing, as yet, nothing of consequence In this
country, and great as the demand is, we allow
cur superior advantages to remain unim-
proved
We import 100000 pounds of raw silk for
manufacture here, nearly 100000 pounds of
reeled and 1000, 600 pounds of spun silk
ANY one who may wish to open communica-
ton with the society can do so by addressing
SHl6 WOmau'R Silk CtIltnra Association Of ma
United States southwest corner of Juniper
and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia, Pa"
consider the entire subject Of silk culture
Of such importance to the women and
children of Florida that have given it special
and lengthy notice in this letter. 1 am con-
vinced that a smart, active, energetic woman
In this State can realize fully as much from
this industry as can her husband or brother
from his labor in the field. AS a means Of
adding greatly to the home comforts and inde-
pendence of our Southern women, and of
enabling them to acquire a support beneath
their own roofs, know OF no feminine occu-
patton that will approach this in the compare
tive lghtness of the work and care required,
well as in the certainty or rewards. 1t is to
be hoped that the success of those now engaged
in this culture will be OF such character as to
attract hundreds of imitators in the future.
Another improvement about to be put into
operation indicates the growing commercial
Importance OF our city. A large sectional or
floating dock, is to be constructed this sum-
mer, of sufficient dimensions to raise vessels as
large as the steamers st. Johns and Western
Texas This is not much in advance of our
necessities, as the improvement of the bar to
be soon effected by the letters. now under con-
struction, will bring to this port large in
crease of shipping Then also the completion
of the link of railroad between Chattahoochee
and Pensacola, and thence to New Orle ns
naturally inspires the belief that a consider
able portion Of the products OF the Mississippi
valley will~nnd an outlet to coastwise and
European ports through Jacksonville. So will
the wheat and wines of California via the
Southern Pacific Railroad.
We are soon to have a grain elevator, and
steam cotton press is next in order. The pos
sibilities of Jacksonville are very numerous
aud attractive, and the faith Of her people In
her manifest destiny, strong and we'll founded
Quite a number or pleasant things have been
said Of our city and State by our visiting
brethren Of the Georgia Press Association for
1t a..