Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-06-27
The New Silk Industry,

The greatest incentive to engage in silk
culture is the knowledge that there is a
home market for $15, 200, 900 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 a 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 purpose of
calling the attention of the women of the
country to the opportunity given them to
establish new industry, both suitable and
profitable; also to give the necessary in
struetions to all dssiring to engage in silk
culture.
Tie success of this pioneer association is
remarkable; there has been aroused wide
spread interest in the cultivation of cocoons,
that must go on increasing until the aim of
the association is fulfilled. s3
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 specimen
cocoons by the twenty-six contestants for
the Strawbridge il Clothier premiums. The
first one of which, by the way, was carried
Off by Mrs. Rebecca Tay lor, (mother of the
late Bayard Taylor, who is over 80 years of
age, and sufferer from paralysis.
The association announces that through
the liberality of Messrs. Strawbridge &
Clothier, the well known dry goods mer
chants of Philadelphia, it is again enabled
to offer to the silk culturists the sum of five
hundred dollars in ten premiums, as follows:
first premium. 800; second premium, $75;
third premium, $65; fourth premium, 500;
fifth premium, $50; sixth premium, $45:
seventh premium, $40; eighth premium,
$50; ninth premium, $25; tenth premium,
$40. For these premiums 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 gu nifty and
quality will be the conditions for premium
Application for competition must be en-
dorsed and the amount for tins years co
coons raised by the culturist, testified to by
some responsible person. Stock must be
seat not later than December /, 1882.
Amy one with sufficient land to grow q
few mulberry trees can add the rearing OF
silk worms to the daily care and find it q
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 q
| supply of mulberry aves cannot be had,
an Usage orange hedge will answer every
purpose. The Usage orange leaf is admira-
BILE food for the silk worms, from which
they spin splendid silk
very Interesting event of national in
terest, co mected with this subject of silk
culture, has just occurred in Philadelphia.
The Women's Silk Culture Association Sc.
lected silk from twenty-.ix families living
i'll fourteen States; bad it spun on a
yankee" reel, made into web Of twenty
eight thousand.threads of ST. and woven
as brocade on jacquard pom, requiring
three thousand six hundred needles to form
the original and stl;king design. This is
the fra brocade ever woven ip A,nArira of
American siSk and probably the heaviest in
texture of any brocade ever woven. 1t Is
known as the Garfield dress, as it is the in
tention of the association to present this
magnificent fabric to Mrs. James A. Gar
field.