The Opelousas courier., 1882-06-24
The Newgsilk Industry.

The greatest incentive TO engage IN
silk culture is the knowledge that there
is a home market for SIS, COG, 600 worth
of floss, which American manufacturers
are obliged to import from foreign
lands. The other consideration is, that
silk culture furnishes women and chill
dren in the rural districts, with a con-
genial occupation that does not require
constant attention, and SO will not in
terfsre with household duties.
Iii view of these facts the Wemen's
Silk Culture Association of Philadel-
phia was organized two years ago, for
the purpose of calling the attention of
the women of the country to the oppor
tunity given them to establish a new
industry, both suitable and profitable !;
and also to give the necessary instruc-
items to all desiring to engage in silk
culture.
The success of this pioneer associa-
ton is remarkable !; there has been
aroused a wide spread interest in the
cultivation of coceons, that must go on
Increasing until the aim Of the assecia-
ten is filled.
This fact was most forcibly present
ed at the last exhibition of the associa-
tion, at which the display of cocoons
was very fine and interesting. The
chief feature of the exhibition was the
display of specimen coo by the
twenty-s six contestants for the Straw
bridge g. Clothier premiums. The frat
one of which by the way, was carried
off by Mrs. Rebecca Taylor, (mother OF
the late Bayard Taylor,) who is over
SO years of age, and a sufferer from
paralysis.
The association announces that
through the liberality of Messrs. Straw
bridge g. Ciothier the well known dry
goods merchants of Philadelphia, it ia
again enabled to offer to the silk cultu-
| rists the aum of five hundred dollars in
ten premiums, as follows first pre-
MUM, 800; second premium, SIS; third
premium, sos ; fourth premium, $50
fifth premium, $50 sixth premium
$45 seventh premium, $40; eighth
premium, $50 ninth premium, $25
tenth premium, $40. For these pre-
miums any resident Of the United
States may contest. From the ten lar.
gest amounts of cocoens, n pound
will be taken, without selection. and the
test of the quantity and quality will be
the conditions for premium. Application
for competition must be endorsed and
the amount of this years cocoons raised
by the cultnrist, testified to by some
responsible person. Stock must be
sent not later than December /, 1882
Anyone with sufficient land to grow
a few mulberry trees can add the rear
ing of silk worms to the daily care ant
find it q source of pleasure and profit
The work occupies but a small portion
of the year, aad a child can attend tt
the daily gathering of leaves and feed
ing the worms. If a supply of mul
berry leaves cannot be had, an osag'
orange hedge win answer every pur
pose. The Usage orange leaf 10 admi
rable food for the silk worms, iron
which they spin splendid silk.
A very interesting event of nationa
interest, connected with this subject q
silk culture, has just occurred in Phila
delphia. The Wonien's Silk Cultnr
Association selected silk from twenty
six families living in fourteen states
had it spun on a " Yankee" reel, mad
Iinto a web of twenty-eigth thousan
threads of silk. and woven as a brocad
on a jacquard loom, requiring tire
thousand six hundred needles to forl
the original and striking design. Thi
10 the first brocads eve woven j
Of American silk and proba
bly, the heaviest in texture Of any bro
cade ever woven. 1t Id known as tll
Garfield dress, as it is the intention {
the association to present this magni
ficient fabric to Mrs. James A. Garfield
&@N-
About this time TIVE years henc
with what vigor Keifer, Robson an
CaIkins if they happen to be 10 Coz