The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-06-27


The greatest incentive TO engage in
silk culture is the knowledge that there is
home market for SIS, 100000 worth of
floss, which American manufacturers are
obliged to import from foreign lands The
other consideration, is, th&t silk culture
furnishes women and children in the rural
districts, with congenial occupation that
does not require constant attention. and
so will not interfere with household
duties
I In view of these facts the Women's
Silk Culture Association OF PHILADELPHIA
was organized two years ago, for the pur-
pose of calling the attention of the women
of the country to the Opportunity given
them to establish a new Industry, both
suitable and profitable; and also to give
the necessary instructions 10 all desiring
to engage in silk culture.
The 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 Ii fulfilled.
This fact was most forcibly presented
at the last exhibition of the association.
at which the display of cOc6ons Was very
fine and interesting. The chief feature
of the exhibition was the display Of speci-
men cocoons by the twenfy-six contes-
tants for the St-~-b-idgs - CIsahser
premiums. The first one of, which, BY the
way, was carried off by Mrs Rebecca
Taylor, (mother of the late Bayard Tay-
lor,) who is over So years Of age, and
sufferer from paralysis
The association announces that through
the liberality Of Messrs. Sfrawbridge 4
Clothier, the well known dfF goods ms-r-
chants of Philadelphia, it is again enabled
to offer TO the silk cuIturists the sum Of
FIVE hundred dollars In ten premiums. -
follows: First premium, 400; second
premium, SIS third premium, t65: fourth
premium, SEQ; fifth premium, $50; sixth
premium, $45 seventh premium, go !;
eighth premium. $50; ninth premium, 25 I;
tenth premium, $40. For these premiums
any resident of the United States NAV
contest From the ten largest amounts Of
cocOons, one pound will be taken, without
selection, and the test of regling applied
the quantity and quality will be the con-
ditions for premium Application for
competition must be endorsed, and the
amount of this years cOco8ns raised BY
the culturist, testified TO bT some respon-
sIble person Stock must be sent not later
than December 1, lSS2.
Anyone with sufficient land TO grow
few mulberry trees can add the rearing Of
silk worms TO the daily care and End Il .
source of pleasure and profit The work
occupies but small portion Of the year,
and child can attend TO the daily gath
ering Of leaves and feeding the worms.
If q supply Of mulberry leaves cannot be
had, an Usage orange hedge viii answer
every purpose The Usage orange leaf i
admirable food for the sIIk worms. from
which they spin splendid silk.
A very interesting event Of national
interest, connected with this subject Of
silk culture, has just occurred in PhiIadeI-
phia The Women's SIX Culture Associa-
tion selected silk from twenty-six families
living IN fourteen states; had IL span on .
Yankee" reel, made into a web Of
twenty-eight thousand threads Of silk,
and woven as q brocade on jacquard
loom, requiring three thousand SIX hun
dred needles 10 form the. original and
striking design This 10 the FIRST brocade
ever woven IN America Of American silk;
and probably the heaviest IN texture Of
any brOcade ever woven. Il il known As
the Garfield dress, - II IL the intenti0a Of
the association 20 present this maeni-
fcent fabric to Mrs- James A Garfield