The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-09-14
ENCOURAGING TO SILK RAILS
Frs,

ENCOURAGING TO SILK RAILS
Frs.
Mr.. Editor When I became i'm.
terested in the silk question 1 deter
mined to gather all the information i'm
my power. Since writing my last let
ter I have learned some things did
not know before. One is, that silk
cannot be raised here with profit for a
second crop; the temperature is too
high and cannot be brought low
enough without artificial means, which
would be so expensive there would be
no profit left, aside from the thought
that the heat is so great in July and
Augustine time that a second crop
would be i'm existence that no woman
and few children could endure the heat
long enough to gather the leaves for
the worms, which would not be less
than three hundred pounds per day
during the last week of their lives in
caterpillar state. After the worm
goes into the cocoon that is the last of
its eating, as the miller does not eat
after it comes out !; it is said the mil
Ter has no jaws. As the worm is still
and quiet, never leaving the tray
upon which 1t Is placed when Matched,
30 the miller never flies and does not
crawl much, only living long enough
to fulfill its mission, then dying.
Three hundred millers, half male and
half female, will produce an ounce or
forty thousand eggs; worth from five
to eight dollars per ounce. I believe
1t is given as a rule, forty thousand
eggs will produce twenty thousand
good cocoons, which will make thirty
pounds of silk and one million eggs; or
If one does not choose to raise the eggs,
more silk of course. The largest and
most solid cocoons should always be
picked out for seed as egg producers.
/ think in Florida, some parts of
California, and some parts of WASH
ington Territory, where the tempera
ture is from ten to fifteen degrees low
er than 1t il here in Kansas, the Sec
ond crop of worms can be raised as
easily as the first. 1t is very import
ant to persons wishing to go into the
silk business that they procure good,
healthy eggs Of the most hardy race
of worms. The Hardy Annual is the
one would recommend. 1t produces
yellow or straw colOred silk, the silk
that is most sought after in the mar
ket. For the encouragement of per-
Sons who may fear we will not find a
market for our silk, say never fear.
I have been investigating that part of
it too. The demand for American silk |
is becoming greater all the time. I
have before me samples Of American
silk from wholesale business house in
Ohio, ranging in price from
IS cents to 1925 per yard. The IS cent
piece is beautiful, thick and soft, and I
believe durable; while the 1926 piece
is as much better as the price indi-
Gates.
To show you how our Kansas silk |
with that of other states
will give you. word for word, the an
swer 1 got when sent my sample to
Mics Nellie Lincoln Rossiter, Philadel-
phia, asking for the quality: 81 will |
state that your cocoons are very fine
both in size and firmness, in fact they |
are the very best have seen this sea-
son. Your eggs should command the |
very highest market price, which is
eight dollars per ounce" have found
sale for my silk to a Virginia firm, re-
ceiving one dollar and fifteen cents
per pound for the reeling cocoOns, fif-
teen cents more than 1 expected; for
my pierced cocoons seventy-five cents,
twenty-five cents more than expect
ed. So 1 am very much encouraged;
true, 1 met with some discourage
ments, but know where the trouble
was and shall shun it in the future.
If any one who has raised silk and has |
not found market for 1t yet, will cor
respond with me, enclosing stamp) |
will give them the address of this Vir-
ginia firm.
Being so well satisfied with my ex-
pertinent with silk worms this sum-
mer, I do not hesitate to encourage |
others who may be thinking Of going
into the business. would say to per-
sons wishing tor more light on the
subject that 1 have for sale complete !
work of instructions on silk culture,
and also eggs of the Hardy Annual,
which will sell at the lowest market |
price. Will send by mail or otherwise. |
Do not wait till ssring to procure your
eggs % they should be wintered where |
they are to be Matched. Neither
should you wait till freezing weather.
You do not need Mulberry to feed |
your worms on. Usage Orange Il all |
you want. Yours Respectfully,
MRS. NJ. G. RARTH.
lola, Allen County, Kansas.