The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-18
SIX Culture.

There IS at present much interest mani
Tested in silk culture, and tits receiving the
attention Of scientists, manufacturers, and
many Others who are DESTROYS of fost sring
this important branch Of industry. Silk can
be as easily produced here as abroad. In or
der to comprise in limited space infOrms-
ZION requiring an extended article we have
condensed the following from the American
silk and Fruit Culturist philadelphia,
which is earnestly devoted to the encourage
ment OF silk production:
"Silk culture can be conducted wherever
mulberry trees or Usage orange grow. Begin
ners should not procure more than 200 eggs
the first year, and If trees are convenient for
feeding the cost will be: for , 600 eggs, 80
cents; one tray and two frames, 81 %; nets or
perforated paper, 81; lumber, 81; total. 1915.
Until the time to hatch the eggs they should
be placed in a tin box, in which have been
pierced small holes, and the box put away in
a cool dry cellar. As soon es the leaves
on the Usage orange or mulberry are
of the size of silver quarter bring the
eggs to a warm room of the temperature of
75'. Select a To0m easily warmed By the sun,
with Southern exposure. Keep all the
windows open day and night until the end of
the breeding. Fresh leaves should be gath
cred two or three times day and given the
wolms az frtqrenty as their food seems wilt
ed, as the frmness the cocoons depends on
The ff6qUensy Of fet dug, and ali waste mat
ter must bs .esned away daily. in damp or
cool weather a stove should be used for neat
ing the loom, as the worms become torpid
When the temperature is too low and cease
eating.
Having made the arrangements for secur-
ing food putting trays in position, etc, the
eggs being placed in a temperature Of 15o,
viii begin 10 hatch in from four ID six days,
ususlly beginning TO come out about or .
O'Clock in the morning. The leaves mas
fLe-. he IN, Il r,ta
near the little insects. which should be IN
shallow pGsteboard boxes. Mosquito netting
Should then be placed lightly over the boxes.
ana FIRE SD leaves placed on them The little
worms will az oIc5 crawl through, ana c IN
thas be easily removed from the trash and
dried leaves. in the fourth week from the
hr ha ching, twigs should be placed for the
worms to spin on, when they will at 0ncs
crawl NJ, attach their threads and beam to
spin. In eight days from the spinning the
g cOOns must be gathered from the branches.
| The worms are stihed In the coc0Ons by steam
or exposure to the hot rays of the sun, but 8
.Stifier has been invented for the purpose,
which is more convenient.
AN ounce OF eggs VII hatch about 10 600
| worms, the price of the eggs being s.. II is
estimated that this number of worms will
/ spin 1OC pounds of cOcooJ s. which are readily
salable at 81 per pound; but the weight OF
cocoons varies according to the attention
! gwen the WOIillS, lOf III the udDuS Oh e1pS-
] rienced parties nearly loo pounds have been
1 obtained. The Usage orange and mulberry
can be grown from seed, and the latter, II
] preferred, may be propagated by cutting OF
/ laying. Both plants grow rapidly, and be
come servlceable IN two years, though q
| longer growth is better.
The supposition that silk culture is easy
and very profitable must not be INDUCED H.
/ for the duties are such as TO call for close al
tentioD and constant work, and entails many
vexations, but the profit Is very great a:
compared with the actual time from the be-
ginning Of Matching to the gathering OF the
c. c00ns, which is but short period. It al
fords employment to ladies and children
and enables the work to be done at home. fol
which reason (the utilization of waste labor
it is profitable, but no larger amount neet
be expected than from that which may b