Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-04
SILK CULTURE.
A Lady Who Has Tried ''the
Leisure Hour" Industry-Her
Experience and ADVICE
Making Pants and Picking Ber-
ries a Far More Profitable
and Agreeable EN-.
plOymeut.

able about silk culture, and WoulC
like TO give you my experiepee, hop
ing to benefit some one thereby.
Tread with uausual interest every arti,
Gle l came across on the subject, and
was captivated by the hattering SO
counts given. / was very ambitious
to make some money, and ready and
willing to undertake anything reason.
able to accomplish that purpose. /
wrote to New York and received
every announcement, also guide to
silk culture. l had many advantages,
suitable rooms for raising worms, and
plenty of food of the best kind, so /
sent for the best of eggs one halt
ounce, and made every arrangement
strictly according to my guide. ply
eggs Matched prosperously. and l
found | had more than | could do to
gather leaves for food, SO had to en-
ploy help; the worms were healthy and
vigorous. | followed my instructions
closely, cleansed trays, and kept the
temperature regular, even getting up
in the night to make fires if the
weather was any ways cool. | spared
neither time nor labor and felt so con-
6dent should succeed. My neigh>
bsrs became deeply interested
in my success, some going so far
as to plant trees preparatory to
going into the business next year, pro-
Vided / was successful. The eggs
Matched splendidly, and | had be-
tween 30, 600 and 10000 worms. They
grew finely, passing through the diff
ferent moults naturally and prosper
ously. AS they get larger the work OF
cleansing the trays becomes very dis.
gushing and there is a disagreesble
odor about them. / could not possibly
attend to them without employing as
sistance, Notwithstanding had three
children large enough to gather food,
which they did while out Of school;
SO l found instead OF being a side en-
terprise Gas was represented in the
articles written on the subject(, il
would require the entire time Of two
grown persons. Still | was not dis
couraged. for | felt so confident |
should make something. | worked on
with all necessary energy and in about
the sixth week the worms began to
sCin, vezy irregularly, aud not one in
every ten ever span oo3con, but ate
IS much as ever. | threw some away
in disgust after waiting about eight
weeks for them TO spin / then sent
sample Of cOeoons to New York and
a very fattering reply; at
.se same time they said ny cocoons
we're small, and l might pos
nbfy be abe to sell them in
SeW Orleans, IS there vas a man
here reeling ak. Not willing to
-ucur any further expense, | brought |
Them to Memphis and offered them at |
sny price to Mr.. MeKittrick. He
lid nOs want them, so have spent
ny tine and money for nothing. aud |
have been compelled to neglect my |
10uEehOId affairs and my children for
this decidedly unpleasant, disagree
sbIe york. and for which | get not one
dollar. ] earnestly advise all ladies
zho have anything in the world 70 do
TO keep clear Of silk worms. They |
had far better make pants s. l2lp a
pair. There is no deceit 10 that. snd
he work is equally as light and far
nore money il It. 1t is real pity to
1eguile poor women 10 such q way
Tell taeu the tEFib; let them know
THAT they are undertaking, and not
il as light entertsInnest,
Engaging OBly th6ir leisure hougs. Far
be it from me TO discourage any in
lustry for ladies' 10 this part OF the
country. | would be, as ! ksFe been,
he frat to take hold and ! don't &C
knowledge any neglect on ny part.
Fell them to pick berries at 30 3
quart OF raise peanuts in flower pots;
lnything. rather than raising silk
worms, and not Icing able to sell
he cocooHs at any price. know Of
ieYegal ladies' who have met With sim.
lar success, ssd little inquiry will
Istisfy all. 5. q. |