The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-30

. always be taken into the account by young
person when considering the question of en-
gaging in pursuit. There is reason to be-
lieve that young Mr.. s. H. Burbridge has not
missed his vocation. Years ago he developed
an inordinate love of chronological science,
the slk-worm, and acquainted himself very
famlliarly with their natural history, the
mode of their propagation and the results of
their cultivation. He has an active, efficient,
and ike-minded collaboration, Mrs Eliza
Haines, a kinswoman and member of the
Burbridge household. Last winter they or
dered three ounces of eggs, which were
brought by way of New York from France,
and though transported in winter they
were received in perfect state. The
average Rumber of eggs per ounce is 40, o00
and the loss, by failure to hatch and all other
causes, Is estimated at less than 10 per cent,
and at the usual Matching time in May they
were in possession of, approximately, 10000
healthy silk-worms. These worms, which
were Enthusiastically small at Matching, ate
voraciously, thrived we'll and have COM
menced spinning their cocoOns. house of
two rooms sixteen feet by sixteen feet each,
we'll ventilated and with favorable exposure,
is the nursery. These are furnished with
trays, placed on tables and on upright frames
across the rooms. These trays are made of
thin frames, like laths, set edgewise, size
for easy handling, say eighteen by twenty
four inches. Tacks are driven half way, on
the under side of the frames all around, a
half inch apart and strong Irvine, run
from tack to tack, leHgthwise of the frame,
stretched tightly, then crosswise interlapping
so as 10 make firm support for the netting,
upon which are placed the leaves and worms.
After the Irvine is stretched the tackS are
driven in to the heads. Leaves of the Usage
orange, in which the country abounds, are
gathered for them morning and evening.
Experiments elsewhere have proved that
they are good as mulberry leaves. They
contain less fiber, more resin, and are equally
wholesome and nutritious. During the first
age" ending with the beginning of the first
molt, when they are about six days old, the
worms had an eating capacity of fifteen
pounds of leaves per day, which increased in
the second to thirty pounds per day, in the
third to sixty, and in the fourth, the "age"
preceding tue fourth and last molt, to 120
pounds per day, after which they eat less
and begin to spin cocoons. So far, they
have displayed extraordinary facility in
completing these changes and the transforma-
ton into the chrysalis has begun. A COM
petent judge pronounces some OF the cocoons
as good as any seen at the best exhibitions.
Young Burbridge will enter the list of COM
petitors for the premiums offered by the
Woman's Silk Culture Association of the
United States for the best single pound OF
cocoons produced during the season of 1888.
de expects to gather crop of ninety thou
sand cocoons or abont three hundred pounds.
The cost, excluding the labor and the sum
paid for eggs does not exceed S. and it is
easily seen that there is left rich remuner-
alton for about forty-fve or fifty days of Ia
Dor, which includes the Matching and har-
yesting periods. Certainly the projectors of
new industry are entitled to a rich reward,
and no one but churl will grudge it. 1t
will be brilliant victory for these people
who are notable for their devices and ex-
pedients for facilitating and expedIting
work. if they can reel their own cocoons and
by the process double or treble the value OF
the product. 1t is worthy of mention that
this industry is peculiarly adapted to women
on account of the deiicacy of skill, the pa
tience, and perseverance which common con-
sent ascribes to them. An empress engaged
in 1t and was the first to manufacture and
weave the silk, and it became the occupation
of succeeding expresses. Women of any
rank need not fear to embark in it. The
need and supply of feminine industry is the
active agent for her social improvement, and
it has advanced Der to Independence and
equality, and wrought revolution in her
civil rights. I'M. c.
RoB Roy Ind