The Opelousas courier., 1883-06-02
Sericultnre or the Production OF
RaW Silk.
Editer Planters Journal:

have end6aV0reQ from lille 10 ttiuo,
in the PLANTERS JOURNAL to place be-
fore II people some information III re-
gard to the art of raising silk worms
and to the great natural advantages we
of the South enjoy for the production OF
raw silk (%coc6ons).
For the production Of silk cocoons,
beginners in sericulture need to have
the following requisites:
Ist. The food for the silk worms,
which embraces all kinds of bearing
mulberry trees and that boon to the
South" Usage Orange.
End. The silk worm eggs that hatch
in their proper season to a silk worm
and in 81 to 80 days spin up" each q
silk cocoon (raw silky.
Sd. Room. Any and all kinds Of rooms
will do to raise silk in provided they are
dry and airy. Also all gln-houses, cab
ius and sheds OF all kinds, SO they are
dry.
Ii ia not absolutely necessary to have
the food trees near the barn, for the
leaves can he gathered miles awat and
laulrd to the feeding place of the silk
worms (silk %cocoonery).
The leaves can be gathered every day,
OF every other day, if bad weather
should intervene.
In order to obtain great success in
silk growing, the most important reqni-
site is ii supply of the best breeds OF
silk worm eggs only, for upon the quail
ity of silk worm eggs and that only,
rests the entire success of silk growing
in the South.
The feeding Of silk worms is certainly
IA very pleasant, easy and instructive
industry, but when it comes to the pro-
duction of the silk worm eggs, the fol
lowing rules will have to be rigidly OBJ
served. In the h~rstssplace, the worms
which are destined for reproduction
must above all be of a good and pure
race and healthy. Secondly, select as
parents those which have shown a per
feet growth, and produced a standard
weight and superior quality oil silk CO.
coons. Third, the healthiness of the
reproducers is always demonstrated by
the autopsy of the bodies of the silk
butterflies or moths.
Spectators in certain species OF white
mulberry trees are constantly trying tx
make our people believe that to raise
fine silk all they need is this high prlc'
ed mulberry. No doctrine was ever ad
yanced that has done more to retard thu
advancement of Practical Silk Grow
ing in the South than those same falla
cious teachings. In the South we hav'
miles and miles of the Usage orang'
used as hedges, which produces the yer.
finest silk cocoons when fed to the sill
worms. Besides, we have whole forest
of the morss Digra, or black fruit bear
ing mulberry trees, the leaves OF whicl
are good food for the silk worms.
The whole subject of sericulture whel
boiled down is this:
LIST. The silk worm eggs produce til
silk worms.
End. The silk worms after being fs'
from 81 to 80 days spin the silk cocoon
(raw silk.
3rd. The Usage orange and the blac
bearing mulberry Tor wild mulberry j
the boon to the South, as we have sue
, an abundance without cost or trouble
as food for the silk worms.
4th. The most important thing t
, great success is to get only the fines
quality of silk worm eggs produced frol
the best breeds only.
My next letter to the PLANTERS jour
, NAL will be a detailed description of th
, practical value and capacity and worl
!, ing of the wonderful "automatic sil
: ~rseis." Further information to any
, the readers of your JOURNAL on sill
, culture cheerfully furnished by enclo'
ing stamp for reply, by the writer's asl
!, ing briefly just what information the
J desire and they will promptly recei,
! 1t. Yours Very Sincerely,
81 p. WALLACE McKITTRICK,
Practical Silk Cnlturist,
Coaond uk Mannnhia Tan