St. Landry democrat., 1883-07-14
HOW TO BEGIN SILK CULTURE:
Easy Lessou for Boys and Girls.
BY t. G. CAPsADELL, SECRETARY n. =.
SILK EXCHANGE.
FooD AND EGGS.

First, plant 1000 IoT tne WoiiuS- h9
hest food is mulherry-the kind that
bears fruit. The white fruit bearing
makes the finest silk, but the black
arnit ,ao hearing makes a strong silk. Usage
orange also makes silk, but the cocoons
fed nn il are smaller than those fed on
mulberry. Many have this food, for the
Usage orange as hedge, or the mul-
berry as shade tree, is found in nearly
avarv state Of the Union. Those who
have neither. and who want to go into
!, silk culture, must plant mulberry trees
or cuttings as soon as the frost is out OF
the ground. The trees cost all the way
from So to $50 per hundred, and the
cuttings, ST 25 to So 80 per hundred.
plant trees twelve feet apart, so as
not to interfere with the raising OF veg
efables; or if you have not the means
to get trees, plant rows OF cuttings
across the garden, or about the renee.
The cuttings can be planted two to
three feet apart, and every other one
stripped to feed the worms the first
season. So. son If these die, the others will
soon spread out to fill their places
# the cuttings are well cared for,
they will grow from three to SIX rect
the first session..
IF Won can neither plant trees or cut
tinos. then sow mulberry seed. One
onnee will cost you 25 to so cents, and
it is said will produce 5000 trees.
The ground should be rich and well
nnlyarized, and the seed sown in drills
and covered lightly. They must at first,
if the weather is dry, be Watered every
other day, and can be transplanted
when the size of lead pencils. Except
IN = AJ. the far far South, one cannot feed from
fhese seedlings the first year, but the
NEXT wear they will be trees two to three
Feet high, and will be worth enough to
nav YOU for your trouble.
In China and India they sow mulber-
rv seed, and when it is foot high they
NOW it down and feed it to the worms.
II soon sprouts up again, and the plant
is as thrifty as before being cut:
After you have planted your silk food,
or made arrangements to do so, then
get your silk worm eggs, for they can
not be shipped with safety after March
31st.
of silkworms. Varieties are known by
the color OF the cocoons they produce,
as green's. or whites, or yellOws, and
Fl also in the countries in which they
flourish.
The four most noted races are the
Italian breed, producing medium sized
yellow cocoons the French, producing
Somewhat larger cOcOons; the Turkish
Droducing large white cocoons; and
5tI,e japanese, producing medium sized
white and greenish cOcoons.
The white silk is the most valuable
Int il is much more difficult to keeI
clean. If soiled, its value depreclates
but any Of the above races. will give
good returns. Ao
Do not get more than 2,000 eggs Of
any kind, and 1000 will be, in many
cases, all you probably have food FOL
the first year.
AS soon as you receive the eggs, place
/. them in tin box, in which you have
punched small holes, and put them IN
cool dry cellar:
The tin box is necessary to keep ou'
rats and mice, which would eat them
and The small holes will afford the prop.
,er ventilation.
As soon as the leaves of the Usage
orange or the mulberry are the size OF {
silver quarter, then bring your eggs tt
a warm room. II.
q Having trees you will need to begin
About 2,0OO eggs 9. 2,
One tray and two frames. ! q
Perforated paper or nets----.-.-.. Oe
Lumber, nails, etc...--..--...----. u
Total So 81
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