Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-04-14
SILK CULTURE.
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF SILK CULT
URE IN CALIFORNIA.
Raising Silk worms-Good Profits for the
Labor of Spare Hours-Employment
for Women and Children.

UNION as embodying very interesting infor,
nation, of especial interest to farmers fami
lies, and to women and children desiring tc
engage in light and profitable industry:
Question-Are you Secretary of the Cali,
fornia Silk Culturists' Association
Answer-Yes, sir. Recording and Business
Secretary.
Q-What is the present state of silk cult
ure in California
Alt is progressing very rapidly. Thirty.
two counties are raising silkworms.
Q-For the most part, how are they being
raised?
A.-By small fazners, grangers, farmers
wives and daughters-hy personal enterprise
instead of the use of CAPT al.
Q-What are the profits of silk culture, Sc
far as demonstrated up to the present time
A.-Mrs. III. G. Downing, of San Rafael,
has experimental for two years past She re-
oeived the first prize 10 the United States (oi
S100) in raising coco1ns. The Philadelphia
Ledger In its report of the exhibition OF
otrsutich & Clothier, says: The first pre-
MUM of 500 was awarded to Mrs. 81. G..
Downing. This lot of cocoons gives the best
result from the smallest number, and the
quality Of the silk ia extra good, containing
l64 oocoons TO the quarter pound and yield
ing q ounces of reeled silk and 70 ounces
of waste" These cocoons were in competi-
ton with the product of nearly all the States
of the Union. For the second years expsri-
ment she received S210 from the Silk Cult
urist Association for cocoons and eggs, and
$40 from the San Joaquin Valley Fair as a
prize. Miss Julia Farnsworth, Of San Jose,
during her school vacation eff six weeks,
raised 90 pounds of cocoons. For these 90
pounds she received 800. She also received a
$50 prize from Philadelphia.
Q.-Whet is first necessary 60 engage in
this industry?
A.-The first thing il to get the mulberry
trees. They grow well in this State, requir-
ing light. loamy soil. They 1ill grow any
where below an elevation of 5000 feet above
the sea, and in some places at higher eleva-
tions. They do not do well where there is
much frost late in the spring. They can be
grown over two-thirds of the area of Cali
fornia.
Q.-How many trees are recommended to
be planted for the profitable employment Of a
family in this industry?
A.-Thst depends upon how largely they
wanted to enter into the business-twenty or
thirty trees perhaps would be sufficient.
Mrs. Downing had ninety trees 100 trees
would be profitable investment.
Q.-How many cocoons could be raised on
100 trees?
Al should think you could raise thou
sand worms to each tree. One hundred
thousand worms could be raised from one
hundred year-old trees. This is moderate
statement of the facts. With care and
scientific culture 80 per cent. more could be
raised, but the statement, TO be ssfelY within
the result of experiment, may be placed at
100. 900 worms to 100 trees.
Q-Whst is the value of cocoons?
A.-From 81 to 81 ID per pound.
Q.-How many cocoons are there to the
pound?
A.-That is difficult to answer. Mrs.
Downing raised 164 to the quarter pound.
I5 depends on whether the cocoons are heavy
or light If the worms are not we'll fed il
will require more of them to make a pound.
It would probably take from 500 to SOC
cocoons to make pound.
Q.ACan people reel their own silk
Ayes, sir; by hand-reels.
Q-What is the product IN money pei
tree?
A.-About 81 to 81 80 per tree.
Q.-How many trees can be grown to the
acre, where the land is adapted to the growth
of the tree
A.-From five to six hundred are planted
to the acre.
@ DO you know of an instance WHERE
81, 900 has bsen obtained from an acre
A There are instances reported TO our
society, but / cannot recall one to my mind
There Is a very singular fact that has come
to our knowledge. In every instance Of
European experience it requires twelve
pounds of cocoons to make one pound OF
reeled silk. La California il requires Blu;
four pounds of coeoons to make one pound OF
reeled silk. The silk worms of California. up
to this time, have been very we'll fed There
IL - L. 81
worms, and as consequence the quality OF
the silk is better and the quantity produced
by each individual worm greater.
Q.-What is your opinion of the profit of
silk culture on large scale?
Al do not think it will pay by means OF
hired labor.
Q.-You mean then that silk culture is
profitable employment for the surplus labor
of the farm, includiug the labor of wives,
daughters and children?
A.-Yes, sir that is my opinion.
Q-Do you know how many persons are
engaged in the industry in this State
fornia. TO nag knowledge.
Q Are VOC in correspondence with all
persons ia the silk culture?
A.-Yes. sir nearly all.
Q.-What are your reports from them?
A.-Those who have raised for the sale Of
eggs to foreign markets have made it profit
sole | will give two instances: Mr.. Gar.
boriua Ia blacksmith by trsde), of Jack
500, Amador county, wife and daughters
have cleared from $500 to $500 each year for
many years past for their eggs Mr.. Prince,
of Altaville, states, that his daughters have
averaged $500 per snnum for several years
from the sale of eggs. There is no demand
for eggs now. The market for eggs Hlctuates.
ha dam nd for 60
two or three years, and then the demand may
cease for several yesrs. Therefore we are
turning our attention to raising cocoons for
sale aud shipment We can ship cocoons to
foreign markets, but it is not so profitable as
the shipment of eggs. We only ship cocOons
when there is no demand for eggs The &C.
coons we sent to Philadelphis appeared so
well that more or less were sent TO the differ
eat manufacturers throughout the East, and
we were told the silk surpassed the best
French and Italisn silk in the test OF fine
qualities. The manufacturers in the East
have contracted with us for three years at %
cepts per pound more than the actual market
price. to encourage silk culture in this State.
The Society applied to the lest Legislature
for an appropriation of 900 the first year
and So 600 the second year. The Legislature
responded in part. giving So 600 the first
year and 81, 800 the Second, for the purpose of
establishing Filature or Keeling School for
teaching the process of Keeling silk.
Q.-From your experience and observation
do you think it practicable for almost every
farmer in the State to engage to o limited ex-
tent in silk culture?
A.-Yes, sir, l do; undoubtedly.
OFF sll would engage in it the product
would be enormous!
A-Yes, sir, it would. California could
produce the entire amount consumed in the
United States.
Q.-Can eggs be easily obtained?
A.-The Japanese Consul scot to the
society one million and a quarter of eggs for
distribution, which we distributed free
throughout the State. Recurring to tue
question as to the pleasure and prof., desire
TO say that it has proven profitable to sill who
have engaged in if. No one has incurred a
loss who has engaged in it. Sometimes we
import eggs which become diseased, and if
great care is not taken in picking out the dis
ca ed eggs, loss will of course be sustained. l
desire to call attention to ore revolution in
silk culture OF recent origin, which is to have
an important bearing upon the industry.
Formerly the pierced cocoops, or such cocoons
as had been perforated by the moth were re-