The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-08-02
SILK WORMS AT WORK.
Hundreds of Thousands of Them Spir
ming SILK Under One Roof.


Hundreds of Thousands of Them Spil
ming Silk Under One Roof.
Miss Nellie Lincoln Rossiter, til
''young silk culturist,'' of world-wid
fame, Is now conducting operations o
more extensive scale than ever. Th
first of this seasons crop OF silk worm
is at its height. A visit to Miss Rossil
er's residence, 1904 Vine street, Yves
Philadelphia, will reveal to the inquirer
the complete process of silk culture
from cocoon back to cocoon again. Th
two parlors on the first floor of tn,
house are occupied by Miss Rossiter'
unique and valuable collection. Thu
stock farm is spread throughout the
second and third stories of the house
which is SO crowded with frames, tray,
and mulberry branches that the human
occupants Of the buildings are pressed
for living room. Every one of the fam
ily-from the grandfather, aged "a, to
the little brother. aged lis actively
employed in the work, all being devo-
ted assistants to Miss Nellie, the bust.
ness woman.
The worms beneath this one root
number hundreds of thousands, and are
all in a perfectly healthy condition.
They are about the size of an ordinary
caterpillar, but are smooth and in color
vary from gray to cream-white. The
feet are white, yellow, orange, pink,
sage-green or pale brown, and from
this tint can be told the color of the
cocoon that each worm will make. The
worms creep thickly over the mulberry
branches, eating greedily or preparing
begun or just completed, are scattered
thick everywhere-among the leaves in
bundles of straw prepared for them or
in punches of cut paper. The frames
are kept neat by outspread sheets of
white mosquito netting and the floors
are sprinkled with water, so that every
thing about the worms is clean.
Besides The worms and scattered CO.
coons, there are moths to he seen. The
silk worm moth is smooth and of uni
form pearly tint. The male moth is
smaller than the female and may be
known by his making slight buzzing
noise, while the female is always silent.
The eggs of The silk worm are about the
size of a pins head and vary in color
from yellow to bro wn. In third st nv
back room, spread out upon newspa
pers, are perhaps seven bushels of this
years cocoons, all large and beautifully
colored, principally snow white, cream
white, sage green, lemon, yellow and
golden yellow. Seven natural shsdes
have been observed in cocoons, includ-
ing pale pink and fawn brown.
Miss Rossiter had made several in |
teres ing experiments this season,
which, if successful, will give her fame
as an innovator as well as a pioneer in
'ilk culture. One of these is the rear
ng of new variety of silk worms,
Known as "black Thibets," recently
imported from India, and which may
20 distinguished from ordinary silk
worms by dark gray strings upon the
'ody. Another is the crossing of differ
At color-produclng worms, with the
Jew of obtaining new shades in
ocoons. A deeper yellow and green
ave already been produced.
Miss Rossiter also believes that the
ay is not far distant when families can
their own silk from the
cocoon to the completed fabric. Ac-
she is experimenting in dye
lg the reeled thread, in spinning it,
nd in weaving dress patterns. AL
9ady she has added to her stock of i'm |
lements larger reel for unwindlng
le silk from the cocoons, spinning s
heel and hand-loom, SAID to be ca |
able of giving 100 distinct effects to a I
oven surface. Miss Nellie has Sc Z
lred the cooperation of Mr.. John c
aig, an English silk-weaver, residing |
Haddington, who has made her the t
ON OF his own invention, and is teach Il
6 her how to manage it. s
To Miss Nellie Lincoln Rossiter more fl
an to any other person living the +
nited States owe the revived interest v
silk culture. This girl of seventeen e
IS, by her own enterprise and intelli- G.
nee, made Philadelphia the head c.
!arters OF the industry; yet, almost as tt
lght be expected, her name is known "
ywhere any everywhere except in V,
Her stock of silk worms
considered the finest in this country
d she controls the egg market. Her
implicit on silk culture, which has
ached five editions, and which is is OF
ed at the rate of 5000 copies year, w
regarded as the one authority on the he
bject. on
Miss Rossiter is also gaining literary an
'utation, as she has contributed a di
'at number of articles, showing care no
historic and scientific research upon elf
ariety of subjects connected with silk RI
ture, to many periodicals. She is wi
tor OF several silk departments in y,
stern agricultural papers. In snort, w.
name of her achievements is legion. 10
!, has lately been Instrumental in in XII
ducing silk culture into missionary 10
age in Turkey, and also into the aw
ools OF the Indian territory, where, err
s said, silk culture will prove an los
'ient means of civilizing the red men. the
,:..,- 49, ger
little four-year-old said to his nm,
her last week: "Mother, believe too
thinks I'm dead - UWhv %, asked