, 1884-07-30
SILK WORMS AT WORK.
Hundreds of Thousands of Them Spin.
ing silk Under One Roof
~ hat Miss Nellie Ro-siter Has Ae.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TO OBJ
tain New Shades In
-InIerestfng Details.

Miss Nellie Lincoln Roster, the young
silk culturist, OF worldwide fame, Is now
conducting operations on Il more extensive
scale than ever. The first Of this seasons
crop OF silk worms is at its height. A visit to
Miss ROSsitsr's residence, 6U54 Vine street,
West Philadelphia, will reveal to the in
quirer the complete process of silk culture,
from cocoon back to cocoon again. The two
parlofs ON the first floor of the house are DC
cupied by Miss Rosters unique and valuable
collection. The silk stock farm is spread
throughout the second and third stories OF
the house, which is 50 crowded with frames,
trays and mulberry branches that the human
occupants OF the buildings are pressed for
living room. Every one OF the family-from
the grandfather, aged 81, to the little brother,
aged lis actively employed in the work, all
being devoted assistants to Miss Nellie, the
business woman.
SILK II AT o X
The worms beneath this one roof number
hundreds Of thousands, and all are in Il per-
fe"tly hea thy condition. They are about the
size OF an ordinary caterpillar, but are smooth
md IN color vary from gray to c~ream-white.
The feet Lne white, yellow, orange, pink,
sGSo-green or pale brown, and from this tint
can be told the color of the cocoon that each
worm will make. The worms creep thicldy
over the mulberry branches, eating greedily
,r preparing to spin. Cocoons of every
shade, just begun or just completed, are scat
tered thick everywhere-among the leaves,
in bundles of straw prepared for them or in
Lunches of cut paper. The frames are kept
neat by Outspread sheets OF white musquito
netting and tho floors are sprinkled with
water, 50 that everything about the worms
Il clean.
Besides the worms and scattered cocoons,
there are moths to be seen. The silk worm
moth = SN.annfI. and ~ a tNnfFAEpt aaanI y
int The male moth is smaller than the fe-
male and may be known by his making a
slight buzzing noise, while the female Is al
ways silent. The eggs of the silk worm are
about the size of a pins head and vary In
color from yellow to brown. In a third-story
back room, spread out upon newspapers, are
perhaps several bushels of this years ~ocoons,
all large aud beautifully colored, principally
Anow-white, cream-white, sage-green, lemon.
yellow and golden-yelow. Seven natural
shades nave been observed in cocoons, in
Guiding a pale pink and a fawn-brown.
NEW EXPERIMENTS.
Miss Roster has made several Interesting
experiments this season, which, II successful,
will give her fame as an innovator as well as
a pioneer in silk culture. One of these is the
rearing of a new variety of silk worms,
known as "black Thibets,' recently imported
from India, and which may be distinguished
from ordinary silk worms by dark gray
strings upon the body. Another Is the cross
ing OF different color-producing worms, with
the view Of obtaining new shades in cocoons.
A deeper yellow and green have already
been produced.
Miss Roster also believes that the day is
not far distant when families can manufac-
turf their own silk from the cocoon to the
completed fabric. Accordingly she Is eXper-
menting In dying the reeled thread, in spin
ming it, and in weaving dress patterns. Al
ready she has added to her stock Of imple-
ments q larger reel for unwinding the silk
from the cocoons, a spining-wheel aud q
hand-looin, said to be capable of giving 15o
distinct effects to a woven surfaces. Miss
Nellie has secured the cooperation of Mr..
John Haig, an English silk-weaver, residing
In Haddington, who has made her the 4oom,
OF his own invention, and ia teaching her
how TO manage it.
WHAT MISS RossITER HAS ONE
To Miss Nellie Lincoln Roster more than
to any other person living. the United States
owe the revived interest III silk culture.
This girl OF II has by her own enterprise and
intelligence made Philadelphia tho head
quarters of tho industry; yet, almosta as might
be expected, her name Is known anywhere
and everywhere except in Philadelphia. Her
stock Of silk worms is considered the finest in
inc country ana sue cohIfpIs the egg market.
Her pamphlet on silk culture, which has
reached five editions and which is issued at
the rate Of 5000 copies a year, is regarded as
the one authority on the subject.
Miss Roster is also gaining literary repu-
tation, as she has contributed a great number
Of articles, showing careful historic and
scientific research upon a variety OF subjects
connected with silk culture, 70 many period
Gals. She is editor OF several silk depart.
ments in western agricultural papers, In
short, the name of her achievements is
legion. She has lately been instrumental in
introducing silk culture into a missionary
village in Turkey, and also into the schools
Of Indian territory, where, it is said, silk
culture will prove N efficient means of civil.
izing the red man.