Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1884-01-17
THE WEEKLY BANNER,
Silk Culture.

For the information of the not
inconsiderable number Of persons
in Missouri and other Western
and Southern States, who have
begun to take an interest in silk
culture with its adiuncts, worm
feeding and cocoon production.
we announce that a fair of the
Women's Silk Culture association
will be held at Philadelphia some
time in May next. The object
will be to interest women IN the
employment, and to this end there
will be an exhibition of products,
showing what women can do in
the business with proper instruc-
tons. The exhibition will en-
brace siIk-worms, feeding, the CO.
coons, the method of hand-reeling,
steam hlature Keeling, dyeing, de-
signing, twisting, winding and
weaving in all its branches; and it
is confidently expected that the
encouraging displays of what in
telligent women have accomplish
ed will induce many others to en-
bark in the experiment. One
favorable feature OF the business is
that it does not call for an invest
ment Of capital; it may be under
taken on a small scale, and the
pupi! may learn the processes as
She goes along; and with reason
able care and attention, she may
hope to succeed Silk can be pro-
duced in any part Of the country
where mulberry trees can be rails
ed ; NJ, with a ricntifulsupply of
these trees to furnish food for the
voracious worms, the chief prere
quisite is secured. When the trees
are not growing indigenously in
sufficient numbers they must be
planted. Two acres will
support 200 trees, yielding 10000
pounds of leaves. About sixteen
pounds of leaves are required to
make one pound Of fresh cocoons
The cocoons when dried, and of
good quality. are worth 81 apound
and this will make the product of
two acres of trees about 500
The estimated expenses are for
grown person first ten days, $40;
two boys or girls first ten days,
So; two grown persons second ten
days, S.; three grown persons
third ten days, SGD; sixteen boys
or girls third ten days, S48; total
STAG. Other expenses will proba-
bly, raise the figures to 500. 1t
will be seen that the business when
carefully and intelligently pursued
may be reasonably profitable, as
well as interesting and pleasant.
1t is attracting some attention in
the country, and last year, $4,000
worth Of silk was raised, chiefly
BY women and children. The
white mulberry is the best variety.
1t will grow wherever the apple
tree or Indian corn thrives. Mar
ketable silk can be made from
Usage orange leaves. The Phila-
delphia association recommend to
beginners the raising of cocoons
instead of eggs and will receive
all good cocoons, either whole or
pierced, at the market price, or
will sell them on 5 per cent. COM
mission. 1t will sell reels at $40
to SIS. 1t takes about four pounds
? { coeoons to give one pound of
reeled silk, and the silk IS worth
S. to So per pound. Persons are
warned against embarking in the
business on large scale in the
expectation of making fortunes at
it. It is better to begin in a small
way and develop the enterprise
under the teachings ofexperience;
and the association recommend
that, at first, it he followed by
farmers families as an auxiliary
employment.