The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-27
sILK-WoRMs AT WoRR.
What Miss Nellie Rossiter has Ac-
compIished.

: / AAPAASAlCAs
Miss Nellie Lincoln Rossiter, the
'tyoung silk culturist," of worldwide
fame, is now conducting operations on
more extensive scale than ever. The
first Of this seasons crop of silkworms
is at its hight. A visit to Miss Ros-
siter's residence, 6054 Vine street,
West Philadelphia, will reveal to the
inquirer the complete process of silk
Icuiture from cocoon back to cocoon
again. The two parlors on the first
door OF the house are occupied by Miss
Rossiter's unique and valuable collec-
ton. The silk stock farm is spread
Throughout the second and third stories
of the house, which is so crowded with
frames, trays, and mulberry branches
that the human occupants of the build
| ing are pressed for living room. Every
one of the family-from the grand
father, aged 81 to the little brother.
aged us actively employed in the
work, all being devoted assistants to
Miss Nellie, the business woman.
sILKwoRMs AT WORK.
The worms beneath this ono roof
number hundreds of thousands, and
all are in a perfectly healthy condition.
They are about the size of an ordi-
nary caterpillar, but are smooth, and in
color 'Sary 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 null
berry branches, eating greedily or pre-
pairing to spin. Cocoons of every
shade, just begun or just completed,
are scattered thick vcrywhere-among
the leaves in bundles of straw prepar-
ed for them, or in punches of cut pa
per. The frames are kept neat by out ]
spread sheets of white mosquito netting
and the floors are sprinkled with water
so that everything about the worms is
clean.
Besides the worms and scattered CO.
coons, there are moths to be seen. The
silkworm moth is smooth and of a 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 si-
lent. The eggs of the silkworm are
about the size of a pins head and vary
in color from yellow to brown. In q |
third-story back room, spread out upon
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 shades have been observed |
cocoons, including pale-pink and 3
fawn-brown.
NEW EXPERIMENTS.
Miss Rossiter has made several in
experiments this season,
which, if successful, will give her fame
as an inventor as well as 4 pioneer in
silk culture. One of these is the rear
ing of new variety of silkworms,
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 tho crossing of diff
ferent color-producing worms, with the
view of obtaining new shades in CO.
coons. A deeper yellow and green
have already been produced.
Miss Rossiter also believes that the
day is not far distant when families
can manufacture their own silk from
the cocoon to the completed fabric.
Accordingly she is experimenting in
dyeing the reeled thread, in spinning
it, and in weaving dress-patterns. Al
ready she has added to her stock of
impl- --Aents larger reel for unwinding
the silk from the cocoons, a spinning
wheel, and a hand loom, said to be ca
pable of giving LOO distinct effects to a
woven surface Miss Nellie has Sc
cured the cooperation of Mr.. John
Haig, an English silk weaver, residing
loom of his own invention, and is teach
ing her how to manage il.
WHAT MISS RoSSITER HAS DONE.
To Miss Nellie Lincoln Rossiter more
than to any other person living, the
United States owes the revived interest
in silk-culture. This girl of II has by
her own enterprise and intelligence
made Philadelphia the headquarters
of the industry; yet, almost as might
be expected, her name is known any
where and everywhere except in Phila-
delphia. Her stock of silkworms is
considered the finest in this country,
and she controls the egg market. Her
pamphlet on silk-culture, which has
reached five editions, and which is is
sued at the rate of 5000 copies year.
is regarded as the one authority on the
subject.
Miss Rossiter is also gaining literary
as she has contributed a
great number of articles, showing care
Eul historic and scientific research upon
D variety of subjects connected with
to many periodicals. She
IS editor of several silk departments in
Western agricultural papers. In short,
5he name of her achievements is legion.
She has lately been instrumental in in
silk-culture into . mission
ary village in Turkey, and also into
he schools Of the Indian Territory,
where, it is said, silk-culture viii prove
IN efficient means of ciyilizing the red
PhiIadeIpkid Times.