Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-21
SERICULTURE.
Annual Report of the Filature Committee
of the State Board.

of the State Board.
AT the recent meeting of the State Board
Of Silk Culture the Filature Committee
submitted the following report made bv
Mrs. Louise Rienzi
The filature of the State Board of Silk
Culture was opened on June % 1885, with
Miss Herman as teacher of the reeling de-
partment. Many applications were received
from persons wishing to be instructed in
the art of Keeling silk. As many applicants
as it was possible to accommodate were in
structed in Keeling silk. The time was so
divided that number came during the
morning hours, and number in the after
noon, so that several were being instructed
simultaneously.
The rules of the filature were that the
persons instructed in Silk-reeing were to
give eight weeks time in learning Seven
hours were computed as being DAYS
work. A number of those who applied for
instructions have worked the full time
required according to filature rules, and
they have also been tested as to their ca
pacity in reeling when the eight weeks
time expired.
The following is list of those who have
attended constantly and faithfully worked
in order to perfect themselves in the art of
reeling silk; Mrs. Il. NJ. Spencer. Miss
Bertha Spence, Miss Annie Man. Miss Re
becca Kimball, Miss Cecile Cardinet, Miss
Mary Good, Miss Lille Brarnan, Miss Lou
Use Seifule. Mrs J. II. West and Mrs C. J.
Austin have not yet worked the full time
of eight weeks at reeling. but they will
continue until they have finished their
time.
The class have reeled to date % pounds
of silk. Also 10 pounds q ounces of silk
has been reeled for persons who sent their
cocoons to the filature to have them reeled,
and the silk to be returned to them. The
amount of reeled silk on hand in flature
to date is A pounds.
The Board has seen the necessity of
having thorough expert and efficient in
structress in teaching the art of reeling
silk, and has employed Mrs. Josephine
Soldavini as teacher. She has had sixteen
years experience in reeling silk in one of
the largest establishments in Milan, Italy.
The pupils who have received instructions
in silk-reeling under Mrs Soldavini's
tuition are unanimous in proclaiming her
to be most proficient teacher in the art of
Keeling silk. Several samples of silk have
been reeled by Mrs. Sodavini. If it is the
pleasure of the Board these samples might
be forwarded to New York to be compared
and tested with the classical Italian silk,
and also that the silk product of California
may NC represented III lne SILK market OF
America. The amount of cocoons on
hand in the iilature to date is 1876 pounds
8 ounces, 30 pounds pierced cocoons, Is
pounds of floss silk. The cocoons received
at the filature this year show that the
silkworms have not been fed we'll To
have good firm cocoons, the worms must
have plenty of mulberry leaves to nourish
and develop the silk glands, so that the
worm will spin firm and compact cocoon;
also, many cocoons were spoiled in sitting
the chrysalis; the cocoons were so scorched
as to render the cocoons unfit for reeling,
and in consequence total loss of the CO.
coons and the time OF the reelers, as the
scorched thread would break about every
few yards. Great attention should be given
when sitting cocoons, not to put them I'M
der a temperature higher than 2120 Fahren-
heit, and to keep them no longer than ten
minutes under such temperature.
From June Odd to November 18th there
has been 352 visitors to filature rooms.