New-York tribune., 1885-07-12
UOJEN AND SILK-CULTURE.

A letter from MISS ticNcliHu was Ttah "t '"V
Agricultural College Convention the other day,
expressing the hope that some attention would
be paid to silk culture which the writer took "A
deep interest in because she thought 1t promised
TO open n new field of work to American
women. Miss Cleveland's philanthroplc spirit
is certainly commenda Dle, but 1t is by no means
clear that silk-cuture holds out any trust
worthy prospect TO American women. Just
now there is a revival of interest in the indus
try. because of the efforts of the Womans Silk
Culture Society OF America. This ASSOC
citation has for some time been active
in establishing branches in different States.
and experimental cocoonerles or flatnres
are being organized in several places. Those
who are concerned in this business doubtless
believe that lk-culture can be made 10 sue
ceed in the United States but it is undeniable
that all former attempts in the same direction
have failed, and there are some obvious rca-
sons why the present experiments are not
likely To be more successful. Sales.--future has
been tried pretty thoroughly in California. At
Sacramento and San jose cOcooneries were es-
tabished; but though the cxpcrmcni@s III
those places had the advantages ol an un-
equalled climate and Chinese cheap labor, they
failed. and failed signally.
At intervals similar attempts have been made
in other States. bat the end has always been the
same and tor reasons not difficult TO discover
The culture of the silk worm depends IN the
first place upon an abundant supply OF null
berry trees The best kinds such n the Morns
alba japonica or white Japanese mulberry. re-
duire from three to five years growth before
the leaves can be used ~ food for silk-worms
In most places in the United States 1t is neces-
sary to raise the trees from cuttings before the
cocooncry can BE- established, ana that,
as shown, is matter demanding con-
siderable time In the second place
the labor of tending and feeding the worms Is
of the most exacting and cxhaustIng kind
The worms are most yOracious. They must be
kept constantly supplied with fresh leaves, and
their trays must be cleaned with the utmost
care ard very frequently. Now IT Is ncces-
sarily to the women of the rural parts in fact
to farmers wives and daughters, that all silk
cuturists must appeal. and this class of women
are already overburdened with work, and in no
condition TO take up new toll which demands
unrcmittDg attention.
The raising of silk worms involves a minute
and ncessant labor, such as Oricnals appear TO
be alone thoroughly fitted for. In Europe the
class of women who engage IN this work Il in-
tcllectually far inferior 10 american women,
and the drudgcry degradcs them still more. No
American farmers wife, weighed down by her
multifarious indoor and Outdoor duties, can
undertake silk culture with any pros
pect of success. For if she gives the
new work the attention il requires she
H.. h., Hill
if she does not give 1t the necessary care the
experiment is sure to fail. The truth is, that
silk culture is not at all adapted to the capaci-
ties of American women. II is a petty, harass-
ing, exhausing and degrading labor, fit only
for poems or halfanlmal peasants. There IL
not much probability that the industry
can ever be raised into any Importance in this
country, and il would not be good
for the people of the country If it could be
forced into temporary success. Miss Cleye-
land, no doubt, meant well to her country
women in urging sales.--future upon the atten-
ton OF the Agricultural College Convention, but
we do not believe that any profitable avenue
for the employment OF American women can be
opened in connection with that industry.