The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-04-17
CON. NORRIS SILK Farm.
Under the Management OF Lucy NJ
Fox, "A Practical Silk Culturist
from Western Springs.
0tliunis


II there Is any one that has a doubt
that silk culture cannot be made a sue
cess II Florida, he should visit the silk
iarn OF Com. Norris, at Spring Garden.
and he will be convinced that no, only
can silk be successfully raised. but that
! IT will be source of considerable rev.
enue TO the people Of Florida who turn
Their attention to it. For two or three
years Mr. Norris has been experimenting
with silk worms, and each trial convin-
ced him moro and more that if a
person of experience could be procured
~ manage the coccoOnery, success would
be certain. To accomplish this he Sc
cured the services Of Mrs. Lucy NJ. Fox.
Of Western Springs, ILL.,, who has made
elk cnlture practical study for some
time, and is also editor Of the Cocoon. a
Journal devoted to silk culture. Mrs.
kOx has been there about two months.
md now has her first Matching Of worms
spinning their cOcoOns, and a second lot
coming ON nicely. The worms are fed
oTtrays made Tor them, and the trays
I ore placed on racks around each side of
ehe room. leaving space to walk between
mem. "A great many people have an
dea that it requires only part Of their
ame to look after and feed the worms.
jout here they are mistaken, for from the
4 ume they are two weeks old till they
I.opIn, they need constant feeding and
watching. Mrs. Fox now has 80. ono
! worms in their different stages Of devel.
sOpmeht aud has not had sick worm
among them, which is due to proper at.
+tention and feeding. Mr.. Norris had
prepared for this lot Of worms by hay.
ftng 10 acres planted in mulberries 10
gather leaves from. The Multicaulis il
considered the best, as it is q rapid grow.
er and produces leaves that often meas.
ere six inches across. The Russian mul.
Derry and Usage orange are good, but
she leaves are so small that il does not
pay to have them where the Multicaulis
can be procured. Mr.. Norris is increa,
Ing the size Of his patch considerably.
end before another year passes he will
nave thlrty-tive acres in mulberries To
'!eed worms on. Besides the large mum.
Der OF worms now ut work he has a auan.
.ity OF eggs stored in our ice factory to
lprevent Matching. and as soon as the
present lot are out Of the way, another
batch of eggs will be Matched, and thus
ne intends to keep on till all the eggs he
now has have been used. Tho French
>Annua!s are the variety used, and are
|eaid to be the finest in the world.
i. The great advantage we can claim for |
FLORIDA over other States is that the mul.
Derry grows luxuriantly here, and as
.aast as one crop Of leaves are picked it
Don puts ont another, thus furnishing
constant food for the worms, and by
'Seeplng the eggs in q refrigerator they
IRE completely under control, and can
'pe Matched whenever it best suits the on.
0sator.
u So assured is Mr.. Norris that silk cul.
.eure can be made Il profitable business
Mat he is not only planting largely him.
Ell, but Is encouraging his neighbors to
20 SO, furnishing them eggs and cuttings
70 get start, and as soon ~ there are
cocoons enough produced he proposes to
put in reeling machine and prepare tho
oilk for market. which will then demand
higher price.
At the New Orleans Exposition last
year Mr.. Norris received the blue rib.
BON on the best exhibit of reeled silk.
which was quite an honor, as he had
shen only begun the industry. He also
teceived the first prize at the Florida
State Exhibit. This is an industry
phat can be followed with profit by wo.
men and children, and by those who are
not able to stand hard labor, and yet
@ust make an income for themselves.
lby putting out lot of mulberry cut
finss now, by next spring they will have
grown enough to produce good crop of
leaves, and Mr.. Norris has authorized US
% state that to all those who wish to try
Mix raising he will send 300 eggs and
Fears subscription to the Cocoon for 80
cents. The eggs will give a good starts
lni the Cocoon will give instruction.
About how to take care of them, and is
saluable to those in the business, as It is
edited by one who spends good share
pf her time among the silk worms
Florida Agrculturist.