Evening star., 1886-08-14
SILK CULTURE IN WARRINGTON.
A Man Who Thinks This Locality Well
Adapted to Such an Industry.

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Being one of a few forty years ago near Rich
mond, Na.,-during the great morus multi
caulis mania or excitement-whO took lively
but practical interest in testing in a limited
manner the feasibility OF producing silk; having
erected an experimental cOcOOnery with COM
plete appliances OF my own invention, my ex-
periments induced the belief that silk culture
in the United States, when divested of numer-
Gus prevailing absurd impracticabe theories,
could be made practically benehciai and QUITE
profitable. -.,r o,,,,,, nj 90, -. = Z,
And now that the subject is being revived Ia
many sections OF the United States, and learn
Ing that initiatory tests are to be made under
Agriculture, respectfully offer few sugges-
tlOns, averring that, II the experiments are
properly commenced and carefully carried on,
great success will be the result; tor in my
opinion, which is based upon my personal but
limited experiments in this District also
during the past thirty years, there is no more
vantages OF light, friable, loany soil and drain
age than Is to be found within the District Of
CATION and rapid growth OF the several varieties
OF multicaulis, Italian, white, red and black
mulberry trees; the Usage orange, oak and wild
cherry trees also, upon which respectively
feed the Japan, Chinese, Italian and other
species OF silk worm, as also our own native
wild, silk producing insect, the mammoth ana
beautiful cecrOpia and pOlyphemus.
A notice in THE EVENING STAR mentions
that suitable machinery is to be erected and
is not definitely stated ii for purposes merely
OF Filature or as a COcoonery, or Nursery for
the feeding of the silk worm.
In the matter OF experiment., based upon nv
own personal observation and inspection last
year, OF the commodious frame building con-
tanning the Industrial Exhibits" believe md
advise that said building could be most readily
and admirably adapted TO and beneficially uti.
iized in part lor the purposes of q model exper-
least encroaching on, or interfering with the
present cases or exhibits. The interior of the
building could with = comparatively small
money outlay, be fitted up with commodious
side and end balconies, or galleries on "a level
with the sills OF the many windows, where suit
able frames, having tiers of hurdles trays and
receivers, all of which could be conveniently
arranged with proper light aud ventilation, SO
as to readily and properly feed and accommo-
annually, alter sufficient growth ana needed
supply OF foliage for food could be first secured
Aud lor this purpose % OF foliage growth and
and prOfitably, could be utilized the thousa IDS
of surplus, useless vacant spaces OF ground in
all OF the government parks, reservations, and
streets OF the city proper, also in the ex ten
sive grounds OF the Agricultural department,
the Soldiers. Home, arlington, Arsenal, Navy
other localities tnot including the Hats, the
soil there being too wet, causing succu-
propagated readily. the several varieties of
trees named. Furthermore, in this connection
what vast amount Ot now useless, ,unem ployeu
manual force could he brought into practical
use and profit, in the employment OF the hun
dreds OF now idle, young and old dependent
persons, taken care OF by the government and
what most Instructive, entertaining, and
healthiul employment could be thus afforded
the many OF the poor unfortunates Of the In
sane Asylum and soldiers Home by gathering
foliage, Ieeding and rearing the little insect,
and IN reeling OF the silk 1bre. Then again
after q few years. with aid OF an extensive
model government plant, for silk culture,
venture 10 assert that an annual clear revenue
oil hundreds OF thousands OF money could be
most readily produced even within the limits
oi the District OF Columbia; thus enabling our
own national government to foster, encourage.
and extensively advance the cultivation and
production of silk, throughout u vast portion OF
Nortn America, from all OF which wonderful
benelits would develope, and an Immense home
revenue accrue annually. q.