The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1888-12-07
SILK CULTUR
AN INDUSTRY BEING
DUCED IN THIS COUNs
Something About the Sill
OF Europe-EHperimentaf sta
tions in the United States
Hints Upon SericuIture.

=, -149Al5 anu slth Ierlng, says
Mrs. {. L. Bamford in the InfetsndeRf,
are being gradually introduced into the
nited states, and both east and west OF
the Rocky Mountains farmers wives and
daughters are here and there experiment
ing in silk culture American women
have long dressed in garments Of silk,
but they have taken little interest in the
queer little worm which can so neatly
manufacture silk from the mulberry
tree.
The women of France and Italy havs
brought many comforts to their homes,
Ind have contributed many millions OF
dollars toward the prosperity OF theiI
respective countries because OF then
perseverance in silk raising. In the
milder portions of our own country the
mulberry readily grows, and in two OF
three years It is suitable food for the
silkworm. The worm is an interesting
study from the time it leaves its tiny
egg until it spins its silken cradle and
lies down TO peaceful sleep. On awak.
ing it finds a way out of its cradle and
dies forth as a yellowish moth
il has been estimated that between
twenty and thirty million dollars are re-
quired each year to supply the Unite6
States manufacturers with raw silk, ana
this silk is almost wholly produced by
foreign countries. But perhaps change
in this respect IS not far distant
In the ''Report of the Deparfmenfv-
Agriculture for 1887" it is stated that
Altogether the interest IN the industry
silk cuturel seems to be much more
active throughout the country than it
was year ago, and We may safely say
that very material progress has been
made during the past year toward the
establishment Of silk culture in the
United States" In the Report" there
IS also an interesting account Of some
Of the silk fields Of Europe which have
been visited the past year, with the CON-
missioners' authority. by Mr.. =. Walker
Among other Establishments he visited
some Of the reproducing stations in
Italy and France The station of Signor
susani at Milan, Italy, employs 5000
hands during the busiest season, go of
them being employed in making micro
scopical examination OF siik-worm eggs
after the method discovered by Pasteur.
The building is described as l20 feet in
height by lO5feet in width. the center
being occupied by the alternating room,
where go, 900 ounces Of eggs Susani can
hibernate yearly. The rooms on either
side are occupied by the miscroscopists
and their helpers. who destroy all eggs
which show any vestige of pebrine or
other disease to which silkworms are
subjected.
The examination seems to be very
thorough, as the eggs pass through the
hands Of three operatives before reaching
the microscopist Twenty small boxes
i'e placed upon tray, each box having
two compartments, one with crushed
moths and the other containing the cor
responding cells OF eggs; then the
mi:r0sc0pist examines the twenty moths
one By one. and placing tin tags on the
boxes Bearing his name, he passes the
eggs and moths along to the first and
second comptroller for further ex-
animation. When the second comp
troller has carefully inspected the eggs,
they are sent TO a person who separates
the pure from the impure; then tine dis
eased eggs are destroyed by fire, while
The healthy ones are preserved for hatch
Ing.
Tie French silkWorm eggs from NJ.
Deydier's station have been largely used
By silk-growers IN the United stat
with satisfactory results. At this stat
Mr Walker reports the V-eda-,ioI
eggs as about 10. 900 ounces per q
The micrOscopists are divided into smi
groups. one operative being employed :.
supervising the accuracy Of the work Of
tie others. N. Deydier informed MIR.
Walker that coccoons raised in the
United States from eggs from his estab-
lishment were larger and also better
than those originally produced in France,
this being no unusual result of trans
planting 10 a new climate
Experimental stations have been estab-
lished in other European countries, the
Austrian Government first opening a
station for this purpose at Goritz. These
stations are ali in charge of scientific
men. The Italian Government has also
established over sixty Observatories in
different portions Of the country, which
cooperate with the central station and
gather statistics, disseminate informa-
non and make micro copical examination
Of eggs. All these stations, attended
with so much expense, could not remain
open If silk-grOwers did not furnish the
eggs and moths. ana did not get pay for
their labor. The worms are seldom
grown in very large numbers; but, as in
the raising Of fowls. many agricultural
families raise as many worms as possible
each season without interfering with
other labor
There are several experimental stations
In the nited States, where eggs may be
purchased, cocoons sold, and general in
formation upon the subie gained.
Washington, D. C., Philadelphia, Pea
body in Kansas, and san Francisco have
each one such station, and tilatures for
reeiing silk are found in each of these
stations. The purchases OF dry cocoons
east Of the Rocky Mountains for the year
90 far as reported have been 6l7i pounds,
Ehile for The ZANE area in 1so6 only
1l5 pounds were purchased. One OF
he best lots Of cocoons received az Wash
ngton were from Missouri The lady
Eho ra.sed them with the hep Of her
mother and her four children, sa.d that
he expense OF her two years raising
vas about $50 excluding labor, for
which the Depar. ment had paid her
k..s9. This result may seem small, but
4 every agricultural family in Missouri
and other states were doing as much
this couatry could soon supply ~ own
Jaw silk.
The first step in sericulture is to select
he kind Of mulberry desired. and plant
Il near the home. It IS easily propa-
gated from the seed or from cuttings
Instruction books giving ali necessary
information in regard to planting prun-
ing and also for the care Of silkwoms,
nav be purchased cheaply; and although
90 fortune is to be gained by silk culture,
get another new source Of income, al
though small. should never be despised
Jy those who have time for greater labor
ihan they are already performing In
three months from the Matching from the
s.g the silkw0rm grower has no more 10
DO until the following year.
near Oakland, in California, there Is
plantation containing COCO mul oerry
trees, from one TO three years old and
a. many cuttings. The station Is DATED
upon fifteen acre. Of land, aud tulld-
ing has been erected for experimental
purposes, called a cocoonery. any
people have experimental with the
,.,ar,re e,d fne cocoons and the K