The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-08-03
The Culture of Silk.

Knowing your interest in all things that
pertain TO the development of the resources
of Utah, 1 send you a snort account of our
experience in silk culture the present sea
son. We received one-half ounce of eggs
from the department at Washington, D. c.,
which commenced to hatch on May 25th
Fully 90 per cent of the eggs Matched, anC
the worms grew rapidly with but few
deaths among them. We have gathered
sixteen pounds of cocoons dry which, ac
cording to published accounts, is faiI
yield The time was eight weeks. The
premises occupied were. one room in the
house, aka. A larger room would have
been better. as the worms seemed too close
together. To feed them, about an hour
three times day was occupied.
Silk worms seem as easily raised here as
Crasshoppers. | can see but one lack in
making this a great Reproducing country,
and the introduction of an industry that
would furnish much employment and
means to be earned by small boys, women
and girls-classes of persons numerous in
Utah. That lack is, a market for the CO.
c0ons. If the cocOons could be sold like
dried fruit or other home products, they
could be raised in great quantities The
planting of the trees would need few
years, but once let market be assured,
and it would not be long before fence lines
and other places would be occupied by
them, ana which need not interfere with
other home products.
have seen notices in THE HERALD of
cars loaded with silk worm eggs crossing
the continent on their way from Japan to
France, the great seat of the silk industry,
and have seen a mention that from five to
six million dollars was spent yearly by
France with Japan for eggs. A disease
has troubled the worms in France, neceS-
stating the procuring of new stock every
other wear. have made calculations from
data Of published statements of produc-
tons, and find that the whole amount of
eggs could be produced on a section of
country about ten miles square, or about
equal to the Provo bench. Thus, that
amount of land in that business would be
made TO produce an sum almost equal to
the output of the mines of Utah. When
we consider that Utah is only halfway to
Japan, and even France has assured us
from samples sent, that both our eggs and
silk are equal TO the best, it seems that
wide and fruitful fields open in that direc-
ton. When we also notice that many mil
lions of dollars are sent away each year to
produce raw silk for working on our home
mills (the United States, it would seem
that there is certainly field enough for such
an enterprise. All cODc6Qe UUdb SuG0 an
enterprise would be good and highly bene
fcIal, and certain persons have labored in
it foryears past, yetthe fact is forced home
to US that if the work is ever done, it will
be done by those persons who have to work
for living, and not by persons of leisure,
or those who are willing to experiment for
the good of others. If done by those who
work for living, they will need their pay
as soon as the work is DONE hence the
necessity for a home and immediate mar
ket
Tine government kindly offers to buy all
the cocoons, but they must be sent express
prepaid to Washington, and there be APP
praised, and large amount of red tape re
moved before the pay can be had: hence
the offer is not available to us. am salts
fed that there is enough in the business TO
make it worth while to attend to it if we
can only find out the right way.
Hoping some one will be found to unite
the knot, remain,
J. H. WOoDHoUsE.
LEHI, July 30.