Wichita eagle., 1889-05-16
SILK CULTURE.
The Late State Convention at Wichita
The Usage Orange as Food for the
Silk Worms-Silk and the Tar
iff-A Large Crop Antici-
pated This Year.

Mary N. Davidson. silk culturist Of
Junction City, writes an interesting let
ter to the Kansas City Gazette on the
subjects embraced in the above heading,
from which we make the following ex-
tracts
This state is waking up to the import
ance Of not only raising silk from the
vast quantity of food which we have
surrounding our farms and rural homes,
but of the Importance of having it man
ufactured also within our borders.
The state convention of silk growers
held in Wichita on the 10th of April will
be productive of much good. The Hon.
Phillip Walker, the government special
silk agent, was present and delivered an
interesting address. He says "the pro-
duction of silk will be double is not three
times that of last year. Kansas produced
twenty per cent of the entire product Of
the United States. The Usage orange
belt of the country produces the largest
amount of silk; what was at first dis
carded and discredited by the knowing
ones, IS now coming into general use
The battle is fought and the victory
Won" The manual of instructions we
published seven years ago, Designed
especially to simplify the production of
fix by the use af the Usage orange as q
sood plant in localities where it natur-
ally abounds." has at last won the day.
and the knowing ones" now know, and
we know, we builded better than we
knew
The only difficulty we have to contend
with Is the free importation of silk to the
amount Of $4,000, 900 annually. We
can produce our own silk and must pro-
tect it SO as TO make it profitable. Mr.
Walker says IAN effort will be made
during the coming session of congress
to secure honest and just tariff pro-
lection for raw silk, which will make
this industry stand alone, and to be-
come profitable TO the citizens of this
state. 1t is understood that all the
Kansas representatives in congress are
heartily in favor of such an innovation
and ready to work for it the next ses-
sion"
There Is now great encouragement
held out to silk raisers. The failures
already established will purchase every
pound of cocoons raised. The reeling
of silk does not concern the farmers, as
it can only be profitably done in the |
large mills. There is no doubt in the |
minds of those well informed on the |
subject that the establishment of such |
mills will speedily follow the congress
sional legislation which has been re-
ferred to.
Let us therefore endeavor to produce /
larger crop this season, so that congress |
will be impressed with its importance |
when the bill on the revision of the tar
if is brought before them. On this |
largely depends their action, and if we |
fail this year, we shall receive a backset |
for another year. Let us boom silk as
vigorously as they have sugar and other
industries, and soon it will be & perma-
nent crop, as much so as any of the
cereals. The work is light and the re-
turns sure. The expense is so trifing
the first year that it is within the means
of all. There are no costly buildings to
erect or plants TO purchase. \ few thou
sand silkworm eggs the first year for ex-
perimental-that is, educational-work
can be kept in any room in the house
After the nature and habits of the worms
are learned, work can be commenced on
as large a scale as the food and accom-
modadons Will permit. 1t is now aScer-
tanned that by new process of hiber-
mating the eggs several crops can be
raised during the summer. 1t has been |
thought that only one crop could be pro-
duced, because the eggs being ANIMALS
would not produce second crop. Keep
ing them by this new process, they can
be Matched as early as the middle of
April, and as late as the food will admit.
The hedges being trimmed are constant
" putting forth new leaves for the new
crop. The young worms such the nois-
lure from the leaves, and do not begin to
cut them till the third age For that
reason they require fresh young leaves.
Now, Mr.. Editor. please do not be
by this long article, but let
Us try to boom silk culture. and if any Of
your readers get hold of this in an old
Gazette, let them find something about
silk culture in it, and if they wish to
know more, they can enclose q stamp for
10
PERTAINING TO THE FARM