The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-26
SILK CULTURE.

| Miss VI. ]. Davidson, of Junction City,
one Of the best informed and conse-
quently one Of the most successful seri-
culturists in the state, writes to the To
peka Capital on that subject, and from
her letter wemake the subjoined extract,
which will be read with interest. espec-
cially by those who have been engaged
in the industry. IS well as such as may
intend taking hold OF it, But here is the
extract from Miss Davidson's letter:
"Sik culture is no longer an expert
ment in the United States 1t has been
several years ago that we could produce
as good silk as the world and it can be
made profitable to the producer as soon
as duty is placed on the raw silk i'm
ported into the country. There is now a
bill before congress for this purpose.
A duty placed on silk of one dollar per
pound would afford us sufficient prOtec-
ton and not materially increase the price
Of silk fabrics to the consumer. If we
could produce all our silk it would add
fifteen million dollars to the i'll
crease Of our farmers. Here is an
occupation for the wives and daughters
of the farmer. especially Of the
western states 50 abundantly supplied
with silk worm food. 1t IS no longer
question that the Usage orange leaves.
the hedge fence of the treeless prairies.
viii produce the best quality Of silk.
Eight wears ago we made the experiment
with a small brood OF worms, with
marked success. Great oaks from little
acOrnS grow From this small expert
ment it has become the accepted feed
wherever its grown. 1t was a hard
fought battle at first but we have gained
the victory. In n recent report from
filiature it is stated that the Usage orange
fed worms make as much silk and as
good quality as the mulberry fed ones:
but objections is made to the thOrns Of
the Usage. We consider the spines or
thOrns benefit rather than a disadvan-
tage-they raise the food and feeding
worms from Il fiat surface and give a
free circulation OF air. II the leaves are
stripped from the branches of the null
berry tree they feed on fiat surface:
the little ones and the larger ones are apt
to become stifled under the leaves; besides
it IS natural for the worms to climb
from branch to branch and they are
very deXterOuS in their movements wind
ing around and avoiding the thorns: the
only time they become dangerous is at
the spinning period when they begin to
seek for a place to make the cocoon, they
sometimes fall and then are pierced by
the spines. In no other way have we
found them dangerous in our long ex-
perience.
with these facts before us, it would
seem useless to plant and wait for the
mulberry trees to 90 where the Usage is
at hand, but if it is not, then plant the
mulberry. We have always advised those
applying for advice TO experiment the
first season with not over two OF three
thousand worms; from these a perfect
knowledge Of the care and habits of the
dainty little creatures viii be learned. II
a larger number, say an ounce of eggs.
which viii produce from thirty to forty
thousand worms, the work is made Un-
satisfactory, and perhaps the whole
brood lost. We have always been will
ing to give our best advice to any one
enclosing stamp for same"