The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-21
WESTERN SILK.
FARM LEASED NEAR THE CITY
COLONY TO BE FORMED-REEL
AND MILL IN PROSPECT.
ment of the business-The Asso-
citation Offers Inducements
that Commend 1t to the
Thinking Public.

COuHITS dO large. MILLIONS Oh uOlldTS
worth is imported every year which added
to the home production brings the figures
up to startling amounts.
One-third of the home PREDICTION is
from this state and the bulk of that from
! this immediate vicinity, which is sufficient
encouragement to beginners to enlarge
this industry.
Many have undertaken the raising of
silk worms under the impression that
there was fortune in it without
work, and as natural consequence
have given up in disgust after
years experiment. The majority, how
ever, have devoted sufficient time and
thought to it to make the venture an eX-
perimental success, but have failed to
realize the profit on account of not know
ing how to dispose of their silk.
At present there are lots of coccoons that
are waiting a market because the owners
do not know how to dispose of them and
they naturally do not want to prosecute
the industry further until market opens
up for the product.
The Western Silk association at room 3,
No. 2:3 North Main street. first proposes to
dispose of all such silk on commission
just sufficient to cover the actual expenses
of the sale or to give parties the necessary
information to enable them to do so them
selves. Visitors and parties desiring in
formation are invited to call at the head
quarters, where they will be welcome at
any time.
This association will also introduce a
new species Of silk worm, of East In
dian origin, known as the sacred
species on account of the beauty
and wing decoration of the moth.
1t is claimed that this is the most hardy
and productive of any known species.
Their food is the leaves of the apple tree
and this climate is peculiarly adapted to
their propagation.
Prof Carl Braun, of Bangor, Ne, will
be in the city in few days who with Miss
Palmer will be in charge of the proposed
colony at this point.
At present in order to introduce the
worm and give beginners an insight into
the business, an orchard convenient to the
city has been leased for the season and it
is said that half million of coccoons will
be successfully raised the first season.
These moths will naturally come out of
the cocoon in April and by the first Of
May the eggs will be ready for Matching
and may be put upon the trees where they
are left until the cOccOOns are ready for
market Their only enemy is the birds
and they are protected from these by =
cheese cloth covering which is
stretched over the limb or
whole tree if necessary. During
this time they require some little attention
10 h.,
business thus far. The silk association
makes it its business to give full instruc-
tions from time to time as the beginner re-
quires it. The worms spin for eight days,
but the cOcOOns are not gathered until the
latter part of June. The moth does not
come from the cocoon until eight months, !
and its exit may be retarded for several /
months by keeping the cocoous in a cool /.
place and thus held until the commence /
ment of the next season in April.
Each cocoon contains on an average 1000 /
yards and is worth 40 cents, and this price I
-he association guarantees to pay to all |
producers.
Instead of purchasing the eggs the |
;occons are purchased at 81 30 pair from .
-he association, which guarantees them. |
The buyer may get POO eggs from one pair, |
out 100 worms is a safe calculation to raise |
rom one pair. From these figures it is /
EASY to estimate the value of an invest .
nent in the silk industry.
1t is the intention of the association to .
rect plant for reeling purposes, which is
lot d very expensive matter. The ma
'hinery may be safely estimated at less
han a cost of 81 ,00o This viii naturally
cad to the establishment of silk mills
within another year. Several capitalists
ire already pledged to take this matter up
Is soon as the association can demonstrate
hat an interest wide spread enough can be
weakened to justify the investment
Miss Palmer has already-a location in
Jew for a colony, and the preliminary ar
angementS viii be concluded at an early
late. \ quarter section will be planted
With an orchard and sold to the members
Il this colony, especially adapted to silk
culture, in about four or five acre lots
)Re acre, it is estimated, should accommo-
late about 10000 worms, or $500 worth of
occOons.
In order to make this business a thor
ugh and sure success to the individual
ilk raiser, it is advisable to cultivate
ilouSH NptopuN ~ pay Oilt itI ttN btlLS
he major portion of their time to it.
The association, however, Will, for
small consideration, take the
ntire care of the cocoons for the first sea
on. thus giving an investor an oppor-
unity to see exactly what there Is in it
efore abandoning any other calling in
-hich he may at present be engaged
The association will charge a commits
ion of per cent for instructions, assist
nee, etc. TO beginners.
As an investment few enterprises prom
e better and surer returns.
THE INVESTMENT.
wo hundred pairs cocoons at S1.50. $500 {
commission. = per cent on $So0....-.... 40 I
Total outlay. ...--....- $40
Two pairs of cocoons should yield at
asst 20.000 worms or new cocoons which.
40 cents each the price the association
yree> to pay, will gross $500. From this
mount deduct the outly Of $40, and a net
rofit remains of $3.50.
This l. the result of three months work,
nd one person can, if they 80 desire care
II four times the number of worms. thus
lcreasing their net profit to SIS+0 on an
INLAY of about 81 .3O0
JOIN THE PARADE. ,