Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-04
SILK THE SOUTH.

i'm several southern states.
This is a revival of an old southern in
dustry. rather than the introduction of
new one.
The spinning Of silk thread and the
weaving Of silk cloth were by no means
rare in Georgia In ante-bellum times. Dur
ing the civil war southern ladies frequent
" appeared In elegant silk dresses which
were the product out and out Of their pa
thence. skill and industry.
II has been demonstrated that the silk
worm can thrive remarkably well I'm Geor-
gia and fhat he yields a very fine quality
Of silk here.
We believe that silk culture properly
carried on in this state would pay well
and we expect to see efforts i'm this direc-
ton in the early future.
North Carolina seems TO be taking the
lead Of the other southern states in this
matter The Brooklyn Eagle in a recent
issue devotes lengthy and very interest
ing special article to this phase of North
Carolina enterprise.
II refers especially to the intelligent
and energetic efforts Of Mr.. Gerald Nc
earthly. biologist Of the North Carolina
agricultural department. The Eagle gives
this hopeful view of the silk culture ex-
pertinent in the "Old North State:''
''Undismayed by the history of past
failures the department of agriculture of
North Carolina has been for several
months vigorously experimenting with
silk worms, has persuaded nearby farm
ers' wives and farmers children to raise
them and has found a market for the CO.
coons. The national department Of agri-
culture at Washington has secured an APP
preparation OF $4,000 TO commence expert
menting on it's own hook, and IL further
signs OF this new activity be needed a
company has been formed in New York
with an authorized capital OF two and
half million dollars-the Incorporated Sc
rlculture and Manufacturing Company OF
America-tO start silk growers and provide
Keeling plants for their product.
Immense possibilities lie behind all
this, for now S45.O0.OO0 worth of raw silk
is imported into this country each year,
the Igures having doubled since 1880. SILK
manufacturing has become one of the
mightiest OF enterprises. AS the years
60 on an enormous further demand is not
to be doubted, and II Is this that has led
the scientists TO brave ali disbursements
and try again to produce silk in Ameri-
ca. even II the trials OF a hundred years
all failed.
There IS much TO encourage them in
their hopes. Silk worm growing is one of
the simplest Of agricultural pursuits; even
old women and children can make sue
cess Of Il. AS experiments have proved
the mulberry trees, on the leaves of which
the silk worms feed. can be grown In
scores OF localities In this country; in fact,
both north and south, the mulberry tree
fiourishes in many places today. The diff
ficulty and obstacle is at present that
there are no Keeling mills and the cocooons
that have been occasionally raised here
and there through the country find no
buyers"
Professor Mccarthy has his heart in
this work and Is going at IL in a practical
way that win probably prove largely
beneficial to his state.
In a recent circular which he has issued
and sent throughout North Carolina he
says:
silk culture was a considerable bust
ness in the Carolinas as early as 1850. 1t
continued TO be practiced in small way
until the period just preceding the civil
war. Thousands Of mulberry trees plant
ed prior 20 1850 are still in fun vigor in
many parts Of these states. The cause Of
the decline from the prosperity of colonial
days was due solely to social changes, not
at all 10 any lack OF adaptability in soil
OF climate.
''wIshing to determine the present value
OF silk growing upon North Carolina
farms the state department of agriculture
in the spring Of the present year imported
from Italy u ounces of silk worm eggs,
and distributed them among the farmers
of the state In quantities Of about one
eighth Of an ounce. The eXperimenters
who actually did the work were for the
most part the wives and daughters of
white farmers. Most of these had never
r-FNfr auv@fr1a
supplied with the eggs a sheet of instruc-
tons and feeding chart With these
for their only guide our experimenters
went to work. The result has far exceed
ed our most sanguine expectations. Nearly
everybody made success Of 1.-THE few
who failed have suffered from the depre-
datioOn Of rats. Something over 100
pounds of cOcoons were harvested for each
ounce of eggs incubated. The quality was
on the average the grade known as 'medi-
UNI fine The worms were In all cases
grown with malxeshift apparatus and in
closets or cupboards In family living
rooms.
mo one complained Of any difficulty in
rearing the worms. i'm fact where given
plenty Of food and fresh air the worms did
the rest in q way that might have won
the heart Of veteran Kodaker. The
work proved Of enormous interest 20 the
children who carried il through. 1t was
revelation HtoSL OF luttiA-GoulllEg-
folk as they were. The lack Of a filature
or Keeling establishment for winding the
silk into hanks, I'm which form IL is found
In the market, has 80 far prevented US
from completing the experiment by turn
ing the cOcOOns into cash. This lack will
be supplied another year, and the industry
thus placed upon a permanent basis"
Already there are more than one hun
dred silk growers in North Carolina and
Professor Mccarthy believes there will
be ten times that number next year.
He urges the state agricultural depart
ment 10 distribute 10000 mulberry trees
among the farmers OF North Carolina this
fall and recommends that an apprOpria-
ton be made to supply the needed equip
ment for intelligent experiments in silk
culture
Professor Mccarthy estimates that with
proper effort North Carolina can produce
s., Oo9,000 worth Of cocoons.
The climate OF North Carolina is said to
be finely adapted TO the successful hand
| ling Of the product of the green worm, but
II can be hardly more so than that Of
/ Georgia
An experiment in the manufacture of
| silk has been made at Fayetteville, N. c.,
/ and IL Is said to have proved successful
even beyond first expectations.
FIGHTING SOUTHERN MERGER.
There is every indication that the prop
/ osition 10 merge the Louisville and Nash
VILE railroad with ,ne Southern will be
/ -.