The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-08-26
INFORMATION FOR THE SILK GRO WERs
OF NORTH CAROLINA.

all the cOcoOns grown IN the State at
a fair price, according to the quality
of the silk as shown upon the reel.
who wish to turn their
cocoons into cash should accept this
offer, as the best that can be obtained
under present circumstances. Those
who wish to hold their cocoons for a
possibly better price, can do so by
storing the well dried cocoons in tight
tin boxes kept in a dry place. They
will keep indefinitely. Those who wish
to sell now are requested to separate
their cocoons carefully into three
grades, viz: Cd Unstained, firm CO.
coons. % Stained and soft cocoons.
(3) Perforated cocoons. Pack each
grade separately and forward to Ger
aid Mccarthy, care N. G. Department
of Agriculture, Raleigh, N. G. Trans
portation must be prepaid. Cocoons
once received at the Department can
not be reclaimed as the different lots
will be bulked together and sent to
the manufacturer. Quantities less than
~ pounds can be most cheaply sent
by mail. Quantities less than 25
pounds may be sent by express. Over
25 pounds should be sent by freight.
All cocoons sold under this offer
L Ill 80 IL 80 boForo n+ov,obor I Of
In selling the cocoons the Depart
ment acts only as the agent of the
grower. No charge is made for such
service. The Department does not
guarantee any particular price, nor
any thing else. It will endeavor to Sc
cure the highest possible price, and
the entire sum so received, less on.T
actual charges will be divided among
the owners of the cocoons according
to the value of their goods.
Silk growers must bear in minc
that first attempts at any industry are
as a rule crude, and are more profit
able in experience than in money
With further experience and with silk
failures at work within the State, the
quality of the silk and it's selling value
will greatly increase. Silk growing
is a good business for women and
children who can not do heavy work.
and those who have begun should per-
severe. In order to secure tho loca-
ton of silk failures and factories
within the State it is necessary to ex-
pand the cocoon producing business
into larger proportions. Mulberry
trees must therefore be planted to fur
nish food for silkworms. The Depart
ment is in receipts of offers of rooted
Seeding trees of the white and CHI
nese mulberry at Sc per 1000. Every
farmer or vilIager who has good light
and dry soil should plant at least 100
mulberry and 90 Usage orange trees
this fall In this connection it must
be born in mind that what is called the
"white mulberry" in many neighbor-
hoods, is in fact the Otahetie mulber-
ry, which has very little value, and
should not be planted. The best mul-
berry for feeding silkworms is the
Multicaulis or Chinese variety. The
italian or Moretti mulberry is excel
lent, but at present is not easy to Sc
cure in this country. The Usage
orange is very good and being earlier
and harder than the Chinese mulber-
ry few trees or a short hedge of it
should be upon every silk farm. Full
information as to the method of plant
ing and cultivation of mulberry viii
be sent to those wanting it. The best
time to plant the trees is October.
Those who want to buy mulberry and
Usage orange trees should write to
Thomas Mehan & Son, Philadelphia,
Pa. To save freight on trees the silk
growers of a neighborhood should
combine their orders, and order at
least 1000 trees. The Seeding trees
at above quoted price are necessarily
small But with good care they will
grow fast and be fit to feed silk worms
after three years. Those who prefer
to plant larger trees can secure them
of the above named firm at a higher
price.
GERALD MCCARTHY,
Biologist N. G. Dep. of Ayr.