Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-10

Seri-Culture and Manufacturing Compa-
ny, before the Farmers National Con-
gress at their twenty-second annual meet
ing, on October o. 1902. at Macon, Ga.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen. Delegates
to the Farmers National Congress:
Prehistoric to and origin Of the worlds
industry-commerce, manufacture and
all forms OF trade and progress made by
human efforts-agriculture-w and
still is the basis for all further existence,
national prosperity and happiness. Farm
ing in the true sense of the word is en-
joyed by the country which has natural
climatic and geological conditions in her
domain and grit in her people to produce
and develop what is first most needed
and that is 1.-The products of the farm,
the necessities OF life"
Agriculture is recognized as the surest
return and the upbuilder of national
wealth and prosperity. One branch of
agriculture is the raising Of silk
Coming to the subject on which I was
invited TO speak, THE Possibility of silk
Culture In the United States" let Us re-
view the silk culture commenced some
$500 years ago. Hong-Ti, third emperor
Of China, who was contemporary with
Joseph. the son of JacSb, or some 2, 100
years before Christ, with his noble wife,
the empress Si-Ling-Chi. who is today
worshiped by the Chinese people as the
Goddess of the SILK Worm" and a cocoon
feast is even to this day celebrated in
her honor. are credited as the real origi-
majors of the silk Worm Industry"
What is silk and how is it produced?
Silk Of commerce is spun by the silk
worm known as the Bombyx-Mori, coming
with the Matching of the egg, which is de-
posted by the mother, or butterfly, in
season with the leafing Of the white null
berry tree, known as the Morus-Alba,
which usually occurs in the latter part of
April and May. The little worms Matched
from the eggs are then fed with the ten
der leaves of the mulberry and in a period
Of thirty to thirty-five days the worms
cast their skins four times and go through
FIVE ages. At the finish of their eating
period they become restless, during which
time they wander about, moving their
heads, which is preliminary to the final
act of their strange, wonderful career
and end of existence. Finally finding a
suitable place they commence throwing
from their spinneret the lofty, golden
filament which they have accumulated
and stored since and during their feast,
which consisted altogether of the leaves
from the tree known and properly called
in China the Golden tree, the white null
berry. Around and around their body in
a most systematic way the worms lay
thread by thread forming aid construct
ing the cocoon, which becomes their pris-
on. Within two days time from COM
mencement their important, unexplainable
and withdrawing work is completed.
The worm then in its paiatial home freed
from the cares of the world, changes in
to a chrysalis. After it has cast its skin
for the fifth and last time. it is
in the pupa stage. and a most wonder
full change begins. IL takes place in a
little cocoon prison where the worm will
ingly become imprisoned and evolution
transforms the pupa into a mothbutter-
fly. The period elapsed from spinning the
cocoon to the now created butterfly va
ries in time from ten to fifteen days. How
ever the butterfly does not find the CO.
coon prison so commodious and comfort
able. Rebelling against that mode of
living. pushes its way through and break
ing open the end of the cocoon by split
ting the silvery. silken thread that COM
poses the cocoon, it then energies and is
in the open world. Not seeking for food
nor drink has the butterfly become a pris-
oned fugitive, but to accomplish the
final act for which purpose we presume
nature has provided this interesting, no
BILE worker. After the female and male
butterflies are paired within four days
the female deposits eggs. three hundred
in numbers. while the male dies. and when
the female accomplishes her final work
she also follows her companion. A
period of forty days elapses when a
most wonderful product by a most won
derful worker is given TO the world, which
not only gladdens the hearts Of our noble
women, but is today necessity to add to
the worlds comfort
The mulberry tree. the most essential
part in helping the silk worm produce
silk. is tree that grows luxuriantly in
the various parts Of the world, especially
does IL do we'll in the United States, be-
ing specially hardy south of Mason and
DiXon's line.
One ounce OF silk worm eggs contains
5000. The worms OF one ounce Of eggs
consume about 1850 pounds of leaves dur
ing their existence. Ten 20-year old trees
mulberry will supply that amount Of
food. However, a young tree, say five
years old. will only supply from % to Is
pounds. Cocoon production Of one ounce
of seed, silk worms consuming 1900
pounds of leaves, will bring in the open
market about $40. The farmers family,
usually consisting OF five members and
living in the rural districts of our great
country with the unlimited amount of land
At our command, that goes to waste; the
hundreds of thousands of unemployed
wasting energy that could and should be
able TO care and feed silk worms and
within six weeks add sum of money that
would bring and add so much comfort,
happiness, education and wealth to the
nation at large.
jealousy have the Chinese people
watched the growth of the silk raising in
dustry and it enriched the Chinese by
selling the silken fibre the world over
Caravans laden with silk were expedited
to all parts and remote sections of the
world with the valuable silken thread and
in return gold was flowing in the Chinese
treasury. After carefully watching and
keeping the secret and art of silk raising
by the Chinese people for two thousand
years. IL was finally introduced into
western Aisle and eastern Europe. The
great move in that direction to bring silk
raising and its secret knowledge to other
lands from China was through the rebel
Hon that captured Canfu, the chief seat
of the Chinese silk industry, A. D. S7,
and 10000 Chinese silk merchants were
put to death then, the industry spread
and soon advanced in other countries.
But not until the 18th century was it
brought abroad and encouraged by Henry
w. and later by Louis XVI, into France.
The noteworthy incident in connection
with the introduction Of silk raising in
France is that when Henry ~ first
brought 1900 mulberry trees from Italy,
as the industry in Italy then already ex-
listed, the great minister and the right
70 use me where sugar Is not to be ex-