The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-08-26
To the Silk Growers of North Carolina

The North Carolina Department OF
Agriculture is in receipt of an offer from
a silk manufacturer to purchase all the
cocoons grown in the State at fair
price, according to the quality of the
silk shown upon the reel. Sik-growers
who wish to turn their cccoons into cash
should accept this offer, as the best that
can be obtained under present circum-
stances. Those who wish to hold their
cocoons for a possibly better price can
do SO by storing the we'll dried cocoons
in tight tin boxes kept in a dry place.
They will keep indefinitely. Those who
wish to sell now are requested to sepa-
rate their cooons carefully into three
grades. viz: 0) unstained, firm cocoons;
(2) stained and soft cocoons; (3) per-
forated cocOOnS. Pack each grade sepa-
rately and forward to Gerald Mccarthy
care North Carolina Department of Agri-
culture Raleigh n. c. Transports ton
must be prepaid. Cocoons once received
at the Department cannot be reclaimed
as the different lots will be buked to-
gather and sent to the manufacturer.
/ Quantities less than 1E pounds can be
sent by express. Over p pounrs should
be sent by freight. All cocoons sold un-
der this offer should reach US before
/ September list.
In selling the cocoons the Department
acts only as the agent of the grower.
No charge is made for such service. The
Department does not guarantee any par
ticular price, nor anything else. 1t will
/ cndeavor to secure the highest possible
I price, and the entire sum so received,
less only actual charges, will be divided
of bo
cording to the value of their goods.
Silk growers must bear in mind that
first attempts at any industry are as a
rule crude, and are more profitable in
. experience than in money. With further
+ experience and with silk flatures al
work within the State, the quality of the
silk and its selling value will greatly
increase. Silk growing is a good business
for women and children who cannot do
heavy work, and those who have begun
should pcrSoverc. In order 20 secure the
location of silk flatures 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 furnish food for
. silkworns. The Department is in re
cciptS of offers of rooted seeding trees
! of the white and Chinese mulberry at
. Ab.DD Fer 1,UOU. EVERY ldlIlcl VI VII
lager who has good light and dry soil
should plant at least 100 mulberry and
20 Usage orange trees this fall. In this
connection it must be born in mind that
| what IS called the white mulberry in
/ many ncighborhoods is in fact the
! Othheite mulberry which has very little
! value, and should not be planted. The
best mulberry for feeding siikWorms is
the Multicauiis or Chinese variety. The
/ Italian or Morctti mulberry is excellent
! but at present is not easy to secure IN
this country. The Usage orange IS very
! good, and being earlier and harder thar
the Chinese mulberry q few trees or 8
/ short hedge Of it should be upon every
+ silk farm Full information as to tho
method of planting and cultivation OF
mulberry will be sent to those wanting
it. The best time to plant the trees IS
4 October. Those who want to buy mul-
berry and ossafe orange trees should
write to Thomas Mehan & Son, Phila-
delphia, Pa. 10 save freight on trees the
4 silk growers of a neighborhood should
combine their orders, and ORDER at least
O00 trees. The seeding trees at above
quoted price are necessarily small But
/ with good care they will grow fast and
be fl to feed silk worms aftor three
years. Those who prefer to plant larger
trees can secure them Of the above named
firm at a higher price.
GERALD MCCARTHY.
Biologist ~ c. Dept. of Agriculture.
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