The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-09
THE CULTURE OF SILK.
Some Practical Suggestions on
the Subject by Miss Kelly.

the Subject by Miss Kelly.
To the Editor of The News and
Courier: Many are under the impress
sion that the advocates of silk culture
wish silk to displace other cultures.
This is altogether mistake. What is
proposed is to follow the custom of
best silk growing countries, which is
to make an annual crop Of silk during
the first five weeks of spring, or, in
other words, we simply recommend an
additional agricultural product, re-
stricted in proportion to the size Of
the farmers family who would raise
it, as they do poultry or bees. On
every farm there is a poultry yard,
which few would be willing to give
up, but the net gain from a half acre
| devoted to silk growing would be
much greater than that from poultry.
A silk crop can be made and sold for
cash, all in six weeks, while as many
months are required to realize an
equally good return from poultry.
# one or two-year-old white null
berry seedlings are set out on half
acre of ground, Is feet apart, they
will, in three years. time, yield from
2,200 to 4, 200 pounds of leaves, suH-
cient to rear an ounce of worms, pro-
ducing from 132 to It's pounds of silk.
Such rearing might be made by
the combined efforts of the farmers
family, without the aid of extra hired
help. Any we'll ventilated, clean
room, with an open FIRE place, would
do to raise the worms For an ounce
of silkworms there should be from so
to 80 square yards of available space.
This is obtained by placing shelves for
the worms one above the other on up
right supports. Should one room not
afford this space the worms could be
disposed wherever convenient, but
always where the temperature is even,
and not below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
The yield of cocoons lsiin proportion
to the space accorded to the worms.
This in successful rearing, under
favorable conditions. is so kilos Il K.
equals 2.2 pounds) to so square yards
of space, 60 K. to so square yards, 80
X. to 80 square yards and 30 K. to 80
square yards. First class cocoons sold
last year at 80 cents a pound: 1872
pounds at 80 cents equals s119. 80; ITS
pounds at 80 cents equals S157. so; 1913
pounds at 80 cents equals sl78.20
Such are the possible gains in five
weeks from one ounce of eggs, requir-
ing only a half acre Of land to yield
the mulberry leaves for food.
It saves labor to have trees grown
near the rearing room, but if this is
not convenient they may be planted
around fields. One hundred trees
around the border of 215-acre field
would in no way damage ordinary cul-
lures, and greatly increase the total
gain.
There is no rural industry occupy
ing SO short time which pays so we'll
as silk.
The United States is now the second
silk manufacturing country in the
world, and every year the demand for
silk goods increases. The rapid multi
plication of silk mills in silk growing
countries causes great domestic con-
sumption of raw silk, endangering the
existence of silk mills in non-produc-
ing silk regions. Thus has the supre-
macy in the silk trade which enriched
England for two centuries been wrested
from her by France and Italy.
a similar effect is noticeable now in
the cotton industry in England and in
our Northern States, due to the sud-
den rise Of cotton mills in the midst
Of our own cotton plantations.
It is not likely that foreign war, in
the near future, may cut off the vast
supply of raw silk imported annually
into the United States, and it is a
wise precaution for the South to pre-
pare herself for such contingency.
at any rate, it pays vastly better to
cultivate one acre Of silk than one of
cotton and every planter who wishes
to see the South develop into a rich
silk country, occupying possibly the
proud position that England held in
the eighteenth century, ls urged to
devote an acre to the cultivation Of
the white mulberry, to make silk cul-
ture possible.
Those who wish either from person
al or patriotic motives to foster the
silk industry may, by applying to Dr..
L. O. Howard. agricultural depart
ment, Washington. D. c., obtain a
limited number of trees and seed, also
books of instruction, free of charge
To hasten the work, however, it is
suggested that rural clubs be formed
consisting Of ten members, who. to-
gether may order, through their chair
man, 1000 trees to be distributed to
the club members. Ordering by the
1000 the trees would cost very little.
should be pleased to hear from the
chairman of any club for the propaga-
tion of the white mulberry, and will
give such practical aid as my time will
permit. Henrietta A. Kelly.
Charleston, S. c., December l, 1903. |
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