The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-30

every month DR.. Howard proceeded
on the theory that in order to make
success of silk culture in the United
States it would be necessary to pur-
sue it merely as household industry,
or side issue.
Experience has demonstrated that
the business cannot be conducted sue
cessfully on a large scale, whereas it
can be brought to profitable point by
individuals if carried on as a side line,
especially if it is made the care of
the women and children. 1t has been
proved that from twenty to thirty
pounds of cocoons can be raised on the
smallest farm in six weeks time, on
which a profit of $50 or $S6 may be
realized; an amount which would form
considerable of an item to many small
farmers-especially as it need not in
terfere with the usual crops nor take
any of the time of the men of the
household. Last summer DIR. Howard
made a trip to the Silk-raising coun-
tries of Europe-France and Italy-and
visited a number of large estates where
the raising of silk is highly profitable.
In Lombardy he visited an estate ofs10,-
900 acres owned by an Italian noble
man. He also Investigated all the large
silk Keeling establishments of France
and Italy and carefully studied the
work. These silk-reeling establishments
are called failures, and the employees
are mostly women and girls. They live
in the villages where these failures are
located and the whole female popula-
ton is employed in some capacity in
the silk industry, while the husbands
and sons work on farms. A child be-
comes useful as early as the age of s.
and thus the silk industry becomes
highly profitable to large families. The
best part of it is that there is nothing
hard or combining about the work.
which is mostly carried on in the open
air, and is as pleasant and interest
ing pastime.
Upon his return last fall, DR.. How
ard recommended that the department.
purchase a four-ba silk reel. with
which to reel the silk from the cocoons
purchased. In this way the department
could provide market for the cocoons.
ana the raw silk, sold in the open mar
ket, would help to defray the expenses
OF the Keeling establishment. Accord
lngly two four-basin reels were i'm
ported from France, and one of these
was set up in building on the
grounds of the Department of AgricuI-
ture, where it is now in full operation.
The other has been sent to Talullah
Falls, Ca, where a Northern capitalist
mas purchased a farm of 1000 acres
with the intention of establishing a
colony for the purpose of raising CO.
coons. 1t is believed that from the OBJ
Grafton of these two reels many
American girls will learn the business
of silk Keeling. The women employed in
Keeling silk in the department are the
only ones now engaged in the business
in this country. They were brought
over from France few weeks ago,
after great difficulty had been expe-
rienced in pursuading them to come to
America. Both are expert reelers and
their work is watched with pleasure
and astonishment by visitors to the
Agricultural Department Dr. Howard
has been In conference with the Immi-
grafton Bureau officials, and Il Is ex-
pected that an effort will be made 70
secure a small colony Of Italians and
20 locate them on a large farm In Cal
iforpia, A firm 81 Pacific Coast bankers
has taken great Interest ia ths silk