The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-04-13
POINTERS ABOUT
SILK WORMS.
! Some Information in Regard to In
dustry Abroad Is Given by Con-
sular Officers-How Trees
Are Cared For To Yield
Results.
Bv JOS: Oil.

Washinst ton, April 1l.-(Special DIR. l..
Q. Howard, chief entomologst of the
Agricultural department. who is just
back from a wise to Mr. Magid's sins
properties al Tallulah Fails. is quite en-
thusiastic over the prospects of silk cul-
ture in the south. After DIR. Howard haG
visited Talulah he went over to Tuske-
gee. where. at the Booker Washington
school, another large mulberry planta
ton has been established. DR.. Howard
is the expert of the agricultural depart
ment into whose hands has been placed
the work of promoting silk culture in
this country. Last year he spent some
months II southern Italy, where he made
an investigation of the industry. and ii Is
under his supervision that the depart
rnent is now sending out mulberry trees
and silk worm eggs to different parts OF
the country where interest in this indus
try has been awakened.
At present DR. Howard looks with
greatest favor upon the experiments IN
Georgia. because he believes that the
climate there is peculiarly adapted To the
growth of the specular trees, Whlch are
most valuable Efforts to start the IN
dustry in South Carolina, louisiana
southern California, Utah and western
New York are also being made. The mui-
berry trees will thrive in almost every
section of the country. but they are
specially adapted to sections of the south
corresponding to the northern part o.
Georgia Both the soil and the climate
of this section are very much like the
best regions of Italy Louisiana has
growing colony, composed largely OF
Italian and Syrian families, who are not
only engaged in silk culture themselves
but are teaching the colored women aud
children of that section.
Reports from Abroad
At the instance of Secretary wilson
Secretary OF State Hay has had the
American consular officers in the silk
growing countries of the old world send
reports upon the condition Of the indus
try and the methods employed, Some OF
these reports are quite lengthy. giving
details of the manner of treating the
mulberry trees and of handling the silk
worms as well AS the prices OF cocoonS
ut different points. Consul John c. Gov
ert, of Lyons. France. tells many inter-
esting facts about silk culture in France.
With regard TO the planting of trees, MI
Covert writes:
cd per acre in France depends upon the
soil and climate aud whether other crops
are planted upon the same ground
Dwarf trees are sometimes planted as a
hedge about three feet apart. In plant
ing in a new country. a fair rule would
be to follow the local practice of plant
ing apple trees. The mulberry does not
shade SO much ground as an apple tree
but its roots spread great deal 1t is
seldom that anything but mulberry leaves
are employed TO feed silk worms III
France. Very rarely the worms hatch
before the mulberry leaves are out. and
on such occasions they are fed young
rose leaves for few days. In France
almost anything that does not require
much sunshine is planted between the
mulberry trees, therefore, any estimate
of the cost of land for the French silk
crop could not be exactly given Only
one crop of cocoons is raised per year
the greater part of the work being done
in one month.