The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-31
PROF. WORK.
A Visit to the North Carolina Biologi-
cal ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF SILK
Culture.
(speciaI Correspondence

>SRNOAo4 ALCcPOA10SlCc.
Raleigh. N. c., May 2s.-An interest
ing place to visit is the North Caroline
biological laboratory. which occupies
much of the third floor OF the state ag-
ricultural departmant's building. Up
there Gerald Mccarthy. the biologist,
Is found. He is a very talented man,
and was born a deaf mute, but was
taught to ~articulate. He is Irish by
birth and is well known all over the
United States. He was asked some
questions about the water supply of
this state; its purity, ETC., as he makes
the analysis for the state board of
health. He says there are thirty water
companies in forth Carolina, each Of
which is required to send samples every
month, from which he makes both
chemical n biological analyses. When
asked which place had the best water
he replied that at first the samples,
were very poo from many places.
but that great improvement has re-
suited from the analyses. Raleigh has
good water, and so has Asheville,
Monroe, ETC., in fact there is little diff
ference between the water supply of
the enterprising towns. At first alum
was used quite extensively. this being
a dangerous thing to get into the
stomach, but nearly all the plants have
now ceased to use it. AT several points
there are deep arteSian wells. He
considers the water supply of the state
as a rule unexceptionable. Besides the
public water supplies which he analy-
ses, he also handles great many from
private wells, sent by county superin-
tendents of health, and these are al
-. lr-0 VIC hod I-LA--
than diluted sewerage. He urges the
people In a great many cases to give UP
wells and take water from the public
supply, when possible, or else dig deep
wells, not ess that 20 feet in depth.
Professor Mccarthy is also deeply
interested in the promotion of silk Gull
ture in this state and has in the hall
ways of his department many thou
sands of silk worms, now nearly
grown. When asked at how man.
points in North Carolina silk worms
are being grown he replied not ov,r fit
ty. As to he matter Of profit he
said 1t was hard to get the people to
give proper attention to the worms,
and hat many did not feed them prop
erly or give them half the attention
necessary. A profit is easily possible
Of $40 to $50 to an ounce of eggs, the
latter costing $3.50. In France and
Italy where the greatest attention is
given to this matter a prifit of $50 to
$50 per ounce is realized. He imports
the eggs from Italy, but they could be
grown here if special attention were
given them, but at present he finds 1t
best to procure them from. abroad. The
work of raising silk worms lasts only
six weeks in the year and is excellent
for delicate women and children, 1T
lasts from April Goth TO June 1st, and
city people as we'll as country people
can take it up The mulberry which
Furnishes the leaves bears also a fruit
which is very valuable for hogs and
poultry. If country people, that is
women and children would engage in
silk culture it would largely change
the form of country life and would
mean ready money. The state does
not buy the silk. that is the co
coons. bot undertakes to sell them at
a dollar a pound. IS soon as enough
cocoons axe grown in this state silk
reels will be established here Every
year applications corae'. from France
and Italy regarding the establishment
of such reels here. Suen a. plant costs
about as much to set up as a cotton
gin. n first thing to- be DONE, Prof
lessor Mccarthy says is to get the pso-
pie to raise enough silk to, lead to the
establishment of reels, and then will
coma the other features OF the SILK
trade, such as factories. There is Il
yery great demand, which really. can
not be met. He thinks that at every
county home there should be- special
arrangements for raising, silk. worms
and tina by this means the inmates
could practically earn their
These INDECENT poor cost ABOUT. 500 a
wear each for their maintenance and
the value of their work for the six
weeks time involved would w this
Professor Mccarthy is ~persevefing IN
the work he is doing and has hope OF
result in the course of tima.