The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-02
To ENCOURAGE
SILK INDUSTRY
State Imports AiIanthus
Worms From France.
WILL BE GIVEN AWAY
Department of Agriculture Estimates
the Large Profits from Growing
A Ianthus Silk, and Substantial
ly Encourages an Expert
ment of Great Value.


the practical cultivation of the allan
thus siHz-wcrm in North Carolina. will
import from France this year large
shipment Of seed cocoons, to supply
all applications from citizens of this
State. and so far as possible others,
who make application for them before
Dec. 1. 1905, not less than 24 nor
to any one person. The State Biologist
will also import into this State seeds
of selected strains of the ailonthus
tree. These will be sent to persons
who make application before Nov. ].
1905, and Dec. l, 1906. One ounce
of seed will supply trees enough Tor
one acre of land. The ajionthuS is a
much more valuable timber tree TRAN
the old field pine.
Growers are advised to work the
first year mainly to secure experience
and seed cocooIIs for the second year.
However. il at least 1000 pounds of
dried cocoons are produced in the
State, the Biologist will undertake to
find a sale for them. The price cannot
now be guaranteed. but the price of
the ailOnthus cocoonS is usually about
two-thirdS the price of prime mulberry
coccons, and it is therefore not likely
to fall below SO cents per pound de-
livered in New York
Lard owners have inquired the pos
sible profits from growing ailonthus
silk The following figures have been
prepared by Mr.. Mccarthy as an illus
tration of what has been done. The
profits of any particular silk grower
will depend upon the character of the
person. Cne acre of poor dry lanl
worth IS can be planted with 500 to
one ounce of seed. These bushes will
next year after being set i'll the grove
each feed 100 or moro Silk-worms.
Calculating upon 600 bushes per acre
at least $4,000 cocoonS will be secured
which will yield Is pounds of dry
empty cococns besides those kept for
seed and allowing loss of ten per
cent from birds, etc. Forty-five pounds
Of cocoons will sell for about SIS. This
is for the FIRST crop only. During the
summer II second and probably third
crop will be secured, all fed upon the
self same bushes. Thus this acre of
waste land viii produce "a gross in
come of from $50 to $S4. From this
must be Aubtracted the cost of Guilt
waiting and fertiliZing the acre and the
value of the tiTne and labor required
TO take care of the seed cocoons and
eggs as we'll as the labor in gathering
and curing the successive cropS of
cocoons. But these items of expense
are comparatively small. The most
stupid tenant or farm laborer can,
under supervision of the owner or
proprietor. care for ten acres of all
anthus COVE exccnt during the brief
harvest periods.
In almost eveTv cotton growing
neighborhCod there is more or less
waste land which to the profit of the
owner and the appearance of the
countryside, can be planted in all
antnus and used to produce silk. a
plentiful supply of silk fiber will
eventually lead to the establishing of
mills to consume the crop. Ailanthus
silk growing is therefore a proposition
that commends itself to che practical
farmer and land owner. said Mr. Nc
Carthy.
The AiIantllus silk Worm.
The ordinary taffeta silk OF COM
merce is the product of the mulberry
silk worm. This wcrm has been do
meSticated 70. over 1000 years and
has ceased to exist in the wild state.
There are. however, numerous species
of the sc-called wild silk worms. of
which probably the most valuable for
American cultivation is the dilanthuS
worm. This like the mulberry worm
is n native of China, and was intro
duced into Europe in 1856 by an Ital-
ian missionary. Father Fantoni. Until
the recent introduction of cheap Yves
tern cottons the every day clothing OF
even the poorer classes in China wa
made from this silk. Cloth made from
ailanthus silk is of almost incredible
durability. 1t washes like linen in
soap and cold water. The fabrics
called Foulards, Corahs and Grapes
are. or were formerly. made from this
silk. Silk pushes. carpets. and flags
are also made from ailanthus fiber.
The annual production of ailanthus
silk III China is estimated to exceed
100000 pounds.
In Europe the ailanthus worm has
been most extensively experimental
with. In France. unfortunately. it is
said, the French growers mixed two
distinct species or races and produced
a hybrid worm which seems to have
degeneratef. MANY successful attempts
on a small scale have been made in
the United States to grow this worm.
Enough is known. said Mr.. Mccarthy
to assure all interested i'm silk culture
that the worm is hardy throughout the
republic with the exception of the
Northern tier of States
Lectures This Afternoon