Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-16
THE SILK INDUSTRY EXHIBIT

WASHINGTON. Juno l4.-During the
past week the silk exhibit in the United
States National Museum at Washington
has been a source OF much interest and
wonder. due to the fact that one case
eral hundred silk worms. which have
been entertaining the public by their
spinning.
Tho worms were placed in the mu-
scum when about twentyfour days old.
and were fed on mulberry leaves for
several days until they were fully ma
ture and ready to spin their cocoons
AT this time several racks and trcl-
Uses were placed in the case. to which
each worm anchored his cocoon. All
during the week these spinning worms
have been busily engaged in wrapping
about themselves their fllmy threads
of silk, in preparation for their meta
morphoses. When the cocoons were
all completed they were collected and
the chrysalides inside stifled 30 that
the emergence of the silk moth later
would not spoil the silk strands. These
cocoons Will be placed on exhibition in
connection with the other material of
this exhibit.
The case OF silk worms represented
the first step in series of exhibits
showing what silk is. how 1t Ia manu-
featured, and many samples of the
derived tneTe-
from. This section Of the division OF
textiles takes the museum visitor for
tour of instruction in silk--literally
from the worm. which makes the silk,
to tho finished silken gown. 1t in
cludes samples of nearly every kind
of fabric manufactured from silk in
this country and abroad. Various sorts
OF cocoons are shown from several
countries. together with many impie-
ments. and some apparatus used in the
care OF the worms themselves and the
mulberry trees on which they are/fed.
Certain Of the special implements and
tools used in the cleaning. combing and
Keeling OF the silk from the cocoons
are also to be seen. The finished
products include thread. thrown silk
piece dyed fabrics. wash silks, prints.
jacquards. velvots and scarfs, ties. rib
hons and veilings.
case Of preserved specimens shows
the cycle Of life OF this Industrious
little animal. The egg Of the silk moth
Is about the size of the head of n small
pin, and matches in about ten days
time into n tiny worm. It's growth
from this minute form takes about a
month. during which time it develops
into a worm about three and one-half
inches long and one-quarter Of an
inch In thickness. Upon reaching It's
maturity, the worm stops feeding nnd
begins to crawl about the trelliscs in
search of place In which to spin its
cocoon. In from two to i've days the
cocoon. composed of a single thread
between 800 and 700 yards in length.
is spun.
within tho finished cocoon the silk
worm sheds his skin and passes into
tho pupa or chrysalis stage. II the
cocoon is not put through n Slowing
or sitting process. which kills the
chrysalis inside. 1T will become a
grayish white moth in two weeks more
and push its way out of the cocoon.
Such procedure, however. is allowed
only when silk moths are needed for
breeding purposes, since in emerging
the moth pushes through the head
end of the cocoon with it's head and
legs, after having moistened 1t with a
secretion which lends to rot the fiber,
thus rendering ~ useless for rolling
and Of value only for spun silk.
In order to reel the cocoons they
are first immersed H. boiling water and
brushed to rid them OF the loose outer
flaments. The tree thread is then
unwound almost to the chrysalis. but
the inner lining Is far too fine to be