The herald., 1917-09-06

h'ltS WHICH, gives ever
promise of unqualified
success. The trees covering the &C
acres of this plantation were imported
from France and are of the most np.
proved variety for feeding the worms.
Ihe fact that the production of CO.
coons is going forward at the rate of
10000 month shows what can be
done in this industry.
1t has been found that climatic and
other conditions in Texas make il the
ideal place for the development of the
SILK industry. The silk crop is surer
Than any other crop end involves lit
lie risk or trouble, while the occupa-
uon Is pleasant and the returns are
safe and substantial 4 crop grows
every twenty-five days and six crops
are produced in year, whereas in
Europe the season lasts but two
months, and only one crop Il year is
produced. Furthermore, the soil of
Texas Is so well adapted to the cults
walton Of the mulberry trees that they
can be grown in a few months, while
In Europe they require at least five
years.
What is known here as the mulberry
tree Is called the golden tree in ChIna.
because the tree has brought golden
harvestS to the successful silk growers
or that country. With the splendid
conditions for the successful cultiya-
ton OF silk surrounding the people of
the South, IL is marvel that they
have not long ago declared their indie
pendence of the European silk grow
ers and entered upon an industry that
is more remunerative than agriculture,
horticulture, lumber or mine industry.
The American people, especially those
living In the favored South could and
should raise their own raw silk. and
thus keep at home the S200,0OO,OO0
which they pay out to foreign coun-
tries each year for their raw silk.
Think of a country where six crops
can be made in one silk-prOducing sea-
son, and where the season extends
from March to October How does
that compare with cotton, which re-
which only yields one crop a year?
The character of the labor connect
ed with the silkgrOwing industry Is al
so point In its favor. Tho work is
nearly all inside, light pleasant and in
teresting. A family of five can easily
take care of crop of six ounces of
silk-worm eggs every twenty-five or
thirty days. The Average price Of the
eggs is SO per ounce An ounce of
eggs will produce 100 to $50 pounds
OF fresh, or forty to fifty pounds Of
dry cocOons. BY subjecting the fresh
cocoon to heating or steaming pro-
cess, the chrysalis in the silk cocoon
is killed and the cocoon is rendered
thoroughly dry and light. For the |
production of crop of $50 pounds of |
cOcoons a quantity Of between 10000 |
and 1000 pounds of mulberry leaves |
Is required as feed for the silkworms |
from the time they are Matched out |
from eggs until they assume the
chrysalis form. The white mulberry
Is the best and is preferred by success
full growers at the age of one or two
years. These trees will produce from
twenty to thirty pounds of leaves each,
or In other words 400 two-year-old
trees will produce 10000 pounds of
leaves. The proper way to cultivate
mulberry trees is to plant them II feet
apart, allowing 800 trees to the acre.
II will thus be seen that for the pro-
duction of the above crop of dry CO.
coons two acres Of land will be sufIi-
cient, but if the trees develop rapidly