The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-23
SILK ADVISED As.
PHILIPPINES
PRODUCT
Islands Can Supply Needs Of
This Country, Says U. S.
EntomoIogist
BY international News Service.

MANILA. p. l., June 23.-Amer-
ica's silk requirements could be
met adequately by the Philippines,
according to Doctor Charles s.
Banks, former entomologist Of the
Philippines Bureau of Science, who
discussed the silk industry of the
islands before the American Cham
Der Of Commerce OF Manila. The
only thing required to develop the
Philippine silk industry Is adequate
capital, he stated, climatic condi-
lions being ideal. Not only does
the silkworm thrive wonderfully in
the Philippines, but 1t yields six
crops annually, as compared with
only two, or at the utmost, three
crops year from the Japanese
species of worm.
For the past two years, Doctor
Banks has been conducting q silk
farm in the province Of Pampanga,
near Manila, operating on a small
scale, mainly for experimental pur.
poses. The results of his expert.
ments have been such as to justify
him in predicting a brilliant future
for the Philippine silk industry,
given the capital resources to back
1t up.
Would Insure raw silk.
In view of the present strained
diplomatic relationship between the
Japanese and American Govern
ments, the possibilities of the Philip.
pines silk industry are assuming
increasing Importance in commercial
circles.
Silk is Japan's principal export
to this country, and should the
volume Of shipments Of this textile
be curtailed for any reason the
American silk market would be
seriously affected. With the Phillip.
pines to fall back upon, however.
the United States is guaranteed
a source Of raw material,
Just as in the case Of rubber.
American industry could make It.
self independent Of foreign silk
farms for this important raw ma.
terial were it adequately developed.
Millions Of acres of virgin soil
suitable for rubber and silk pro.
duction lie untitled simply because
capital is hesitant about develop.
ing 1t, owing to the uncertain DO.
litical situation.
Once the political situation is
clarified these rich regions would
yield millions of dollars worth of
tropical products, which have be.
come essential to American indus.
try and which are now largely con.
trolled by foreign nations.
How Silk is Grown.
Silk is spun from cocoons con.
tanning the chrysalis of az certain
species of worm, which, II it were
allowed to carry on it's natural de.
velopment, would emerge finally as
butterfly.
At certain stage of the process
the worm inside the cocoon is
killed. and the white or yellow raw
silk fiber Is wound from the co,
coon and spun into thread. The
silkworm feeds exclusively on the
leaves Of the mulberry tree, which
must be grown to carry on sericul.
ture.
The quality Of the Philippine
silk, scientific tests have demon.
strated, is UP to that of the best
Japanese and Chinese varieties.
DR.. Banks, who has done this
pioneer work in Philippine sericul.
ture, is famous in Manila os the
man who cleaned up the mosquito
plague there during the Forbes adj
ministration. After a campaign
lasting about six months, he elimi.
mated these insects from the city,
where they had become a for.
midahle pest, spreading disease and
making the lives Of the inhabitants
burdensome.