AN EXPERIMENT IN SILK-CULTURE. 321 



As there is but little market for cocoons in this country, all at- 

 tempts to reel the silk here having been unsuccessful, we had not ex- 

 pected to realize much from the sale of the cocoons, still to be told 

 that they were absolutely worthless was rather disappointing after our 

 six weeks of hard work. We decided, however, to have the rest of 

 the cocoons steamed, and these we did ourselves in a common steamer, 

 and very much nicer they looked than our first lot. 



But what was meant by our worms being insufficiently fed was not 

 understood, and again we applied to the Woman's Silk-Culture Asso- 

 ciation for information, and this time we received a more satisfactory 

 answer, though it seemed that our worms, instead of being underfed, 

 may have been overfed, for the letter said they must not be fed while 

 molting, and our worms had been fed at these periods. The " Report " 

 gave the same information, but we understood the reason to be simply 

 that time might be saved if worms of the same age could be made to 

 molt together. But we found it difficult and well-nigh impossible to 

 make them all molt at the same time, so finally were compelled to give 

 them leaves as usual, supposing that those worms molting would not 

 eat unless they needed food. In everything else we followed the 

 directions given in the " Report " as nearly as possible. The worms 

 certainly had plenty of room, fresh air, a uniform temperature, and as 

 to the last requisite mentioned in the book namely, cleanliness we 

 are sure that that condition at least was rigidly complied with, the 

 trays being cleaned every day, and sometimes even oftener if it seemed 

 necessary. 



The room in which the worms were kept was on the northern side 

 of the house, and had one northern and one eastern window, and a 

 fireplace in which a fire was made whenever the weather was a little 

 cool or damp, so it was comparatively easy to regulate the temperature. 



In the second letter received from the Woman's Silk-Culture Asso- 

 ciation we were told that no one could expect to make anything from 

 silk-raising until after two or three years' experience, and yet many 

 papers speak of silk-raising as an employment, perhaps not very profit- 

 able, still a light employment for children and old people who can 

 earn money in no other way. For farmers' wives this industry is also 

 recommended, though where the ordinary farmer's wife is going to 

 find the time for the business, coming as it does in the middle of the 

 summer, when her work is heaviest, is not explained. One would 

 think that any woman who could take care of silk-worms might earn 

 more money in the same time raising chickens, selling eggs, or in light 

 gardening, than by the sale of cocoons. Of course, like everything 

 else, it requires skill and more especially experience, but there are few 

 light employments that would not bring in a little money even the 

 first year. To be sure, the outlay in the beginning is small ; but had 

 our cocoons been the ordinary size, and suitable for reeling, we could 

 not, at the price cocoons are now bringing, have received more than 



VOL. XXIX. 21 



