216 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



give the preference to home-raised eggs, yet we felt the necessity of 

 using great care in purchasing eggs from American raisers, and for these 

 reasons we have only accepted those that are sent us in sacks, contain- 

 ing the laying of one moth per sack, with the mother inclosed. Tlie.so 

 moths have been submitted to the careful microscopical examination 

 required, and we have thus been able to guard against the purchase of 

 any diseased eggs. The sequence has shown the precaution to have 

 been necessary, for several large lots, accompanied by fine-lookiug co- 

 coons and a report from the raiser to the effect that the worms were 

 robust and to all appearances healthy, have at once shown disease 

 when submitted to the crucial test of the microscope. 



About GOO ounces of eggs have been provided for the distribution 

 which is to take place during the coming winter and spring. In apply- 

 ing for these eggs silk-raisers state whether or no they wish to winter their 

 own eggs. If they themselves prefer to care for them, the eggs will be 

 sent out before the end of January, otherwise they will be kept in Wash- 

 ington until the foliage in the different sections of the country is ready to 

 feed the worms. Wo have been led to make this change inthe method 

 of distribution from the fact that a good many lots of eggs were lost 

 last year through premature hatching, because the silk-raisers to whom 

 they were sent were uni^rovided with suitable means for keeping them 

 through the warm days of early spring. 



The eggs have been received from thirty-nine persons residing in dif- 

 ferent parts of the country. Tliey have been submitted to the scrupu- 

 lous microscopical examination described later iu this report, so that it 

 might be possible to select those untaintf^d with iho pe brine. This has 

 proved to be a greater labor than was anticipated, and has occupied the 

 attention of the otlico all through the fall. Besides the accepted eggs, 

 thirteen lots, amounting in all to 130 ounces, have been rejected be- 

 cause they were p6brinous. Sometimes the malady has been so marked 

 as to appear upon a very superlicial examination of the moths, while 

 again it has been necessary to push the test much deeper in order to 

 make sure of the existence of the disease. 



It is very questionable whether silk culture will be permanently pro- 

 moted by this encouragement to promiscuous eg^ production. 



Those who advertise silk culture as an industry suitable to old per- 

 sons, invalids, and children, by virtue of its being light, easy work, do 

 the cause harm. Silk culture may be light as compared with the more 

 severe labor that our farmers' wives are often obliged to do, but it is ho 

 less true that to many persons Avho have tried silk raising the labor in- 

 volved has seemed arduous. There is, to be sure, no heavy physical 

 labor, but the raising of silk- worms involves attentive and constant 

 care, especially during the last stage. The aged, the feeble, and tlie 

 young may assist, but activity and intelligence must guide. 



THE ESTABLISniNG OF FILATURES — COST OF PRODUCING REELED 



SILK. 



We have repeutedly pointed out in previous reports the importance 

 to the success of silk culture of the establishment of filatures where tlie 

 cocoons produced in the United States may be reeled and thus find a 

 market. Until Congress made a special appropriation for the encour- 

 agement of the industry, it was impossible for this Department to under- 

 take the establishment of such institutions. During the past year, 

 however, we have been able to accomplish this object, to a limited ex- 

 tent at least, and with this end in view two stations were established 



