ae an ot es ARs i ark iy c a i 
422 : Di i =~ / a i 3 ~ ‘ 
+E a ‘4 - - 
; value has been obtained which will be of practical service under 
a 20re favorable and normal climatic conditions. 
ee “Some progress has been made in testing the qualities and character- 
istics of some varieties of ancestral stock, and the results attained 
furnish encouraging assurances of what may be realized in the future 
a h producing a variety of bees completely adapted to domestication 
* under the varied conditions existing in different parts of the United 
_ States. Information concerning the wintering of bees, the values of 
fferent varieties of bee-forage plants, etc., have been obtained, and 
will have place in the reports of the agent in charge. 
Bs, : SILK. 
_ There is no experiment, with the exception of those prosecuted in 
the manufacture of sugar from sorghum, to which I have given more 
thought during the year than to that now being conducted in the 
- assistance in this direction, and every energy has been put forth to 
3 solve the problem of the successful and profitable reeling of American 
~ cocoons. 
The silk industry is one which well deserves most careful and 
"intelligent thought. The raising of the cocoons depends upon no 
he particular financial, commercial, or agricultural condition. It re- 
7 quires no capital, no factory, no skilled labor; the food upon which 
bi; the worms feed matures soon after the winter’s snow and spring 
rains, and is unaffected by the droughts of summer and unattended 
: by diseases; and, above all, it is a work which may be carried on at 
- the humblest cottage by the children, the women, and the aged of 
the family, and it offers a clean, pure, and interesting employment 
to those who would otherwise be unemployed at the rural home. 
The question then is, can it be madea profitableemployment? Will 
there be the incentive of a market for American-grown cocoons? 
The experiments conducted during the year here, and those which 
" T hope are to follow them, are to Herida this important problem. 
Already one question seems to have been decided which will be a 
- source of national pride and patriotic congratulations, and will also 
- abundantly repay the country for the outlay thus far made. For 
4 -general operatives I have employed American girls. They were 
_ inexperienced and had never handled silk cocoons. <A large portion 
- of time has therefore been consumed in training this force in the 
requisite alertness and accuracy, but this has been deemed wise, be- 
» eause I had in view the promotion of a staff of American operatives 
_ thoroughly conversant with the trade, and therefore the sacrifice 
seemed justifiable. Of course, immediate return by way of profit 
- could not be expected under such conditions, but I have the verbal 
» admission of Mr. Serrell, the inventor of the reels with which J am 
, now experimenting, after comparing the results obtained in one of 
ya 
‘ 
. 
i 
* 
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE: | 19 
_ Department i in the reeling of silk. Congress has been liberal Jin its 
