FARMERS’ CLUB. 
(Continued from page 884 ) 
DISCUSSION. 
PROFITS OF SILK CULTURE. 
J. M. S., St Louis, Mo.—Surely the read¬ 
ers of the Rural living in certain localities 
will be surprised to see what is said of silk 
culture in the Farmers’ Club on page 809. I 
have never had any silk worm eggs or mul¬ 
berry trees to sell, and, remembering the silk 
culture craxe of many years ago, was rather 
skeptical about it as an industry; but I be¬ 
lieve in giving such things a fair, unprejudiced 
investigation. Many of the claims made for 
silk culture are as incorrect as the opinion you 
have formed of it. Silk culture iahard work, 
and not play; and the worms require close 
attention and care. There are only certain 
localities in this country where it is highly or 
even fairly profitable. The eggs must be 
batched in the early Spring; and if the climate 
is such that the atmosphere is damp and 
chil.y at this season, there is apt to be great 
fatality among the worms, and those which 
come to the spinning period do not produce 
the best cocoons. In California, Utah, Kan¬ 
sas, Arizona, and several considerable sections 
of the South, the climate is favorable to silk 
culture. You certainly can not be aware of 
what is being done in this industry in Cali¬ 
fornia By far too much has been claimed for 
silk culture; but to condemn it in toto is 
almost equally wrong. To advise bee keeping 
or poultry keeping or small fruit raising in 
place of silk culture is hardly right, since 
these can not be made profitable everywhere; 
to attempt any in many localities would be 
ridiculous. In localities where the climate is 
favorable, a careful person, well Informed on 
the subj-’Ct and properlv situated, will do well 
to engage in this industry. 
R. N. Y —We have for years been giving 
silk culture “a fair, unprejudiced investiga¬ 
tion,"’and what we said of it on page 809— 
that we do not think it can be made a profit¬ 
able business in this country under present 
conditions of labor, though it may help to 
make pocket money or to eke out a slim in¬ 
come—is absolutely true. We are very care 
ful not to express hasty, ill considered or 
prejudiced opinions on any matter of wide 
interest to any class of the community, and 
it would be well for our friendly critic to 
follow our example in this respect. In what 
part of the country can silk culture be prac¬ 
ticed where either poultry or bee-keening or 
small fruit culture would be ridiculous? It 
seems to us that one or more of these pursuits 
could be made profitable wherever silk cul¬ 
ture has a chance of paying its way. As Frof. 
C. V. Riley has written a good deal officially 
on the subject and has, from his official posi¬ 
tion, had the best opportunities iu the country 
for learning the “truth about it,” we wrote 
to him on the matter. In reply he writes as 
follows; 
“You ask whether I know of any place in 
the United States where the raisiug of silk 
cocoons is a profitable industry as an exclusive 
business—that is profitable to the raiser—and 
what is my opinion of it as a vocation and an 
avocation. 
The first question is easily answered: I know 
of none! The answer should, however, be 
qualified, as l have never recommended silk- 
culture as au exclusive business. Indeed no 
one having any intimate knowledge of it 
would be likely to do so. My writings on the 
subject show very fully that I have always 
urged it as an incidental to other employment, 
anil the question of profit must be considered 
from that standpoiut. If there are members 
of a family who can earn a few dollars a 
year by raising silk cocoons, and cannot earn 
money by any other means, it follows that 
a return for their efforts in silk culture may 
be considered profitable, no matter how meagre 
the return may be. 
In point of fact, the experience at the ex¬ 
periment, stations both at Philadelphia and 
New Ui leans, run under the auspices of the 
Department of Agriculture to test the question 
of profit, has not been very encouraging the 
past year The actual cost at Philadelphia for 
producing a pound of silk has beeu $7.58, 
while the silk has brought $4,40 per pound. At 
New Orleans there is a better showing: 3,8fi0 
pounds of dried cocoons have been obtained 
aud have brought, on an average, $1 00 per 
pound- 2,710 pounds have already been reeled 
ana have produced 641 pounds of reeled silk, 
which has sold at. $4.5U per pound. For labor 
employed iu making this reeled silk, the cost 
has been$l 75 per pound;in other words, the 
silk reeled has cost $0 07 and has brought but 
$4,50. There has recently been a decided rise 
lo the price of reeled silk, which would put a 
diffeient showing on the above figures, and it 
must be remembered that the general expense 
in purely experimental work is always heavy, 
because under commercial circumstances 
there is some income from silk waste, which 
is not here included. I have rather dis 
couraged than encouraged this industry for 
the past three years, because I am thorough¬ 
ly convinced that the majority of those who 
engage in it are doomed to disappointment. 
With a duty on the so called raw silk, this 
might be changed, especially if the 8errel 
reeling machine proves to be, in practice, a 
success. 
An Extended Popularity. Brown’s Bron¬ 
chial Troches have been before the public many 
yearn. For relieving Coughs and Throat troubles 
they are superior to aU other articles. Sold only in 
bu.ces- —Ade. 
Communications Rkckiyed for the Week ending 
Saturdav. December 19.1885. 
T V. M.-Jay.—J. E. C.-J. M. S—J. P. B.—E. W. 
B.—H. C.K., thanks.-Mrs F. A. P., thanks.—J. N. 
M.—C. S.-P. B. M.-T. D. C.-C M Y., thanks—J. K. 
-S H.-D P., thanks.-H.C.-P.W-T.E.-A, B. D. 
T.V.M.-M.T. B-J. X.L-J. W. S-W. H. H.-T. 
L C. R.-T.O. T.—E F. B.—F. G.-E R. C.—G T.—W. 
S. E.—C. M H.-P. B M.—E. S G.-F. L O.-H. I.-H. 
H.-W. K . thanks.-J T.J.-D. P. S.-R H.-S. W. 
P - J A. P.-T. H. IL—C. J. P.-T. N. C.-J. W. S.-P. 
E.-M T. E._ 
tls till ‘,3 ‘.ha irii-.a eft Steel Srulu: aii Lit:'.::, aid to tigCcttinj, Wftaj, Pr::e:3 of Double Gangs 
l Ctd’.or:. laaec'i g <z:wst. Crsshxor, Leveling and Pniv-rong performed it the same tine. Entire 
pitas or Spring Teeth avoids tailing np rnK&h- Only Harrow that nts cverthe entire surface at the gronni 
,c 15 ft, wide. With and without Sulky attachment. We deliver free at Distributing Depots. 
DO \OT BE DECEIVED. Don’t let dealers palm off a base imitation orsomein- 
IV ferior tool under the assurance that it is better. SATISFY YOURSELF BY ORDER- 
__ ISO AN “ACME"' ON TRL'.L. We will send a double sr»ii:r Acme to any 
’^responsible farmer in the United States; if it does not suit, he may send it back, we 
■ * “paying return freight. We don't ask pay until tried oa his own farm, 
r pamphlet containing' thousands of testimonials from IS States and Territories, 
ranch Office. UK CU O Manufactory and Principal Office, 
isuiitG, penn. HAOn Ct El tv V#* 9 MILLINGTON, New Jersey. 
TILLAGE IS MANURE" and other essays sent free to parties who NAME THIS PAPER. 
pt.SfcUanfou.sf 
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A FEW THOUSAND COPIES 
OF 
SUNSHINE F0R LITTLE CHILDREN 
OFFERED TO THE RE4DERS OF THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
to aoo u feet 
01 iuuit'i r c.iu be cut in a day. limit in >t first-class 
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have the beat FI ill n of larger sites, Portable and 
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LANE <5c BODLEY CO.. 
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In order to repay those who have sent, or may send, us names for sample copies, 
we have made arrangements with tbe SUNSHINE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 
by which we can place a few thousand copies of their elegant magazine, 
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Unsurpassed.... Worth 
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On receipt of only Twenty-Five Cents and one name, to whom you 
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So sure are we that these will please, that we agree to return the money to all 
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To any subscriber sending us one neio subscriber, the Magazine and Pictures will 
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Magazine and eight of the Litho-engravings, each different. 
Address The Rural New Yorker, 34 Park Row, N, Y. 
Cheapest anti Best. 
1 / It . Prove It. 
Prairie Farmer 
(Established 1S4I), 
Now Edited by 
known to the whole country for 
25 years ns Editor of what was, 
when under his control, the 
most reliable and valuable 
Rural Journal iu America. 
The Prairie Farmer is u 
large, beautiful, well Illustrated 
Weekly Journal, full of Good 
Things, for every Department 
of tturol Life, everywhere. 
Its Household Department 
is unsurpassed—is practical & 
useful for every Housekeeper 
in Country, Village, or City. 
Price Reduced 
The Weekly Prairie Farmer is 
reduced, temporarily, to ouly 
SI.50 a year. Every Weekly 
number equal to any Mouth ly. 
Tvij It. It Will Pay. 
Sample Copy Free. Address 
1’RAIKIE FARMER, 
Chicago, Ill. 
si™ 
jmf 
Bmi 
U iM 
