1903 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
3 
SILK CULTURE IN AMERICA. 
The Worms Thrive in South Carolina. 
SOUTHERN POSSIBILITIES—There are millions 
of people in this enlightened country who do not 
know that all the silk of the world is the oroduct 
of a tiny worm which in its earliest life is so small 
as to be hardly visible to the naked eye. I believe 
that any section of this country is adapted to silk cul¬ 
ture except the extreme North, but the Southern 
States are peculiarly suited on account of climate, 
which is similar to that of Italy. In this State (South 
Carolina) some time in the early part of the last cen¬ 
tury, an attempt was made to introduce silk culture, 
but unfortunately it was made futile by a craze which 
arose for the procuration and planting of the mul¬ 
berry tree, Morus multicaulis (the best food of the 
silkworm). Silk culture, which was the primary ob¬ 
ject, was forgotten, and the people went wild over 
buying and planting the mulberry tree. Of a sudden 
the craze died out and with it went all interest in silk 
culture by the reaction. No systematic attempt since 
then had been made to revive it until last year, when 
a few men of Orangeburg, S. C. (the writer among 
them), believing the time opportune for again intro¬ 
ducing it, formed an association for the purpose of 
experimenting and acquiring and spreading informa¬ 
tion on the subject. We were greatly and pleasantly 
surprised to find that many people all over the coun¬ 
try were equally interested, and that large concerns 
were being organized at the North, with ample cap¬ 
ital, to introduce this industry and to build filatures 
for reeling the silk from the cocoons when grown. As 
it may be of interest to your readers, I will give ex¬ 
perience last Summer in rearing silkworms. 
BEGINNING OPERATIONS.—In seeking for infor¬ 
mation and seed, as the eggs are called, I wrote to the 
Agricultural Department at Washing¬ 
ton, but found that they had no eggs, 
nor could they give any information; 
by accident I was put in communication 
with Prof. Gerald McCarthy, of the 
North Carolina Experiment Station, 
who kindly sent me a lot of literature 
and an ounce of eggs, imported from 
Italy. One ounce of eggs will produce 
about 40,000 worms, and not needing 
so many I gave away to interested par¬ 
ties all except about 5,000. In any sec¬ 
tion where an experiment is to be made, 
the time for hatching the eggs is when 
the mulberry tree begins to shoot its 
leaves. With us this time arrived about 
April 24, so I proceeded to hatch out my 
worms by laying the eggs in a warm 
dark place. For three days they were 
hatching out, mostly from 6 A. M. to 12 
M. After the third day we did not keep 
those which hatched, as they are not 
desirable. As soon as hatched the ten¬ 
der leaves of the mulberry were gath¬ 
ered and chopped fine and spread over 
the little worms, repeating the opera¬ 
tion as often as required. When first 
hatched they are very small, and for 
the first five days do not grow much, at that period 
they shed their skins or “moult,” as it is called. They 
have five periods of this moulting; first period about 
five days, second four days, third six days, fourth 
seven days and fifth and last period 10 days. Be¬ 
tween each period they increase in size rapidly and 
coarse particles of leaves were given them until the 
third period, when whole leaves were given until 
final growth. At first they do not require much at¬ 
tention, but from the beginning of the fourth period 
to the end of the last “age,” as these periods are 
called, they consume an enormous amount of leaves 
in proportion to their other ages. 
PREPARING FOR SPINNING.—I had a simple sys¬ 
tem of shelves made to lay them on and to facilitate 
feeding and cleansing the shelves also made a lot of 
trays by tacking plaster laths together l^^xS feet 
and winding cord around these frames. As soon as 
one feeding of leaves was eaten, a fresh tray was laid 
on the worms and fresh leaves placed on the tray. 
The worms soon climbed on to the fresh tray of 
leaves, when this tray was laid aside and the bottom 
tray removed and cleansed for next feeding, when the 
same process was repeated. About the tenth day of 
last age my worms ceased eating and showed a rest¬ 
less spirit, which indicated their desire to spin their 
cocoons. I then cut end sprigs of the Water oak (any 
oak would do) and laid them over the worms. They 
soon commenced spinning and in due time all were 
spun into their beautiful white, yellow and buff-col¬ 
ored habitations, or cocoons as they are called. After 
laying aside as many of the finest as I needed for 
.saving eggs for another season, I proceeded to kill the 
insect or chrysalis of the cocoons I wished to market, 
this being done by steaming and drying, or by expo¬ 
sure to the sun for several days. Such of the cocoons 
as I had reserved for seed for another year I laid on 
small squares of cloth on tables or shelves. About the 
twelfth or fifteenth day the moth came out by cutting 
a hole in one end of the cocoon; males and females 
in nearly equal proportion. After two or three days 
the female proceeded to lay her eggs on the small 
squares of cloth, about 200 to 300 to each female. In 
a day or two after the eggs are laid the moth dies. 
The eggs are placed in some tin receptacle and put 
out of reach of mice, ants and roaches. Next April 
the whole process will be repeated. 
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS.—The following facts 
are essential to those who may wish to experiment: 
Get healthy eggs from some reliable person who 
makes a specialty of the business. They are subject 
to certain diseases which are very destructive to 
them, and specialists guard against these diseases. 
Eggs and complete information may be obtained from 
Prof. Gerald McCarthy, Biologist of the Department 
of Agriculture of North Carolina, or from the Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture at Washington. The temperature 
of the rooms in which they are raised must be kept 
between 75 and 85 degrees, and no noise made in at¬ 
tending them. Keep clean and allow plenty of room. 
The best food is the leaf of the White mulberry 
(Morus m.ulticaulis) and the Downing mulberry. These 
trees grow anywhere in the United States and produce 
quantities of fruit, which is fine food for poultry. 
Chop leaves fine for the first three ages, after that 
the whole leaf can be given. Rats, mice and ants 
must be kept away, also roaches. The time required 
to raise the worms from hatching to spinning is from 
32 to 36 days. The worms never stray from table or 
shelf unless at spinning time, and twigs are not at 
hand. The industry does not yield large returns, but 
amply repays for the labor utilized and the very 
small outlay pf money required. e. n. ciusolm. 
Rowesville, S. C. 
AN AUSTRALIAN SCARECROW. 
A writer in Garden and Field, an excellent Austra¬ 
lian paper, says that a scarecrow made like the one 
pictured at Fig. 3 proved yery effective. He describes 
it as follows: 
“A is a piece of three-fourths-inch gas pipe insert¬ 
ed firmly in the soil so as to stand six feet above 
ground; the top end must be smooth. B is of gal¬ 
vanized downpipe, with an end soldered on the top. 
C C are short pieces of downpipe soldered on B. N 
is a piece of tin or iron cut as described and shown. 
D is a dead bird or wing of a fowl. If a noisy toy 
windmill were fixed on the top it would be an im¬ 
provement. To be of any real use the scarecrows 
must not be placed in position until they are abso¬ 
lutely required and removed directly they have served 
their purpose, otherwise spoggie will get as familiar 
with them as with the trees themselves, and thus all 
beneficial results will be lost. To make the movable 
scarecrow get three pieces of two-inch round galvan¬ 
ized downpipe, viz., one four feet and the other two 
feet long. Solder them together in the shape of a 
cross, with a cap soldered on the top end of the four- 
foot length. At the end of one arm fasten a piece of 
tin, say one side of a kerosene tin with about half an 
inch of the top edge, cut along three inches from each 
end, and one strip bent out at right angles on one 
side, the other the same on the opposite side, to form 
two short arms, from which arms hang iron nuts sus¬ 
pended by strings. These nuts will keep on striking 
the tin as the figure revolves with the wind (when 
there is any). Drive a six-foot length of three-fourths- 
inch gas pipe and dress it up accordingly to taste, 
either as a lady or gentleman. A kerosene tin with a 
hole in the bottom and a two-inch slit on each side 
about half way down would perhaps help to form the 
body, as well as causing more noise, especially if 
three or four iron nuts were suspended by strings in¬ 
side of it.” 
A WESTERN FRUIT GROWER TALKS. 
Why do I keep The R. N.-Y.? I esteem it the most 
valuable paper a farmer can keep. I have kept it 11 
years and used it almost entirely as an adviser and 
guide in the management of my farm. And as fruit 
growing is my main industry, especially peaches, I 
will just say that by following its advicq closely in 
selecting varieties, ways of culture and treatment of 
peaches I have never had but one entire year of fail¬ 
ure, and that was when the hail destroyed everything, 
when even the trees were cut up so badly that you 
would think they would be ruined, but again thank 
The R. N.-Y. for its advice, which I closely followed, 
and mine came out all right. In 1900, when peaches 
in this neighborhood all froze during the Winter, I 
picked between 1,400 and 1,500 baskets, mainly Cros¬ 
by, and in 1901 when there was scarcely a peach in 
the neighborhood, I picked between 4,000 and 5,000 
baskets. Farmers from far and near seeing my 
peaches on market, came to me asking where and 
how I got this or that variety, when I praised The R. 
N.-Y. to them as my guide. I send a picture of my¬ 
self and family. Fig. 4, which a friend took just as we 
were picking, sorting and loading peaches ready for 
market. I can recommend The R. N.-Y. as a guide to 
any young man wanting to start for himself, and 
wishing to make a success in life. I wish long life to 
the dear old R. N.-Y., and I hope to 
read its columns many years to come. 
St. Louis Co., Mo. AUG. eimes. 
THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 
AT CORNELL 
It is very gratifying indeed to observe 
how unreservedly the farmers uphold 
the plan for an Agricultural College 
building and equipment at Cornell. With 
the limited capacity for students and 
the great demand for instruction has 
come a feeling of discontent among our 
boys who feel the immediate need of se¬ 
curing special training. Recently I met 
with a case in Erie County where two 
boys had patiently waited for a chance 
to take the short course at Cornell, but 
on account of the applications ahead, 
nearly enough for another year, had 
finally concluded to attend a western 
school. This should appeal to our State 
pride in New York, the Empire State in 
wealth, population and commerce, the 
leading dairy State and also in the front 
rank in general agriculture, leading also 
in apple growing, having a producing 
power annually of over 50,000,000 barrels. A brief 
study of agricultural statistics will convince the most 
skeptical of our position in producing power of soil 
products, and that the time is now ripe for action, 
whatever may have been our former prejudices or 
opinions regarding an agricultural school. I am in¬ 
clined to think if every farmer in New York would at 
once send a postal card or letter to his Assemblyman 
and Senator before he reaches Albany, or while there, 
asking that he give his best efforts to a passage of a 
bill with an appropriation sufficient to build and equip 
a school superior in its appointments to any college 
in this country, that any opposition, however strong 
now, would rapidly melt away. One of the most sig¬ 
nificant straws is the quick consent at this time of 
men prominent and influential who have in the past 
turned the cold shoulder to the proposition. It is 
simply time for every man owning farming lands in 
New York State to put his shoulder to the wheel 
and lift us out of the slough, not of despond but of 
apathy, and make it possible for the East to stand up¬ 
on an equal plane at least with the schools of Wis¬ 
consin, Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois. 
H. E. COOK. 
THE SOAPSTONE STOVE.—This would seem to 
be a good time to call attention to the virtues of the 
soapstone stove, a piece of furniture which might 
well find a place in the house of any farmer who has 
wood to burn or sell. The top is hinged so that large 
and knotty wood can be used and on this farm we 
never take the trouble to split our rough and refuse 
wood. The larger the wood the less trouble in firing. 
The heat is equable, like that of a coal stove. The 
stove is very durable, one lately thrown aside hav¬ 
ing been used in this house over 30 years. I think 
they are made in New Hampshire. I never see them 
in the stores here now, as the coal stove has orob- 
ably driven them off the market. But if coal is to 
continue a luxury as now, they will come into use 
again. c. s. p. 
Winslow, Me. 
A MISSOURI FRUIT GROWER’S FAMILY. Fio. 4. 
