THE SECRETS OF SILKWORM CULTURE

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The silkworm's sticky sericin—some of which will remain on the filaments—makes the thread a bit stiff and lackluster. However, it's best to weave the silk before you give it a final wash in mild soap and water to remove this gluey substance.

A NEW GENERATION

Meanwhile, back at the breeding box, you can watch the Bombyx m ori—the mulberry or silkworm moth—put in its brief appearance. The "great awakening" — as me Chinese called this eventtakes place as the moth secretes its alkaline saliva ... which softens the end of the cocoon and allows the adult insect to step into the world.

The wings of the male moth have a dis tinct sickle shape, and will soon dry and grow as the insect flaps them. The females can be easily identified by their larger abdomens. Neither sex able to fly, and the "ladies" rarely stray more than a few inches from their cocoons.

Since the moths are not equipped to eat and sustain themselves, mating and egg-laying take place soon after they emerge from their cocoons. Be prepared—by placing some paper towels in the nest boxes—to remove the sticky eggs with as little disturbance as possible. Should a moth lay its tiny treasures on a cocoon, just snip them off and place 'em with the other eggs dropped (you hope) on the paper. Then, let ,the new seed dry for a few days before you store it.

Following mating and reproduction, both sexes of moth will die within a few days ... which brings the silkworm story full circle. Take the poppy-seed- like eggs and place them in a small (labeled) jar to be saved—in the crisper compartment of your refrigerator- for next year's effort.

As a potential "worm rancher", you'd probably like to know what kind of profit you can expect from your work. Well, in terms of money from the sale of thread, the rewards probably won't amount to much ... unless you have groves of mulberry trees and a number of hands to help you out in spring and early summer. But, on the other hand, so little silk is produced in North America that the market is wide open, and there are other ways to turn your hobby into an income besides selling material!

Both Mary Stock and Marguerite Shimmin, for example, find themselves in great demand for sericulture lectures to schoolchildren, clubs, and craft groups. Marguerite is sometimes commissioned by museums to make repairs in old tapestries, and Mary tells us that her homegrown silk is snatched up by area weavers for around $35 a pound! So, despite the time and effort required to grow and harvest their silk crops, both of these women feel well rewarded for their labors.

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