September 3, 1906.]
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SILK IN CHINA.
Mr. Haynes, United States Consul at Nan- king, writing of the Chinese silk industry, says the Lusang, or "domestic mulberry," is cultivated in
China in preference to all other for the silkworm. Most mulberry plantations are begun with the wild plant to which the domestic is grafted. The spot chosen is high and level, if possible, and should be rich. A wet soil is injurious to the roots. The trees should be planted six or seven feet apart in koles 14 feet deep and 3 feet in diameter, wherein liquid manure has been placed. This, after the roots have had the
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
eggs remaining on the paper are daily treated in the same way until all are hatched. The health of the worms is ascertained by watching them when they feed and noting their colour. If they eat rapidly and with relish they are strong and well. If the skin lacks an oily or shiny coat the worm is useless and must be thrown away;
valueless.
when the joints show a green and blue colour it is not good when it is of a dead white colour it is Flies should be carefully kept away from the worms; they also dislike strangers and lond talking. The ailments of silkworms are dae mostly to sudden changes of temperature. The leaves should never be fed with the morning dew on them, and leaves picked in the afternoon
139
CANTON CHAIR COOLIES ON STRIKE.
chair coolies, who object to the attempt of the Canton is at present witnessing a strike of
authorities to enforce registration. The Canton Daily News explains the matter thus:- authorities and posted all over the city to the In pursuance of a notice issued by the Chinese
effect that the question of registration of chair coolies must be settled, about four hundred chair
coolies met on Thursday at the Hoi Tong Chee at a station in Wing On Street, in the West Temple, Honam. It seems that the headman
earth sifted and tightly packed around them, dry rapidly and overheat the worms. The City and seven of his companions accepted the
obviates the need of daily watering.
In February the shots are cut down to within 1 feet of the ground. Then two sprouts are allowed to grow, which, by October, will be some five or six feet high. In February of the third year the upper parts are pruned to about 11 feet above the original stem. Again on each branch only two sproute are allowed to grow, which, by October, will also be 5 or 6 feet high. These are pruned at the same time, February. and at the same length as the others. This process is continued for five years, after which they are allowed to grow without pruning until May or June, when both stems and leaves are out off, and are called the first orop of mulberry for feeding. If all the leaves are not consumed they should be cut off, or else the next year's growth will be thin and small. Subsequently two sprouts only are permitted 10 grow on each uppermost branch, all sprouts below and on the trunk being rubbed off, so that in the fall there will be in all 16 branches to supply the next year's crop. The full- grown tree is about 5 feet high, so that it can be easily cultivated and leaves gathered by any ordinary-sized person. The longest- lived trees are said to last over 50 years. One tree will produce from 75 to 100 pounds of
leaves.
w silk in China is produced from five kinds of worms, (1) Those that eat mulberry leaves; (2) those eating ailanthus leaves; (3) those feeding on oak tree leaves; (4) wild worms feeding on a shrub (Xanthoxy ou slantum) called by the Chinese huatsiao or peppery flower. Silk produced from worms of this is very small in quantity and can not b› bought in the market. It is made into cloth for private individuals, and when manufactured has a slight aroma, which the natives say makes it moth proof.
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An expert in silk at Canton wrote to the Swiss Government, saying there were 80 many different varieties of silk worms in China that for an elaborate report a special study of them would be necessary."
In Southern Chius the Taysaam and Lusijut are generally grown. The cocoous of the former are said to be larger and of better quality than the latter, but the latter breeds oftener because hardier. The expert in Canton says that mulberry leaves are spread over tue seed to provide food immediately the worms are hatched, after which these leaves, thickly covered with worms, are placed on bamboo sticks and put on frames, In Nanking and the surrounding country, one of the principal silkgrowing regions of China, the seed are hatched in a box or on paper, from which, after being fed for some three week, they are attached to straws and require no more feeding, but begin spinning their cocoons, which, when finished, are boiled, to soften and to kill the worm (larva). If not killed, this worm guas through the cocoons, ruinously cutting the threads. Silk raisers allow many to do this in order to get eggs, as they are laid only by the liberated moth. The seed must be kept warm during the winter. Occasionally they are carried in the pocket to receive the warmth of the body, sometimes in the bed, but generally in a box. Too much warmth hatches them.
The silkworm's life is forty-five or fifty days ---five spent in spinning, ten as a chrysalis in the coooon, and the remainder as a caterpiller. When first hatched it is tiny and black; when ready to spin it is about 2 inches long. Hatching is in the morning and in a well-ventilated room. Often mulberry-leaf dust is sprinkled on the paper, so that the fragrance of the leaf may attract the young. They are then transferred to a pan and placed in a dry, warm place. The
leaves should be picted in the morning when blossoms of the wild silver flower (a species of the daw has been evaporated by the sun. The honeysuckle) and liquorice root steeped in water are used to sprinkle over the mulberry leaves before they are given to the young worms. These are believed to be efficacious in preventing the ordinary ailments of the worms.
Sometimes the eggs are sprinkled with pulverized lime, which, being dusted off, is followed by a covering of cold baked salt and a soaking for some ten days in
cocoons
them on
cold tea. Afterwards clean water is slowly poured over them to remove the salt. They are then dried, folded between wadded clothing, and placed in boxes. After a week they are hatched either by artificial or natural heat. Unsalted eggs are more liable to disease, consume more leaves, grow larger, and spin less large and thick than the salted kind. One of the rules complied by the gentry of Chien P'ing for the cultivation of the silkworm is as follows: "The eggs are hatched by heat, but the heat must not be too great. When the mulberry begins to bud, lake the once or twice egg cloths down, fold them according to their size (if folded too thick the heat of the body will not penetrate them), and wrap them in paper; during the daytime place the chests or back of persons not doing
work, last the perspiration destroy
during the bight. but do not lie on them
them into the wadding put
of quilts, If the weather is warm they may also be kept in the quilts during the In six or seven days the eggs will be barched. If the quilts are used the wadding must be new (old wadding does not retain heat). Should the season be late delay the hatching a few days." When the worms appear they are After placed in a tray and covered with leaves. eating for some days they take what is know as the first sleep. This over, they eat again for four or five days and take a second sleep, all the while growing larger and consuming more. This contious until the fourth or final sleep, two inches long, are placed upon straw for three days after which the worms, now about
spinning.
I
day
hard the
eggs:
regis ration cards, as ordered by the authorities, aud their action aggravated their numerous companious who through their headman, a curtain Tse Cheun, called the meeting. After a lively discuss on in which about 400 coolies took part, it was finally decided to use all efforts of the Authorities to collect a tax means in their power to antagonize the from each man and to force him to register. Besides forcing these regulations upon the coolies, the council goes further and says that the occupant is not to be charged for his fare, but payment according to a fixed tariff only must be collected. The coolies resented this, more especially as it will undoubtedly reduce to a great extent their earnings. The climax of the meeting was a vote to the effect that unless the diplomatic efforts of the Chairman of the meeting are successful in reducing the state of
affairs which the Authorities seem determined in be resorted to. So there is no chair available in enforcing, the severe method of strike would the city at present.
PIRATES ATTACK SALT BOATS.
The Canton Daily News reports another attack by pirates on West River shipping.
An organized band of more than one hundred pirates attacked the salt boats at their anchorage in the Kwong Ning district near Wuchow, on the night of the 29th alt. The booty not only consisted of money and other articles, but also of five girls, daughters of some sailors. The affair was at ones reported to the District Magistrate and afterwards to the Customs Com missioner at Wuchow, who ordered all efforts to be put forth to rescue the girls and bring the pirates to justice.
HONGKONG AND THE KWANGTUNG
RAILWAY.
GERMAN COMM NT.
Der Oslasiatische Lloyd remarks, in the ment of a Belgian engineer for the Canton- cours of a reference to the proposed appoint- Hankow railway :-
"If one remembers the fact that the Hong.
THE YANGTSE STEAMER SERVICE | kong Government, about a year ago, put the
NEW JAPANESE COMBINE.
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At the present time, says the Japan Chronicle of Aug. 19, there are, four Japines shipping companies operating their vessels the Yangtse-the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Osaka Shosen Kaisha, Hunan Steamship Company, and Duito Steamship ompany. The three latter companies receive a subsidy from the Government. A proposal was mide some time ago to amalgamate these four services, and thus endeavour to extend the business to their mutual advantage. The project fell through, as the subsidised concerns were aware that in the event of incorporation the subsidies would cease to be paid. The subject has again been mooted, and the companies interested have agreed to form a combine for the purpose of competing against the other foreign steamers.
necessary means at the disposal of the Governor- General at Wachang for the redemption of the concession from the Americans and Belgians, we cannot help smiling at the irony of Fate which gives this mat'er a new aspect. One can easily understand that the Hongkong Govern- ment has emphatically protested against this intention of the railway administration, and bases its contention on the fac, that it only sup plied on the condition that only English or Japanese engineers should be engaged. Of course, the Chinese will answer, and with soms just ground, that the Hongkong Government has made this treaty not with the right person; though Governor-General Chang Chih-tang has redeemed the concession from the Americans and Belgians, the railway is not built by him or the Chinese Government, but by a private com- pany, which is in no way bound by the agree- Mr. Kondo, President of the N.Y.K., willments of Chang Chih-tung. One is curious to leave Japan at an early date for the purpose of know how this unpleasantly complicated matter investigating the shipping business in Korea will further develop." and China. After visiting various ports along the Japan Sea, he will proceed to Fusan, Chemulpo, Tairen, Newchwang, Tientsin, and Peking. From the capital he. will go to Hankow by rail, and after closely inquiring into the Yangtse business will embark at Shanghai for Japan. Mr. Harada, manager of the Osaka branch of the N.Y.K., will join Mr. Kondo at Fushiki.
On August 29th Mossra Hughes and Hough offered for sale by public auction the lease- hold properties known as Sections B. and C. of Sub-section No. 6 of ection A. of Inland Lət No. 120, with the premises thereon known as Nos. 23 and 25 Elgin Street. They were knocked down to Mr. Li Wai-tong for $14,300.