The Rural Voice, 1990-03, Page 45RURAL LIVING
They also stop eating when they are
ready to spin their cocoons, and they
become translucent. You can see the
silk glands pulsating shortly before
this stage. When the caterpillars begin
casting silk they are removed from the
resting area and put into cones made
from regular typing paper.
A grown caterpillar of about three
inches (7.5 cm) spins in a figure-eight
formation for about three days, until
the caterpillar can't be seen. The
cocoon is left alone for seven days
while it goes through the chrysalis
stage. The largest cocoons, and the
first moths to emerge, are kept for
breeding.
From eggs to Bobyx mori moth.
The remaining cocoons are reeled
— a mile of silk filament can be
obtained from each cocoon. The last
layer of silk is left around the chrysalis
so that the moth can survive. But if
the cocoons won't be used until later,
the pupa must be killed by steaming or
baking the cocoon in a warm oven.
The silk is dropped into boiling
water to be cleaned, and at this point
dye can be added. The silk is then
teased out until it can be stretched
onto a board between four nails about
20 cm apart, into a square.
A pound of silk sells for $40 to
$60, depending upon quality. But
Bumlees is content to produce only
for her own needs. She spins silk on a
100 -year old Quebec Convent wheel.
Her weaving is done on a Swedish
Lillestenna loom in overshot, using
two-ply handspun and 212 tabby.
There is no overhead, expensive
materials, smell, or noise in raising
silkworms. And for anyone prepared
to breed year-round, the market is
lucrative.°
HURON
AgVi
BRUCEFIELD
ONTARIO
NOM IJO
se
Mervyn J. Erb
Agronomist
Independent Crop Consultant
TELEPHONE: (519) 233-7100
MOBILE: (519) 661-9451
STPROFITCRIF
RATEGIES?
TREES
Quality Nursery Stock
MARCH SPECIAL
White Spruce (1 gal.)
reg $7.25 SPECIAL $5.50
BAREFOOT STOCK (648 FT.)
• Maple • Ash • And Morel
CONTAINER STOCK
• Norway Spruce • White Spruce
• Blue Spruce • Austrian Ptne
• Cedar • And much Morel
Windbreak and landscape stock available
527-1750
R R. 2, Seatorth
THE SURGE
STANCHION FEED MANAGER
The freedom to feed your cows
the way they should be fed
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Now you can:
Feed up to 12 times a day. Lead feed.
Combine up to 6 different Challenge feed.
feed components.
Increase or decrease
amount fed over a specific
period.
Measure weights accurately
to within 5 grams (0.176 oz.).
HURON DAIRY EQUIPMENT
LTD.
R. v oeafwnth Ont.NOK IWO
519-522-1935SURGE
MARCH 1990 41