WHITE-FRUITED MULBERRY-TREE. 449 



Louis XIII.. the silk manufactures fell into neglect; but under the reign of his 

 successor, Louis XIV., the subject attracted the attention of government, and 

 Colbert, one of the public ministers, seeing tlie advantages that might be derived 

 from the culture of mulberry-trees, resolved to enforce it by every means in his 

 power. He reestablished royal nurseries; gave plants to all who desired them; 

 and even planted, by force, tlie lands of proprietors who would not voluntarily 

 cultivate tlie trees. This arbitrary measure caused so much dissatisfaction and 

 disgust, on the part of the proprietors, that the mulberry plantations were soon 

 suffered to decay. Colbert next tried more gentle means, offering a premium 

 of twenty-four sous for every mulberry-tree that had stood in a plantation for 

 three years. This plan was crowned with success; and, in the course of a 

 few years, mulberry plantations were general throughout the kingdom, and 

 have so continued up .to the present day. Soon after Algiers came into pos- 

 session of the French, in 1830, a public nursery, occupying eighty acres, was there 

 established, which is said to contain twenty-five thousand trees and plants for the 

 purpose of experiment in naturalization, among which are the Morus alba and 

 several of its varieties. 



In Germany, the culture of silk was first introduced by Frederick II., who had 

 mulberries planted extensively in different parts of his dominions ; and the exam- 

 ple was soon after followed in Saxony, Austria, and in some of the smaller states. 

 In Bavaria, this species of culture was commenced under the auspices of govern- 

 ment, and of the Munich Agricultural Society, in about 1820, at the recommen- 

 dation of M. Hazzi. Since that time, a great number of mulberry plants have 

 been raised in the government nurseries, and distributed throughout the provin- 

 ces; but, on the whole, neither in this part of Germany, nor in any other, has the 

 culture of silk ever been very considerable. In several of the southern states, 

 however, pollard trees may be seen bordering the highways, and in some of the 

 cities, goods are made from German silk; but the chief establishments of this 

 kind are at Vienna, at Rovedero in the Tyrol, at Creveldt, at Berlin, and at 

 Cologne. 



The culture of silk has been introduced into Belgium with some prospect of 

 success; and the mulberry has also been planted in the southern parts of Den- 

 mark. In Sweden, an attempt has been made to establish its culture in the 

 southern provinces ; but the experiment has proved unprofitable. 



In Russia, the silk culture has been commenced in the Crimea, and all the best 

 varieties of the Morus alba have been planted in the government garden at Odessa ; 

 where, according to M. Descemet, they perfectly succeed. 



In Egypt, the culture of silk was introduced some years since, by the Pa^ha 

 Ibrahim, and is said to be in a prosperous state. In Persia, the silkworm is 

 nourished almost exclusively on the leaves of the black mulberry. The cultiva- 

 tors, from a motive of economy, are accustomed to feed the worms with the 

 boughs of the tree, with the foliage upon them, instead of using the leaf sepa- 

 rately, as is adopted in most other silk-growing countries. 



In India, the culture of the mulberry and the rearing of silkworms continue to 

 be practised; but how far it will be influenced by the progress of this culture in 

 Europe and America, remains to be proved. In Australia, the culture of silk has 

 been undertaken to a considerable extent, and from the mildness of its climate, 

 and the cheapness of labour, it appears likely to be attended with success. 



The first record of silk in Britain, is of a present sent by Charlemagne, to Olfa. 

 king of Mercia, in the year 708, consisting of a belt and two silken vests. Silk 

 is also mentioned in a chronicle of the date of 1280, in which we are told that 

 some ladies wore silk mantles at a festival, in Kenilworiii, about tiiat ])erioa : 

 and by other records, we find that this article was worn l)y the English clergy. 

 in L534. Henry VIll. had tlie first pair of silk stockings thai were ever seen in 



