222 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



two million pounds of silk. Prussia is rapidly increasing in silk manu- 

 factures In eighteen hundred and thirty-one, she had nine thousand 

 looms; in eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, fourteen thousand looms; 

 in eighteen hundred and fifty-five, twenty-five thousand looms; in eigh- 

 teen hundred and sixty-five, forty thousand looms Switzerlandproduced, 

 in eighteen hundred and fifty-eight, twenty million dollars of silk goods. 

 The Paris Exhibition gave a splendid specimen and contrasts in this 

 great work, and free opportunities for study. These figures are more 

 eloquent than words. Of the real productions of China and the Asiatic 

 silk countries, we know but little. A large proportion of their people 

 clothe themselves in silk. China imported to England, in eighteen hun- 

 dred and fifty-five, ten million pounds of silk. India, Persia, Turkey, 

 Asia Minor, Syria, etc., produce vast quantities of silk, of which no 

 reliable accounts can be had or given. 



THE SILKWORM AND ITS VARIETIES. 



The first and principal is the Bombyx mori, or common silkworm of 

 Asia, because most generally used in producing the best silk. It is born in 

 spring here, from the fifth of April to middle of May ; is of a white cream 

 color, with a brown facia, when first hatched, but changes its color four 

 or five times, and attains its full growth in six weeks, and increases in 

 weight seventy-two thousand times. In June or July it establishes the 

 workshop of its wouderful manufacture, and in seventy-two hours of 

 unremitting toil it produces a thread of from four hundred to six hun- 

 dred and one thousand yards long. Here, in its inclosure, it sheds its 

 skin, and finally comes out a chrysalis, bearing but a slight resemblance 

 to a worm. After two weeks or so, according to temperature, the skin 

 of the chrysalis opens and, changing again, it comes out a butterfly, la} T s 

 some hundreds of eggs and dies. 



Ailanthus Silkworm (Bombyx Cynthia Vera) — This is also a peculiar 

 China worm, is cultivated in the open air, lives on the ailanthus tree, 

 produces an elongated cocoon of a reddish color, making a strong and 

 desirable tissue. This worm has been and is successfully raised at 

 Brooklyn (New York), and Baltimore (Maryland). 



This worm would do admirably in California. The tr'ees could be 

 gi'own to any extent; when once planted would spread all over the 

 country, and is worthy of a trial here. The experiments in France 

 have been quite successful, and given a new, increased and growing 

 importance to the business. 



The Castor Oil Plant silkworm (Bombyx Arrandia) — This species we 

 found in India — lives in both a wild and domesticated state, upon the 

 common castor oil plants and other vegetation. It has been successfully 

 introduced in Europe, bj 7 living cocoons, in Algiers. Brazil, etc., or 

 wherever the castor oil bean will grow. It would succeed admirably in 

 southern California. The fabrics are durable, supple and valuable, but 

 lustreless. 



The Tusseh silkworm (Bombyx mikta) — This wonderful insect lives 

 also in India, in the woods, in hot regions. It feeds on the jujube tree. 

 .It makes a beautiful silk, and is valuable; but its introduction into 

 Europe has not been successful. 



The wild silkworm of Japan (Bombyx yama may) — This worm feeds on 

 oak leaves; is reared in France. I have seen it in Persia and Mesopo- 

 tamia, and it will succeed here. It does not require great heat. Its 

 cocoon is a greenish yellow. The silk is easily reeled. 



