Bombycidse 
reared. In this respect it is like many other domesticated animals. 
The caterpillar, of which a figure is herewith given, feeds upon 
Fig. 191.—Larva of Bombyx mori „■ (After Riley.) 
the leaves of the white mulberry, and will also feed freely upon 
the leaves of the Osage orange, an American hedge-plant. The 
insect was introduced at an early date 
into the American colonies, but its 
culture has not as yet risen in the 
New World to great proportions, 
though the manufacture of silk from 
imported material is at the present 
day an important American industry. 
Fig. 192.— Cocoon of B. mori. The culture of silk is an industry 
(After Riley.) which might be best undertaken 
and maintained in the Southern States of the American Union, 
where climatic conditions are wholly favorable to it. The Caro- 
linas and Georgia appear to fur¬ 
nish the best climate for the 
development of this industry, and 
it is believed by those who are 
most conversant with the matter 
that in time the rearing of the silk¬ 
worm may become in these States 
an exceedingly important and 
profitable branch of industry. 
Southern California and Arizona 
are also likely to become centers in which the growing of raw 
silk may be successfully pursued. 
THE HISTORY OF SILK-CULTURE 
The greater portion of the silk of commerce is produced 
by the larvae of the moth known as Bombyx mori . The in 
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