JOURNAL, OF PROCEEDINGS, ll 



been generally considered, being 1250 to 1000, and consequently 

 greater than the strongest muriatic acid or water. 



Having inspected several of our silk manufactories wherein the most 

 recent improvements in the machinery had been adopted, Dr. Ure 

 stated that in respect to their machines, the English mills were far 

 superior either to the French or Italian. I'he mode of winding the 

 silk was then described : the exceedingly tender fibres are wound off 

 by an apparatus called the swift, and which is moved simply by the 

 friction caused by a large revolving wheel ; and so essential is the 

 nicety of the machinery, that the silk is obliged to be wound obliquely 

 and then crossed in the opposite direction, in order to prevent the 

 threads from falling between the threads of the preceding layer ; at 

 the same time the threads are cleansed by a machine termed the 

 cleaner, a brass instrument with fine holes drilled through it, which 

 allows the thread to pass if clean, but if there be dirt attached it 

 causes the thread to break, when the parts are cleansed and reunited 

 by children. The recently invented machinery was described, by 

 which the threads were doubled, and which is kept in constant mo- 

 tion so long as the thread is entire, but which stops as soon as the 

 thread is accidentally broken. Numerous drawings were exhibited 

 representing these and other modern machinery upon the most ap- 

 proved principles, and which had been hitherto carefully concealed 

 from public inspection by the proprietors. 



The manner in which the different consistence of silk used for the 

 lace-manufactory and for hosiery is produced was next explained, 

 and which consists in the single thread of silk (in the former) being 

 first twisted and then doubled, whilst in the latter the threads are 

 first doubled and then twisted together, which is found to produce 

 a softer material. 



The silk produced in the South of France was stated to be of the 

 best quality, the white mulberry growing there in the greatest luxu- 

 riance ; the trees however do not thrive well to the north of Lyons. 



The cocoons obtained from the produce of an ounce of eggs are 

 averaged to weigh 100 pounds. And it had been ascertained that it 

 was practicable nearly to double the quantity of silk obtained from 

 the worms by giving them a double quantity of food : the worms 

 however sometimes became sick and were removed to the " infirmary." 

 Chloride of lime Avas constantly employed to keep the air in the rear- 

 ing houses pure, as it was found that the worms were greatly injured 

 by impurities, either in the air, their food, or their habitations. 



A Letter was read, addressed to Mr. William Bennett by Mr. 

 Charles C. Doggett, noticing the destructive ravages of a small 

 coleopterous insect, apparently congenerous with Lyctus ublongus. 



