7(j FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



The manner in which silk was produced long remained a mj-stery to 

 the ancients, and Aristotle first rightly conjectured that it was unwound 

 from the pupa of a caterpillar. At Eome, even as late as A. D. 280, a silk 

 attire of pur^ile was considered by the Emperor as a luxury too exijensive 

 for an empress — it being worth its weight in gold. 



In Europe the mode of producing and manufacturing it was not made 

 knoAvn till about the middle of the sixth century, when two monks of the 

 order of St. Basil, arrived at the court of the Emperor Justinian, at Con- 

 stantinople, from a missionary expedition to China, and brought with them 

 the seeds of the Mulberrj^, and communicated the mode of rearing the 

 worms. In Grreece its culture and manufacture soon spread, and the Vene- 

 tians in the hight of their prosperity carried supplies to the whole West of 

 Europe. It was introduced in time into Spain, Portugal and Sicily, and in 

 1540 extended to Piedmont, and throughofit Italy. Here the j^roduct soon 

 outranked in excellence the very best of Asiatic origin. In France we hear 

 of mulberry trees being planted near Avignon as far back as 1340. Later, 

 namely, in 1494, silk-culture was introduced into Alan ; but it did not become 

 thoroughly established till 1603, when encouraged by Henry lY . It has now 

 become one of the most important industries of that country. In 1865 the 

 value of silk goods produced was estimated at $106,500,000, of which $26,- 

 500,000 (raw material) was imported. The home consumption was 

 $35,000,000, and the ' export $71,500,000. The number of silk looms 

 employed in the empire was about 225,000, and gave bread to half a million 

 of the inhabitants. The United States paid France in 1865, $9,900,000 for 

 her silk goods. During and since the war we have been more economical. 

 About the year 1605, James. I, who, while king of Scotland, was foi-ced to 

 beg of the Earl of Mar the loan of a pair of silk stockings to aj^pear in 

 before the English ambassador, endeavored to encourage its culture in Eng- 

 land ; but the climate is not favorable to the rearing of the worm, and yet 

 the English annuallj^ import millions of dollars' worth of raw silk, and 

 only recently a '■'■ Silk Suj^ply Association " has there been formed, which 

 now publishes a monthly journal, and the objects of which are thus stated : 



1. To stimulate the production of silk, by cottage cultivation and other- 

 wise, in every county where the mulberrj^ tree is capable of giving food to 

 the silkworm. 2. To encourage the introduction and exchange of the best 

 kinds of silkworms in silk-producing districts. 3. To offer practical sug- 

 gestions and encouragement to the producers of silk for improving the 

 quality and securing a better classitication, and for ensuring greater care in 

 the reeling of the silk. 4. To promote the cultivation of silk in the various 

 silk-producing districts in India, where the production of silk has not 

 recently increased, and in other districts of India, where the cultivation of 

 the silkworm has almost ceased, but which are known to possess special 

 advantages, by the growth of the mulberry tree and the habits of the peo- 

 ple, for its propagation. 5. To promote the exportation of cocoons from 

 countries not well able to reel them. 6. To communicate with the Foreign, 

 Colonial and Indian Departments of her Majesty's Government, and to 

 obtain the aid of the English representatives in the British colonies and 

 consular agents in all foreign countries to promote and extend the cultiva- 

 tion of silk. 



