60 Mr. Murray on the Culture of the Silk Worm. 



silk articles exported from Italy, in the years 1807, 1808, 

 1809, and 1810, amounted in all to 834,580,628 lire Milan- 

 ese, being an average of 83,720 lire Milanese annually, or 

 L.2, 790,671, ISs. sterling, calculating the lira Milanese at 

 8d. sterling, which is within a fraction, being = 76f cente- 

 simi. 



I have often thought that the cultivation of the silk worm, 

 on the principles adopted so successfully by Dandolo, would 

 form a most valuable and profitable addendum to the poor 

 houses in England. The aged and infirm even might find 

 here an occupation of healthful interest to themselves, and re- 

 lief to the burdened benevolence which supports them. 



The preservative phial of Guyton de Morveau is found by 

 Dandolo a valuable support to the health of the silk worm, 

 and would be, in like manner, to those employed in the ma- 

 nagement. This interesting machine is much improved by 

 Mons. Boulay. 



Count Dandolo gives a decided preference to a stove con- 

 structed of tile over one of iron. The latter, he says, con- 

 sumes the wood too rapidly"; the management becomes con- 

 sequently difficult, and the silk-worms are injured. Iron 

 stoves are injurious, and induce illness; but a plate or shal- 

 low basin of water placed on the head of the stove, as I found 

 practised among the Appenines, will prevent the bad effects 

 thence resulting. Shallow vessels containing water, and de- 

 posited on the floor, will sustain the proper hygrometric state, 

 if the atmosphere should at any time be too dry. 



There can be no question about the success of this method 

 of culture in England. With all the disadvantages the indi- 

 viduals had to combat with, I have seen several pounds weight 

 (I think six,) raised in one season, some years ago, by a poor 

 family in Whittlesea, near Peterborough. 



King James the First of England, in the sixth year of his 

 reign, issued a royal edict recommending the cultivation 

 of the silk- worm, and did all in his power to promote this 

 branch of national industry, by the issue of packets of mul- 

 berry seeds, &c. and a patent was issued to John Appletree, 

 Esq. under the great seal, dated 23d May, 1718, for the 

 planting of mulberry trees and erection of buildings, and for 

 the culture of the silk-worm. 



