CH. V.] HISTORY OF SILK, ETC. 91 



termed an annual; while the one procured direct 

 from China is a monthly worm, therefore capable 

 of producing twelve crops of silk in the year, supe- 

 rior in quality to many other sorts : and the same 

 observer mentions, that it actually would be a mine 

 to whoever can undertake its cultivation. The 

 worm which produces the fine nankeen silk is con- 

 sidered the best in the world. 



Various persons have tried to rear the silkworm 

 in the East Indies, especially in Bengal and Coro- 

 mandel, and as the climate is more congenial to it, 

 we have every reason to suppose that they will ul- 

 timately succeed. The East India company has 

 granted to, and has also exerted its influence with 

 the native princes, in obtaining for the experimenters 

 portions of lands in various parts for the propaga- 

 tion of the mulberry-trees. The princes themselves 

 consider it no mean occupation to rear this useful 

 worm, for the purpose of obtaining silk to make 

 state dresses for their camels and elephants. 



In North America, especially in Pennsylvania, 

 they have succeeded in cultivating the silkworm, 

 the silk of which is stated to be finer in texture 

 than the Italian silk, and produces a larger return 

 from the same number of cocoons. Should the 

 production of silk increase as rapidly in America 

 as cotton has done in that country for the last thirty 

 years, it will become an article, in a commercial 

 point of view, of the greatest importance. As the 

 white mulberry and silkworm are said to succeed 

 in almost all the states of the Union, it has attracted 

 the attention of the American government. 



In spite of the encouragement held out at various 

 times for the culture of the silkworm in England, it 

 has never been attempted on a large scale in this 

 country, and yet it appears not improbable, that it 

 would not only succeed, but be attended with ad- 

 vantages here which are wanting in climates more 

 apparently favoured than ours. 



