378 



THE FARMER AT HOME. 



partment of rural economy, justifying honorable competition, and 

 leading to well defined and satisfactory remuneration for all judicious 

 investment. 



LORD ALTHORP'S SHORT-HORNED BULL. 



SILKWORM. The silkworm is as beneficial as the scorpion is 

 noxious, and produces an article of ornament and commerce univer- 

 sally known and admired. This insect is of the caterpillar genus, of 

 a whitish color, with twelve feet, and at last produces a butterfly of 

 the rnoth kind. It is a native of China and the easternmost parts of 

 Asia, and has been gradually introduced into various parts of the 

 world. Silk was anciently brought in small quantities to "Rome ; but 

 it was so scarce as to be sold there for its weight in gold. 



There is given, in the " Letters on Ancient and Modern History," 

 a succinct account of the silk trade carried on between ancient Rome 

 and the oriental countries of Asia, and of the introduction of the silk- 

 worm into the Roman empire ; which it is therefore unnecesssary 

 here to repeat. Since that event, which forms an important era in 

 the history of commerce, this valuable insect has been diffused 

 throughout all the warm countries of Asia arid Europe. In China, 

 Tonquin, and other hot countries, they are left at liberty on the trees 



