WHITE-FRUITED MULBERRY-TREE. 1 ]) 
Louis XIII., the silk manufactures fell into neglect; but under the reign of his 
successor, Louis XIV., the subject attracted the attention of government and 
Colbert, one of the public ministers, seeing the advantages that might be derived 
from the culture of mulberry-trees, resolved to enforce it by every means in bis 
power. He reestablished royal nurseries; gave plants to all who desired them- 
and even planted, by force, the lands of proprietors who would not voluntarily 
cultivate the trees. This arbitrary measure caused so much dissatisfaction and 
disgust, on the part of the proprietors, that the mulberry plantations were soon 
suffered to decay. Colbert next tried more gentle means, offering a premium 
of twenty-four sous for every mulberry-tree that had stood in a plantation for 
three years. This plan was crowned with success; and, in the course of a 
few years, mulberry plantations were general throughout the kingdom, and 
have so continued up to the present day. Soon after Algiers came into pos- 
session of the French, in 1830, a public nursery, occupying eighty acres, was there 
established, which is said to contain twenty-five thousand trees and plants for the 
purpose of experiment in naturalization, among which are the Moms alba and 
several of its varieties. 
In Germany, the culture of silk was first introduced by Frederick II.. who had 
mulberries planted extensively in different parts of his dominions ; and the exam- 
ple was soon after followed in Saxony, Austria, and in some of the smaller states. 
In Bavaria, this species of culture was commenced under the auspices of govern- 
ment, and of the Munich Agricultural Society, in about 1820, at the recommen- 
dation of M. Hazzi. Since that time, a great number of mulberry plants have 
been raised in the government nurseries, and distributed throughout the provin- 
ces ; but, on the whole, neither in this part of Germany, nor in any other, lias the 
culture of silk ever been very considerable. In several of the southern states, 
however, pollard trees may be seen bordering the highways, and in some of the 
cities, goods are made from German silk; but the chief establishments of this 
kind are at Vienna, at Rovedero in the Tyrol, at Creveldt, at Berlin, and at 
Cologne. 
The culture of silk has been introduced into Belgium with some prospect of 
success; and the mulberry has also been planted in the southern parts of Den- 
mark. In Sweden, an attempt has been made to establish its culture in the 
southern provinces; but the experiment has proved unprofitable. 
In Russia, the silk culture has been commenced in the Crimea, and all the best 
varieties of the Morns alba have been planted in the government garden at Odessa : 
where, according to M. Descemet, they perfectly succeed. 
In Egypt, the culture of silk was introduced some years since, by the Pacha 
Ibrahim, and is said to be in a prosperous state. In Persia, the silkworm is 
nourished almost exclusively on the leaves of the black mulberry. The cultiva- 
tors, from a motive of economy, are accustomed to feed the worms with the 
boughs of the tree, with the foliage upon them, instead of using the leaf sepa- 
rately, as is adopted in most other silk-growing countries. 
In India, the culture of the mulberry and the rearing of silkworms continue to 
be practised; but how far it will be influenced by the progress of tins culture in 
Europe and America, remains to be proved. Jn Australia, the culture of silk has 
been undertaken to a considerable extent, and from the mildness of its climate, 
and the cheapness of labour, it appears likely to be attended with succi 
The first record of silk in Britain, is of a present sent by Charlemagne, to Offa, 
king of Mercia, in the year 708, consisting of a belt and two silken vests. Silk 
is also mentioned in a chronicle of the .lute of 1286, in which we are told that 
some ladies wore silk mantles at a festival, m Kenilworth, abom mat penoa: 
and by other records, we find that tins article was worn by the English cler 
in 1534. Henry VIII. had the first pair of silk stockings tint were ever seen m 
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