SUCCESSIVE CROPS OF SILK. 131 



before. Neither could the remarks of Count Dandolo 

 have had reference to other climates. In Malta the 

 mulberry makes twice the growth that it does in Italy ; 

 but in India, its growth and verdure are perpetual. 



On the authority of Monsieur Nollet, in Tuscany, 

 Italy, and especially in the country around Florence, the 

 same number of silk-worms are reared, and the same 

 quantity of silk is produced on half the land and half 

 the number of mulberry trees that are required in Pied- 

 mont. The silk-worms being hatched at two distinct 

 periods, the first brood are fed upon the first leaves of 

 the spring, and these having passed through their vari- 

 ous evolutions, other eggs are hatched, and the insects 

 are nourished from a second crop of leaves from the 

 same trees. 



The same plan is adopted in China, where two crops 

 of silk are raised in the year. In some parts of India, 

 and other parts of Asia, eight and even twelve broods 

 of silk-worms are reared during the course of the year. 

 In the Isle of France, Monsieur Chazal reared three 

 successive generations between the months of December 

 and May. There, as well as in India, the mulberry is 

 <in evergreen tree, affording fresh leaves, and a contin- 

 ual succession of food throughout the year. 



Some assert, that the silk-worm of Tuscany is of that 

 particular species, which is called the " Two Crop 

 Worm" or the " White Worm", which, having pro- 

 duced one crop of cocoons, the chrysalis perforates its 

 cocoon, and the miller lays its eggs, which produce a 

 new generation in the same season. Besides the com- 

 mon silk-worm, which produces but a single crop in a 

 year, they have also, at Jungepore in India, the Dacey, 

 a silk-worm which produces eight crops. I have des- 

 cribed them both. 



I have stated that, in Tuscany, also, so fine is their 

 climate, that two crops of silk are annually produced. 

 The same has been effected by Mrs. Parmentier at 

 Brooklyn, on Long Island. The first crop being fed 

 from the morns multicaulis, morus alba, and other mul- 



