140 SILK GROWER'S GUIDE. 



this source. The silk of Persia is chiefly produced in 

 the provinces of Ghilan and Shirvan and the city of 

 Schainachia situated near the Caspian Sea. The cara- 

 vans of Persia travel to Aleppo, to Smyrna, to Scande- 

 roori or Alexandria, and to Constantinople. 



The exports of raw silk from Turkey, are principally 

 from the sea-ports of Aleppo, of Tripoli, of Sayda and 

 Smyrna. 



In Russia, Peter the Great caused the mulberry plan- 

 tations to be formed in many parts of his dominions, 

 and these have flourished as far north as lat. 54 deg. 

 Catharine also pursuing the same career, establishments 

 are now in successful operation in Russia for manufac- 

 turing silk from native production, and expectations are 

 entertained that Russia will not much longer be depend- 

 ent on Persia for their supplies of this material. Man- 

 ufactories of silk are now established at Novogorod, 

 which in many fabrics may vie with those of France. 



Even in the inhospitable climate of Sweden, the suc- 

 cessful experiment has begun ; and by late accounts, the 

 culture of the mulberry tree is extending itself in the 

 provinces, and the most important modes of rearing the 

 silk-worm have, since the year 1823, been generally 

 promulgated : " and the silk so produced in Sweden, 

 has confirmed, in the amplest manner, the remark for- 

 merly made on the superior fineness and solidity of silk 

 grown in the north, compared with that of more tem- 

 perate climates, a fact which has received the unanimous 

 sanction of the members of the Royal Society of Com- 

 merce, as well as of many silk manufacturers. It sup- 

 ports the ordinary preparation and dye equally with the 

 best Indian silk, possessing the same brilliancy and soft- 

 ness. Such are the results of the experiments instituted 

 during the year 1823 at Stockholm. The silk also 

 which has been grown for the last two years in Bavaria, 

 is superior to that produced in Italy." 



In the island of Sicily, silks are the greatest source 

 of the riches of the country, next to the production of 



