PRODUCTION OF SILK. 147 



I 



The consumption and demand for ribbons are stated to 

 be enormous. The splendid Cashmere shawls are now 

 so successfully imitated in France, that these imitations 

 command a price in proportion to their quality, of from 

 a dollar and a third, to four hundred and forty-four dol- 

 lars each. 



From the report of the investigations on the Silk and 

 Wine trade of France, which were lately made by Dr. 

 Bowring to the British parliament, it appears, that the 

 total amount of silk manufactures exported from France 

 was to the value of $25,000,000 in 1832. "Of this 

 amount, nearly one half is of plain silks, of which the 

 United States take one third, and in some years nearly 

 one half of the whole export," Of figured silks, and 

 other silk articles, the United States are also the largest 

 purchasers ; and it has been deemed an assertion per- 

 fectly safe on the side of truth, that France exports 

 annually to the United States alone, ten millions of dol- 

 lars worth of silk. Much also is imported into America 

 from Switzerland. 



England, from its variable climate, and its humid and 

 clouded atmosphere, is found unsuited to the growth of 

 silk, as has been proved in their successive attempts in 

 1620, 1629,' 1718, and again in England and Ireland in 

 1823, all which have failed from the above causes. But 

 latterly this same Company have commenced with the 

 pomise of great success at Malta. The cultivation of 

 cotton, which had till very lately been pursued at Malta, 

 having been checked by the increasing production of 

 Egypt, the numerous population of the island were re- 

 duced to distress. This new enterprise was hailed with 

 enthusiasm by the Maltese, as a new and profitable 

 source of industry. The growth of the mulberry is 

 more rapid at Malta by full one-third part than it is in 

 Italy. Latterly, also, the English have introduced the 



