1 86 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. 



millions of their inhabitants, not only in East Asia, but in Europe 

 also. 



If strength and fineness combined are desired in a thread, we re- 

 sort to silk, and if warmth is desired for any part of the body, silken 

 cloth comes into play, since it does not offend through coarseness 

 nor become a burden by its thickness. Yarns and cloths made ot 

 silk are at once glossy and smooth, fine, firm and lasting, healthy, 

 warm and light. Because of these numerous advantages the use 

 of them has spread more and more in all classes of society, as their 

 price has fallen and general prosperity increased. The yearning 

 for a silk dress has become a common desire of the female sex, 

 and whoever cannot satisfy it, rejoices at least in a silk ribbon, 

 to which, as to the dress, an added brilliancy is given by the 

 aniline dyes of modern times. 



History tells us that at the time of the Emperor Aurelian {ijo 

 A.D.) silk was worth its weight in gold, and that James I. of Scot- 

 land, in 1406, borrowed a pair of stockings, so as to receive the 

 English ambassador with proper dignity. This shows, on the one 

 hand, that this noble stuff was held in due honour many centuries 

 ago and at different periods, long before there was any thought in 

 Europe of raising its old Asiatic companion, cotton, to such an 

 influential position. On the other hand, however, we may conclude 

 that the carriage of silk from East Asia was very expensive, and 

 that its culture in Europe, for a long period, made but slow progress. 

 For it had to contend with difficulties of a peculiar nature. The 

 other textile fabrics — wool, cotton, flax, hemp, etc. — are products of 

 larger animals, or of plants whose character is easily studied, which 

 do not demand very laborious attention, and from which one is 

 sure of a crop in a few months. For silk, however, we are indebted 

 to a little insect, which depends for its life upon a definite genus of 

 plant. Two organisms must here be brought into harmony, one of 

 which, the plant, requires a development of several years, at least, 

 before the other, the silkworm, can begin its life-work; therein 

 differing widely from our other domesticated creatures. The 

 silkworm is exceedingly choice in its diet, and yet has not the 

 means, while in captivity, of making its own selection. It pos- 

 sesses no voice to tell when it is hungry, or cold, or otherwise 

 in need, and yet it succumbs very quickly to deleterious influences, 

 for its life is short and therefore delicate. To learn what is advan- 

 tageous for it, and to shun all injurious influences, demands close 

 observation, and much circumspection, care, industry, and experience. 

 A single oversight in its cultivation, neglect of the task for but a 

 few hours, sometimes robs the silk grower of the reward of all his 

 previous trouble and labour. 



Not only the silkworm {Bonibyx mori)^ but also its food-plant, 

 the white mulberry {Mortis alba, L.), had to be brought from East 

 Asia. Under such circumstances it is easy to understand why 

 silk-culture advanced but slowly in Europe, from east to west, and 



