THE MODERN HISTORY OF SILK. 167 



In the reign of Louis XIV, Colbert, minister of 

 that monarch, evinced such anxiety for the extension 

 of the silk trade, that he not only gratuitously supplied 

 the possessors of land with mulberry trees, but also 

 caused them to be transplanted at the expense of the 

 government. This did not, however, facilitate the 

 progress of the culture of silk, for the trees, so easily 

 acquired, were little valued, and even wasted, by the 

 peasantry. The minister, finding his views frustrated, 

 adopted another premium for encouraging the growth 

 of the mulberry. He gave, for every tree which 

 presented a thriving condition three years after it 

 was planted, the sum of three livres. 



King James I. of England, seeing the benefits 

 which accrued to the French people through the 

 zeal of their sovereign, resolved on adopting similar 

 measures for encouraging the growth of mulberry 

 trees, and multiplying the breed of Silk Worms. In 

 the year 1608, his majesty caused a circular to be 

 addressed to all the counties of his realm, recom- 

 mending, in the strongest terms, the planting of 

 mulberry trees, advising all who had the means to 

 purchase in London ten thousand plants, which were 

 then selling at three farthings. But it was not till it 

 was generally known what advantages had been 

 reaped by the French, and other continental kingdoms, 

 in this trade, that the rich generally adopted the 

 recommendations of their sovereign. So averse 

 were our countrymen to exert themselves in this 

 lucrative trade, that it was nearly twelve years before 

 a taste for the manufacture was matured. At length 



