184 THE MODERN HISTORY OF SILK. 



eat the cabbage leaf in preference to any of these. 

 and that even sparingly. But the offensive smell of 

 these leaves renders them unfit for use in a large 

 manufactory. 



It is a singular fact, that no other species of lepi- 

 dopterous insect is found to feed on the leaf of the 

 mulberry tree but the Phaleena w/ori, or Silk Worm 

 caterpillar. This tree, indeed, seems to be secure 

 against the ravages of all other insects ; which 

 circumstance must excite our admiration of the divine 

 Creator, who, in his beneficent goodness, has bounti- 

 fully secured food to the insect whose labours were 

 to be of the greatest service to man. In whatever 

 way we turn our eye, the economy of Nature 

 abounds in self-evident marks of divine goodness 

 and wisdom. 



In the uncertain and changeable climate of Great 

 Britain, there is much difficulty in naturalizing any 

 foreign animals, especially those of more genial 

 climates ; and, were it not that the eggs of lepidop- 

 terous insects are capable of resisting a great degree 

 of cold, many species would necessarily become 

 extinct in severe winters. 



In the year 1 78(3, Miss Rhodes had even' reason 

 to anticipate a successful season with her colony of 

 Silk Worms ; having bred upwards of thirty thousand, 

 from which she calculated on a produce of five pounds 

 of silk. They -were extremely healthy, and supplied 

 plentifully with food, through the bounty of her 

 friends, who sent leaves daily, even from a distance of 

 fifteen miles. 



