RESOURCES OF AMERICA, SILK, ETC. 401 



vases', 25. Mignonette (Reseda odorata) is universally admired. 

 The following are less hardy, and should be sown in a warm situa- 

 tion, and transplanted, to bring them forward early : 26. Amaranth, 

 {Amaranthus c&udatus,) or Love-lies-bleeding, and, 27. Prince's 

 Feather, (A. hypochondriacus ;) and 28. The Chrysanthemums, par- 

 ticularly C. tricolor and C. lutea. The following are tender annuals, 

 and may be planted early in a hot-bed, and transplanted : Crimson 

 Cypress Vine, (Ipomaa quamoclit;) 29. Many varieties of Cocks- 

 comb, (Celosia cristataj with scarlet, purple, and yellow heads, are 

 extremely ornamental; 30. Globe Amaranth us, (Gomphrtena globo- 

 z,) of varioHS sorts, with the Jlmarcmtkus tricolor, with each leaf of 

 three colors, bright red, yellow, and green, are very showy ; 31. The 

 Egg plant is showy on account of its elegant berry, of the size and 

 shape of a large egg; 32. The Ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crys- 

 tallinum) is curious, its leaves and stalks being covered with crys- 

 talline globules like icicles ; 33. And the well-known Sensitive 

 plant, (Mimosa pudica.) 



CULTIVATION. 



The seeds of flowers are sown in the spring, in fine and newly- 

 prepared fresh soil. Very fine seeds should be covered but a quarter 

 of an inch deep, larger seeds deeper in proportion to their size; and 

 the ground is then to be immediately trodden hard ; this enables it 

 to retain its moisture at the surface, which cooperating with the 

 warmth of the sun on the seeds, they vegetate at onoe. 



NOTES ON THE AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES 

 OF AMERICA, AND THE CULTURE OF SILK. 



CHAPTER I. HISTORY OF SILK: ITS ANTIQUITY AND 

 COMMERCE. 



Silk, or the splendid material produced by the silk-worm, was 

 hrst known, in ancient Ser, or Serica, in China. It was there first 

 discovered in its own native forests of the mulberry tree. In that 

 country it was called Se, and by transition it was called Ser by the 

 Greeks, and Sericum by the Romans ; and hence, by the different 

 nations of Italy, of France, and of England, it is variously called 

 Seta, Sole, and Silk, at the present day. Anciently, also, it was 

 called Bombykya, or Bombycina, from Bombyx, a caterpillar which 

 spins a web. 



The silk- worm, or Bombyx mori, is a precious insect, which is thus 

 denominated from morus, the plant on which it feeds ; otherwise, 

 and anciently, the Bombyx Assyrian, or Syrian improperly so called, 

 since the country of the Seres, or Chinese, was another country, thte 

 most remote, and bounded on other shores; many a nation and far 

 distant country intervening. 



34* 



