248 APPENDIX. [March, 1840. 



52 centimes per pound, or 125 francs (25 dollars,) in the whole. 

 About 8 pounds of reeled silk, worth 18 francs, (about $3 60,) is ob- 

 tained from these 100 pounds of cocoons. " There are three denom- 

 inations of raw silk, viz. ; organzine, tramc (shute or tram,) and floss. 

 Organzine serves for the warp of the best silk stuffs, and is considera- 

 bly twisted ; tram is made usually from inferior silk and is very slight- 

 ly twisted, in order that it may spread more and cover better in the 

 weft ; floss or bourse consists of the shorter broken silk which is. 

 carded and spun like cotton. Organzine and trame may contain from 

 3 to 30 twin filaments of the worm ; the former possesses a double 

 twist, the compound filaments being first twisted in one direction, and 

 the compound thread in the opposite; the latter receives merely a 

 slender single twist. The quality of raw silk depends very much 

 upon the skill and care bestowed upon its filature. The softest and 

 purest water should be used in the cocoon kettle." 



Note. — On page 152, some little doubt is suggested whether the acknowl- 

 edged superiority of silk produced in northern China and Italy, over that 

 produced in southern Asia, be owing to climate or to the better manner of 

 reeling. Since writing this, 1 have received such information from a gen- 

 tleman familiar with silks of every description, and long a resident in China, 

 that 1 have no longer a doubt in the case. The perfection of silk depends 

 essentially upon the reeling; but silk raised in cold latitudes has always 

 more substance and firmness than that which is produced in a hot climate. 



