REARING SILKWORMS. 97 



SILK IN FRANCE. 



During the thirteenth century an attempt was 

 made to introduce the silk industry into France. 

 But little progress was made until about 1521, 

 when King Henry IV. encouraged the industry, 

 and the people engaged in the planting and care 

 of the white mulberry tree. It is recorded that 

 the first mulberry tree planted at that time is still 

 growing. 



The industry was still further encouraged by 

 Louis XIV.; and both the production and manu- 

 facture of the new fabric increased in value till 

 the Revolution, during the eighteenth century. 

 This upturning of the nation's industrial, social, 

 and religious life nearly obliterated the silk 

 industry. 



Napoleon Bonaparte proved a benefactor to 

 the French people, in that he greatly encouraged 

 the silk business, and again it was on the road 

 to prosperity, when, in A. D. 1850, the dreadful 

 disease so contagious swept over Europe as does 

 a plague, and almost wiped out the silk business 

 of the world. Again the government of France 

 rose to the aid of her people, and appointed the 

 noted scientist Pasteur to search out and apply 

 remedies for the stay of the fearful disease. His 



