SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 159 



goodness, and works of usefulness. Olivier de Serres 

 shares equally with him the glory of the effectual work, 

 which was, at first, opposed even by Sully, from mis- 

 take and misapprehension. Colbert, in a succeeding 

 age, continued his fostering care. Both Colbert and his 

 illustrious predecessor, by bounties judiciously bestowed, 

 caused both the mulberry tree and its culture to strike 

 deep and permanent roots in the soil of France. 



Once established, it has stood, unmoved by every rev- 

 olution and storm, unprotected and alone, while all 

 things else have fallen. This important industry has 

 flourished until, finally, silk and its manufacture has be- 

 come one of the most productive resources of the wealth 

 and power of France. 



It was estimated, that in the year 1835, silk from 

 France, to the amount of fifty millions of francs, was 

 exported from that country to the United States alone. 

 Yet, in France, although they raise so much silk, they 

 still import annually to the amount of seventy millions 

 of francs of raw silk, or nearly one-third of all they con- 

 sume in their manufactures. 



In England, the climate, from its humidity, or other 

 causes, is found to be unfitted to its growth. For this 

 reason alone, the trials to raise it there have failed. 

 Yet, from 1821 to 1828, according to an authentic 

 work on the silk trade, they imported of raw silk, 24,- 

 157,658 pounds, worth $ 120,787,580 ; of this amount 

 $59,881,283 came from Italy alone. 



The sudden and extraordinary extension of the silk 

 manufactures, both in France and in England, has been 



