SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 161 



in its power. Such amounts would soon pay our na- 

 tional debt ; it should certainly be a good policy to take 

 off duties from things needed by the poor classes, and 

 have very high duties on the imported article manufac- 

 tured. I am in hope that our Congressmen will under- 

 stand their duty, which is to have in view the prosperity 

 of the country, by placing a very high tariff on the 

 manufactured silk of importation. This will injure no- 

 body, but enrich the country, as the effect will be to 

 start the culture and manufacture of silk everywhere in 

 the United States where the climate is favorable. In 

 California alone we can raise silk, not only to supply the 

 whole wants of the nation, but for the rest of the world. 



CHAPTER IV. 



HISTORY OF THE SILKWORM. 



The silkworm, or Bombyx Mori, is a caterpillar, its 

 body formed of twelve membranous rings, which sup- 

 port the legs, which are sixteen in number, and in pairs. 

 Six of these are in front and inflexible, and situated 

 beneath the first rings, and are each covered with a 

 scale. The other ten are flexible and membranous, 

 having their positions beneath the remaining ring ; these 

 are called climbers and holders, and are provided with 

 sharp hooks or claws, to aid in climbing. The head has 

 a horny covering like a scale, the jaws are very strong, 



