706 Transactions of the American Institute. 



the mulberry silk culture. The ailanthus will flourish on almost 

 any soil, even where very sterile. In England and Holland, and 

 other moist climates, experience has shown that the ailanthus tree 

 grows luxuriantly, and that the insect attains a large size, and makes 

 a fine cocoon. 



Kegarding the tree, it is well known that it is one of the easiest to 

 propagate and grow, and it will thrive on an}' soil, no matter how 

 dry or sterile. Regarding the silk, everything is in its favor — and its 

 qualities have been appreciated by manufacturers at Roubaix and 

 Lyons, and others who know its worth. A noted chemist and 

 weaver in France has found that the gloss of the ailanthus silk far 

 surpasses any of the other known varieties of hourre de soi. Weavers 

 have found the cocoons easy to card and spin, and the thread is 

 strong and an excellent stuff for certain manufacturers. The silk is 

 easily cleaned and will take a good dye better than the yama-mai, 

 and from experiments made will permit a stronger and finer gloss 

 than that of the oak feeder. To prove the immense utility of the 

 cultivation of the cynthia in France, Father Incarville said : " The 

 silk produced by the ailanthus lasts double the time of that made 

 by the mulberry worm, and does not spot so easily, and washes like 

 linen. It is said that the strength of the silk is very surprising, 

 and the durability of the Indian foulards, which are composed 

 -entirely of ailanthas silk, is attributed to this fact. The cocoons of 

 the ailantlius are elongated, of a pale, gray color, very close tissue, 

 one and a half to one and three-quarter inches long, and about three- 

 quarters broad, varying in size and weight. The worm begins its 

 cocoon by securing itself firmly to the main stem of the leaf with 

 its silk, so that in winter, when leaves fall, it may be secure, showing 

 a remarkable instinct. The demand for this silk is on the increase 

 in Europe ; for it is well known to be very serviceable and durable, 

 :and the cocoons are reeled off in one continuous thread. The 

 •ailanthus tree is easy of cultivation, and can be raised to any extent 

 in America, and the advent of this new insect, the homhyx cynthia 

 wall make an important era in sericulture in America. It is easMj 

 multiplied and acclimated, audits cultivation must become successful. 

 T\niile in England, last August, I visited the farm of Dr. Wallace 

 and saw some 18,000 worms feeding in the open air on the ailanthus 

 glandulosa. The same month I had the pleasure of paying a visit 

 to the beautiful country seat of Lady Dorothy Nevill, Dangstein, 

 Petersfield, about fifty miles from London. Her ladyship had 



