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plished in 1880 in England, of the fabric known as " Seal 

 cloth," which consists of a Tusser silk plush woven into a 

 cotton back. 



The use of this fabric for cloaks and mantles for ladies, 

 winter wear offers a considerable advantage over the use 

 of sealskin, from its intended resemblance to which it has 

 derived its name, in that, having a woven back, it is 

 perfectly porous. Tusser silk is peculiarly adapted for this 

 manufacture, owing to its beautiful soft feel and lustrous 

 appearance, and to the fact that its fibre, being three times 

 as thick as mulberry silk, offers sufficient resistance to 

 pressure which would otherwise disarrange the fibres of 

 such long plush, which lie regularly, just as in sealskin. 



Seal cloth has a most rich appearance, and easily recovers 

 injury from wet or pressure b}' simply being placed before 

 the fire and then brushed. Tusser silk for this manufacture 

 is spun into yarn, and not reeled from the cocoon, and its 

 application to this purpose is now becoming very 

 extensive. 



Extensive orders are in contract for the winter season 

 in brown and a variety of colours ; the beautiful soft feel 

 of the plush is sure to make it a favourite material. 



Owing to private arrangements of the manufacturers 

 with the merchants, who are not desirous that the material 

 should be exhibited at present, I am unable to obtain 

 specimens for the Museum, but by the time the Handbook is 

 published there will be ample opportunity to secure some. 

 It is likely to be the most useful and fashionable stuff for 

 cloaks and mantles for the winter, and, having a woven 

 back, will be porous, and not liable to the objections of 

 seal or other skins. The pile is made to lie exactly as in 

 sealskin. 



It also bids fair to become a rival if not a substitute 

 for Utrecht velvet ; it has a marked adaptability to the 

 purpose for which this velvet is used, having a softer pile 

 and much more brilliancy. It is destined, for this use 

 particularly, to a permanent future unaffected by the 

 fluctuations of fashion. 



I am glad to announce that I have found a new use for 

 Tusser silk : it will be found eminently applicable for 

 making silk carpets and rugs, for this reason, that its fibre 

 is three times thicker than the silk of commerce, making 

 therefore a better and firmer pile. A sample which I have 

 had made promises the best results. 



It is also coming into extensive use for travelling rugs 



