Silk Manufacture. 185 



fhulberry leaves will suffice for the production of seven and 

 a half pounds of cOcoons : these vs^ill yield about eighteen ounces 

 of pure cocoon, from which only ten ounces of reeled silk are 

 generally obtained. Thus the proportion between the weight of 

 mulberry leaves consumed, and that of the pure cocoon produced, 

 is about eighty-Seven to one; and the proportional weight of mul' 

 berry leaf and of reeled silk is as one hundred and fifty-two to 

 one. The ratio between the quantity of reeled silk drawn from 

 the cocoon and the cocoon itself, may be greatly affected by the 

 good or ill management to which the worm is subjected. 



In the year 1814, when the season was extremely unfavourable 

 to the rearing of silkworms, the count obtained fifteen ounces of 

 very fine silk from seven and a half pounds of cocoons, and thir- 

 teen ounces from the same weight of refuse cocoons. This fact 

 speaks very highly for his excellent management. The proportion 

 between the weight of silk which can be reeled, and the coarse 

 floss which can only be spun, should, in perfect cocoons, be in 

 the average ratio of nineteen to one. In addition to this propor- 

 tion of refuse floss, there is likewise to be gathered the outer floss, 

 which is a loose, furzy texture, spun by the worms preparatory to 

 the formation of their balls: the nature of this substance, togeth- 

 er with the injury that it sustains in its disengagement from the 

 arbours, entirely prevent its being reeled. It is usually in the 

 proportion of about four to eleven with the silk of the cocoon. 



The weight and length of reeled silk that can be obtained from 

 each cocoon are very variously stated by different authors : in fact, 

 the quantity is found to vary considerably, depending on many 

 circumstances attendant on its formation. Some statements on 

 the subject have been extravagantly absurd. Among others, Is- 

 nard, an old author, who has been before quoted, and Avhose de- 

 hght in the marvellous has, on this point, found rivals even in the 

 present day, affirms that the silk of one cocoon, when drawn out, 

 will measure six miles in length, that is ten thousand, five hundred 

 and sixty yards! Count Dandolo, at once, contracts this meas- 

 urement more within the hmits of probability. He found that a 

 silkworm's labours seldom exceed the production of six hundred 

 and twenty-five yards;* an astonishing quantity, when we reflect 

 upon the brief period employed by so small a creature in its pro- 

 duction. Surely it is unnecessary to call in the aid of exaggera- 

 tion more highly to excite our wotider. 



Miss Rhodes of Yorkshire found that one of her largest cocoons 

 measured four hundred and four yards. PuUein considers the 



" 1760 French feet. 

 '24 



