228 ON SILK MANUFACTURE IN THE EXHIBITION. 



groups of orchids, the other of birds of paradise and humming birdt,. 

 The texture of the figures, viz., brocade (affords great scope for the intro- 

 duction of variety of colour, but never before were the skill and patience 

 of the operatives so taxed ; the intricacies of the designs, and the deli- 

 cacy of the colours necessary to throw them into full relief, being of so 

 original and extraordinary a character. The enterprising manufacturer 

 has met with suitable encouragement ; one of our silk mercers in Lon- 

 don having purchased all that the manufacturer has produced of these 

 two patterns. Tours deforce, however, are in their nature exceptional, 

 whether woven at Lyons or Coventry ; for it is to the production of 

 goods which suit the many that manufacturers find it to their interest to 

 devote their energies, and purchasers soon discover for themselves where 

 to find the best and the cheapest. 



There is one advantage which the silk manufacturers of France enjoy 

 beyond those of all other European countries, except Italy, — viz., that 

 they produce on their own soil a large portion of the raw material with 

 which their looms are supplied. This has to some extent been of late 

 curtailed by the worm disease having extended its ravages into the silk- 

 growing districts, which has unfortunately led to the introduction of the 

 raw produce of China, Bengal, and Japan, to supply the deficiency thus 

 created, and with the manipulation of which in the silk mills, throwsters 

 are not yet familiar, but there is no reason to fear the extinction of the 

 races. On the contrary, attention being promptly given to the causes of 

 the calamity, as far as they could with any degree of probability be 

 ascertained, and a special commission having been successfully sent out 

 to search for healthy seed in the Caucasus and elsewhere, an improvement 

 has already obtained, and in due time native production will be restored 

 to its former importance. 



In a paper on this subject, signed "Bella," inserted in ' Le Commerce 

 Sericole,' of July 23, 1862, published at Lyons, there are some very valu- 

 able details respecting the causes of this calamity, and the steps taken to 

 reduce it. The more important of these will be found, freely translated, 

 as given below. For the technical words " education " and " educators," 

 the reader will understand breeding and breeders. It must be borne in 

 mind that the writer, an intelligent Frenchman, speaks from his point of 

 view, which differs comewhat from ours, but may not be the less trust- 

 worthy on that account. After alluding to the relations of France with 

 China, from which he anticipates important advantages, especially as 

 respects the facilities it will afford for the introduction of improved breeds 

 of the silkworm, M. Bella goes on to say that — 



" Many of those who admire satins and velvets at the International Ex- 

 hibition are far from suspecting the imminent dangers that threaten the 

 factories from which they spring. They are probably ignorant of the fact 

 that terrible epidemics have for several years past attacked the precious 

 insects that spin the silk from which those beautiful articles are manu- 

 factured, and which, if not arrested in their destructive progress, must 



