THE MODERN HISTOKV OK SILK. 'JOl 



expand, the consequence undoubtedly will be, that 

 the tree will be so backward and retarded in put- 

 ting forth its leaves, that it will not produce near 

 the quantity it otherwise would have done, and, if 

 this usage is often repeated, will ultimately be 

 destroyed. 



Considerable pains have been taken to rear tlie 

 Silkworm, and to encourage the manufacture, at 

 Perlac, a small town of thatched houses in Lower 

 Hungary. The manufacture was formerly in the 

 hands of the proprietors of the island, but the comi- 

 tatus has now purchased it. The Silkworms are 

 reared by the peasants, who bring the cocoons to 

 Perlac, where they arc paid for them by the agent 

 of the comitatus. Mulberry -trees, which have 

 been planted as the common property of the neigh- 

 bourhood, grow on each side of many of the roads. 

 Upon the whole, however, the cultivation of Silk- 

 worms does not flourish. The quantity of cocoons 

 has sometimes amounted to fifty centners, which 

 yield, under proper management, about one-ninth 

 part of good silk ; but even this is above the present 

 produce. 



Many attempts made in other parts of Hungary 

 to rear these insects have been attended with some 

 success. They were first introduced into the Banat 

 by Count Mercy, about the year 1734; but the 

 Turkish war breaking out in 1739, forced him to 

 relinquish the pursuit. In I765, the Empress Maria 

 VOL. ir. o 



