206 THE MODERN HISTORY OF SILK. 



paid for by the government, and afterwards to be 

 kept in repair out of the profits. In addition to 

 the extensive mulberry plantations which ah'eady 

 existed, all other open places, particularly the 

 churchyards, were to be planted with these trees ; 

 and to every person who employed himself in 

 rearing SilkwoiTns a certain number of trees was 

 to be assigned. 



The gathering of the leaves was first to be per- 

 foimed by the scholars, under the inspection of their 

 superiors. Whosoever intentionally injured a mul- 

 berry-tree was called upon to plant fifteen, and to 

 be answerable for their growing. According to an 

 order issued in the preceding year, the inhabitants 

 of the frontier regimental districts were obliged to 

 make good the decayed mulberry-trees, by means 

 of new plants, and were, in a pai'ticular manner, 

 directed to take one of the mulbeiTy plantations. 

 By means of these and similar ordinances, the pro- 

 gress, both as to the quality of silk produced, and as 

 to the number of mulberry-trees, was very con- 

 siderable. In October 1806", it was found that, in 

 the southern militaiy frontiers, without including 

 those of Transylvania, which are more to the east, 

 there were 706,731 trees of this species, making an 

 increase, during the last year, of 17,929. Proper 

 officers were appointed for the inspection of all the 

 different processes, both in the culture of the mul- 

 beny, and in the rearing of the worms, and the 



