270 



SILK. 



we shall enter, therefore, upon the subject, and set down, 

 first, such practical information as relates to the raising of 

 mulberry-trees. 



The mulberry and the silk-worm are natives of Asia. 

 They were both unknown in Europe until the year 555 — ■ 

 when the emperor Justinian sent two monks to Serinda, 

 in India, from whence they brought to Constantinople the 

 seed of those precious insects, and the necessary informa- 

 tion for their management. Thus they laid the foundation 

 of those superb silk manufactures, which, for near seven 

 hundred years, flourished in Greece, at Athens, at Thebes, 

 and Corinth. Before that time, the great of the earth, 

 alone, could afford to clothe themselves with silk ; the 

 price of which was weight for weight in gold. About six 

 hundred years after, the culture of silk was introduced from 

 Greece into Italy; and from thence into France, in the 

 year 1494. Since those days, it has spread over all the 

 southern and midland parts of Europe, and is now cultivat- 

 ed with success as far north as Prussia, where the mul- 

 berry-tree resists the most rigorous winters without injury. 



There are tvvo different species of mulberry, — the blacky 

 which is cultivated for its excellent faiit, of a dark crimson 

 colour, almost black ; and is a tree of slovv^er grovv th than 

 the white ; the leaves are larger, of a darker green, thicker 

 and stronger. The silk-worms will eat them for the want 

 of better, but they do not thrive upon them, and the silk is 

 coarse and inferior. The white mulberry-tree bears a white, 

 or light pink fruit ; and its leaves are the most congenial 

 food for these precious insects ; is of a quicker growth, and 

 does not come to so large a size as the black. The white 

 mulberry is a very hardy tree, and bears our severest win- 

 ters without any apparent injury ; will last a great many 

 years, and, if cut down close to the ground, will send up 

 many suckers all around, and resist destruction for several 

 years. There are many kinds of whi^e mulberry, the 

 leaves of which differ in point of merit as a food for the 

 silk-worm. Some are of a small size, earlier, and more 

 tender ; and, on that account, are cultivated as the most 

 proper for the worms when first born ; others are large, 

 and of a peculiar quality, which suits the taste of the 

 worms, upon which they thrive best, and make the hand- 

 somest silk. In France and Italy, they universally graft 

 the wild stocks with those sorts which experience has 

 taught them to be the most valuable. 



At this early stage of the business with us, it would be 



