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brilliancy of lustre. The silk of the former is dull in com- 
parison with that of the latter. As an article of luxury in 
dress, the silk of the Mori will always be certain to command 
the admiration and preference of the public ; but goods will, 
eventually, be produced from the Bicinus Silk, in which the 
great difference in price will ensure its use among the 
various classes of persons, from motives of economy. It is 
confidently expected, however, that with more experience in 
its preparation, and improvements in machinery, the silk 
will even bear the test of a comparison with the old material. 
There is not a shadow of doubt with regard to its practical 
value as a strong and durable material, equally well adapted 
for fine and for serviceable articles of clothing ; for stuffs for the 
use of the upholsterer ; for coarse sail-cloth and tent-cloth ; — 
and that it will speedily come into universal demand." Herr 
Kaufmann, moreover, hopes " it may one day be his lot to see 
the labourer following his plough in a Silken smock-frock, 
the product of his own industry, which he thinks may be 
realised, as, by a little attention during the summer months, 
to a light and easy occupation, a sufficient material might be 
produced to clothe a whole family for a length of time.' ' In 
India there is scarcely a native who has not a small patch of 
the Bicinus plant near his hut, or in the hedges of his 
fields, amounting to perhaps the 20th part of an acre, which 
generally yields enough silk for the clothing of a family. 
Mr. Hugon, in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 
says " The silk of this insect is the daily wear of the poor, 
besides being used by every class in winter.'* Dr. Heifer, in 
a paper read before the same Society, says, " It gives a cloth 
of seemingly coarse texture, but of incredible durability; 
the life of one person being seldom sufficient to wear out a 
garment made of it, so that the same piece descends from 
mother to daughter, and from this property might be 
well adapted to mix in. certain textures with cotton." 
