PREFACE. 
XV 
Impressed with these ideas, the British, 
Irish and Colonial Silk Company have 
already directed their attention to the for- 
mation of extensive plantations in England 
and Ireland ; but fully aware themselves 
how greatly the success of an undertaking 
of such magnitude depends upon the con- 
current efforts of the community at large, 
they desire to impress on all who can ap- 
preciate so desirable an event as the suc- 
cessful cultivation of silk in this country, 
how necessary to these efforts is their 
support ; and considering that there is not 
any mode better calculated to further this 
object, than to spread widely a knowledge 
of the principles of an art so little under- 
stood, they have caused to be published 
this translation of a work by the late 
Count Dandolo, an Italian cultivator, 
patriot, and scavant, whose meritorious 
efforts for the improvement of his country 
have raised his name to a high station in 
the annals of agriculture. 
