i882.J 
Silks and Silkworms . 
87 
Of the wild silks the most important are the Tusser or 
Tussah, — more properly written Tasar, — the product of 
Anthercea mylitta ; the Eria, yielded by Attacus ricini ; the 
Moonga, Mooga, or Muga, from Anther cea Assama ; and the 
silk of Attacus Atlas . This moth is the giant of the silk- 
producing families, and measures 10 inches across its open 
wings. 
The wild silks, as may be inferred from the difficulty met 
with in bleaching them, differ in their chemical behaviour 
from mulberry silk. A cold solution of zinc chloride dis- 
solves common silk in three days, but has no aCtion upon 
the Tasar even in a fortnight. The affinity of these silks 
for colouring-matters is feebler than that of common silk ; 
they take up the aniline dyes better than most other 
colours. 
Mr. Wardle has been especially commissioned by the 
Indian department to ascertain what dye-wares, natives of 
India, are best suited for use with Tasar silk. He has got 
exceedingly satisfactory results with lac, safflower, the 
leaves of Phyllanthus emblica , the calyces of Thespesia popul- 
nea , the flowers of Butea frondosa, indigo, hursinghar 
flowers, and the flowers of (Bdrela toona. In the second 
rank he places a number of colours, among which the best 
known are munjeet (Indian madder), sapan-wood, and the 
root of Morinda citrifolia . Upon Eria silk Mr. Wardle has 
produced an assortment of shades which leave little or 
nothing to be desired. The Muga silk is more easily dyed 
than the Tasar and the Eria, giving better shades at a less 
cost. 
Summing up the progress that has been effected in the 
utilisation of these silks, it may be said that their bleaching, 
dyeing, and printing, though still capable of improvement, 
have passed the stage of experimentation, and fairly entered 
upon that of industrial practice. The reeling of Tasar 
cocoons and the carding and spinning of the other silks 
have been greatly improved, and practical men — little given 
to fits of enthusiasm — are discovering that these hitherto 
negledted materials have before them a great future. 
The wild silks also admit of applications hitherto novel, 
and for which our older textile fibres are less suitable. 
Thus the Japanese combine upon silk tissues printing and 
embroidery, thus opening up a new style in art manufactures 
capable of being greatly extended and diversified. Mrs. 
Wardle has produced some novel and excellent effects in 
embroidery upon Tasar cloths. I may here suggest that 
ladies whose native refinement of taste has been scientifically 
