THE OAK SILKWORM OF CHINA. 157 
M. Amand, of Ermetton, for the excellence of his charcoal barrel-iron. 
In ornamental arms suitable for display Liege cannot of course, produce 
such works of art as are always exhibited by Paris gun makers. Yet, in 
the decoration of saleable guns, her engravers work so cheaply and well 
that it is not uncommon for the Paris gunmakers to send their stocks 
and furniture to be engraved at Liege, notwithstanding the cost of duty 
and carriage. Many Liegois settled in Paris have risen to eminence in 
the gun trade, as, for instance, M. Leopold Bernard. 
Another Belgian factory, the powder-mill of MM. Coopal, at Wetteren, 
claims here a special mention, as having earned a European reputation. 
All the powder used by the Belgian army is there manufactured by 
contract, under the inspection of artillery officers. From 1855 to 1857 
Wetteren supplied the British Government with 2,400,000 lbs. of 
powder. As England has always enjoyed the reputation of making the 
best powder in the world, the selection of this and other Belgian powder- 
mills must be considered as highly honourable to this industry. 
Wetteren has always kept pace with, and sometimes originated, the 
leading improvements in this art. One of these which is due to 
Wetteren is the carbonization of wood by means of a super-heated 
vapour, invented here in 1842 by M. Castillon. This happy innovation 
enables charcoal to be calcined to the precise degree which may be 
required. By employing the two other ingredients in a state of absolute 
purity, it is now, therefore, possible to make powder always identical in 
quality. Thus, from an empirical it has risen to be a scientific process. 
This factory employs 100 hands and a steam-power of 100 horses. 
Though founded so long ago as 1778, it has, by good management, been 
preserved from explosions- — an instance rare, if not unique, in the 
annals of this dangerous industry. 
(To be continued.) 
THE OAK SILK-WORM OF CHINA. 
BY THOMAS TAYLOR MEADOWS. 
In the journey to the Corean borders of the autumn of 1863, I found 
myself, so soon as I had crossed the watershed of the Leaou Mountains, 
travelling through a silk-producing country. I had, indeed, heard be- 
fore of silk being produced at and near Fung-hwang city, but had con- 
sidered it merely an amateur domestic occupation not capable of being 
developed into a trade. That it is much more than this, and that it 
may furnish in time what the port greatly wants, an article of export to 
Europe, may be seen from the details published in the Technologist, 
vol. v., p. 368. 
