436 
From imposts, after which they were to pay [their capitation and imposts in 
Silk, at ten rubles per pound. The first Ribbon of the newly instituted 
military Order of St. George, was of that produce; and though the same 
was coarse, she said, smiling, she never wore a finer to her mind. From 
the Silkworms produce, give me leave, Sir, to say a few words of a plant 
which seems to be akin to them; it is the Asclepias Syriaca , mentioned in 
Miller s, Mawe’s, and Abercrombie’s Dictionaries, as a perennial plant in 
England: I found it this summer in an apothecary’s garden in Kiovia; and 
was surprised to observe its produce so much resembling the Silk; and that 
in Upper Silesia manufacturers exist that cultivate this plant, and spinning its 
sort of Silk with cotton, produce a silky stuff. According to a calculation X 
have seen, half an acre will produce, in the third year, the value of ninety 
rix-dollars, and so on. Here X must conclude; but, with a heart full of grate¬ 
ful feelings to a happy country, where I passed seven of my younger years. 
Being attached to the Russian embassy, I shall hope on some future occasion 
to ask you a few questions, that may perhaps prove not unworthy the 
attention of your truly patriotic Society. 
X have the honour to remain, Sir, 
Your most obedient Servant, 
J. SIEVERS. 
Samuel More, Esq. 
Secretary to the Society for the Encouragement 
of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. 
Moms (Morus Papyri per a). This tree makes very strong vigorous 
shoots, but seems not to be of tall growth, for it sends out many lateral 
blanches fiom the root upwards. The leaves are large, some of them entire, 
others deeply cut into three or five lobes, especially whilst the trees are 
young; they are a dark green, and rough to the touch on the upper surface, 
but pale green and somewhat hairy on the under side, falling off on the first 
approach of frost in autumn. The fruit is little larger than peas, surrounded 
with long purple hairs, when ripe changing to a black-purple colour, and 
full of sweet juice. 
It is a native of Japan and the South Sea islands, according to Mr. Miller 
of China also and South Carolina, whence he received the seeds. The 
inhabitants of Japan make paper of the bark. They cultivate the trees for 
this purpose on the mountains much after the same manner as Osiers are 
