Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-05-11
MISCELLANY,
MULBERRY TREES, AND SILK WORMS.
Bu Bernard MWnhoy1.

China, Cochincnlna and Japan, and according 4
Gmelin, of Persia 1t grows we'll in the Untes
for the feeding of silk worms, as we'll here as il
France, Spain, or Italy. In Spain, Mr.. Townsen,
informs us, that in the province of Valenta, the,
prefer the white mulberry; but in that of Granada
they give preference to the black. The Persian
generally make use of the latter, and it has bee,
asserted upon very good authority, that worms fet
with the black mulberry, produce much better silk
than those fed with the white. But the leaves of thu
black. should never be given to the after they
have eaten Tor some time of the white, lest they
should burst.
Sir George Staunton, in his embassy to China
says, that the trees he observed in that country did
not appear to differ from the common mulberry tree
OF Europe that some of them were said to bea
white, and some red or black fruit, but that cfte,
they bore none and that the tender leaves growing
on young shoots of the black mulberry are supposed
to be the most succulent.
About theyear of Christ 55l, two Persian monks
employed as missionaries in some of the Christian
churches established in India, penetrated into thu
country of Sores, or China There they observed
the labours of the sk-worm, and became acauaint
ed with the art of working up its productions into
variety OF elegant fabrics. they explained TO tn
Greek emperor at Constantinople these mysteries
hitherto unknown, or very imperfectly understood
in Europe ; and undertook to bring to the capital
sufficient number of those wonderful insects. 'Thi
they accomplished, by conveying the eggs of tn
silk worm, IN hollow cane. They were hatchS,i
and afterwards fed with the leaves of q wild Mui
berry-tree, and multiplied and worked in the sam
manner. as in those climates, where they first be
came the object of human attention and care. Vas
numbers OF these insects reared in differ
ent pats OF Greece, particularly in the Peloponnes
us eiAT efterwards undertook to breed silk
worms, With e4aal success. and was initiated, from
time to tinse5 &several towns in Italy. In all thes
places, exterlsive manufaet0Fssawere established
| with silk Of domestic prndnction 80
From the reign Of Justlnian. it w most in Greece
and some of the adjacent islands,, That silk-worm
were reared. Soon after the conquest Constantine
Pile by the Veneans, in the year 1904 they attempt
ed the establishment of the silk manufacture IN hei
dominons and in short time, the SILK of Venice
WED with those of Greece and Sicily. -
About the beginning of the fourteenth century
the Florentne manufactures OF silk, became yer,
considerable 1t was introduced much later ID
France the manufacture OF silk, though considers
bly, encouraged by Henry w. not having been full,
established there, till under Louis XIV by Colbert
1t is an established and well known fac., tina
both the white and black mulberry trees, grow a
we'll, in almost every part vi the United States.
in any country on earth ali also, that silk ha
| been raised and manu- featured into most eXce!len
fabric, under the direction Of TIE great an ,erer
BILE patriot, and friend to mankind, Dr. ,e ia35.
Franklin. That so useful pursuit shoa D .at
fered to die away, in country as we'll al 7u.5 Ms
Il it, any in the universe, is eXtraOrdlia r. ss
is unfortunate and injurious to the real lne,esys
the nation.
Trees which are designed to feed k-worn
should never be suffered to grow tail, but rather KEEP
in sort of hedge and instead of pulling off TIN
leaves singly, the young twgs should he cut oft witt
them on which is much sooner done, and not ST
injurious to the trees This is the most interesting
as the mulberry makes toerabIe good hedge, AM
can be used with advantage for botn purposes.
The raising and manufacture Of silk as we'll a
tevery other new establishment, only be broush
to perfection, and consequently into repute, by thu
industry some wealthy individuals, by establish
ed companies, whose united efforts will surmOun
the difficulties, which always present themselves il
new undertakings foi we every day see those tina
deal in small quantities, in any way of life, or il
any commodities whatever, generally unsuccessful
whilst at the same time, others possessed OF wealt
or in established societies, dealing largely IN thu
same articles, acquire vast property and riches
merely from being able to affrd constant and re
guar employment for the people engaged in tn,
business, and having due attention paid to every de
partment thereof.
The vast wealth of Lyons, and of various othe
places, gained from the abours Of this little insect
plainly show, that were no accommodations or ma
terias are wanted, to employ multitude OF hands
in regular society or combination OF undertakers
the sken manufacture must answer /; and that peo
pie may gov rich thereby, as well in America, as in
any other country, if similarly pursued, is too sell
evident, to bear contradiction.
With view and expectation that this business
may be attempted successfully, shall contribute
my mite, by giving the best information that have
been able to acquire on the subject; not in the least
doubling but that better may be easily obtained, for
the introduction of this import work.
The first object, is to raise sufficient quantity OF
| 3 l. a, and hiocl- Eindc