Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-11-20
(Frum tie Richmond CofnpitT }
f>r1I ~TI'R r.

r Lr,a,,a ,,n,, ,co our f,refa,lers under British
suhicction were Impressed with the importance y, ~
production Of siikthsy were aware VI 'tr'
our climate and soil ior all the purposes OF SILK culture
and enacted laws 10 compel the culture OF the muo't
~ Those laws, however, were III advance u 'he "S'
,,d could not be enforced Legislative interference can
do little towards the lntrnducu"h OF peculiar u, ".
NJ ntns,rv when the moral and physical character "l
a., neorIe offers barriers Twenty FIVE years ago, an
enerprisng merchant al this city attempted, WIN VI
Ion Factory to push manufacturing among US. Bat he
rniied-,hc time had not arrived No" we hear Inc
buzzng and singing Of spndIrs or tie ca"H oil hn"''
mers or the merry song OF the mill IN almost every Qu't
ter of our city The tunes are propl"ns, ana tIry pros
per and will continue to prosper. The genius o! '"e
are must sanction new enterprses-nnd without sucn
sanction Legislative interference and lndVIdu'i ztal
OF no avail.
Two hundred wears ago. rs we said fathers al.
tempted 10 force tho silk culture but were unsuccessful
Our pennlr, without the aid compulsi"n OF snch au
lhur;y are now entering the business with zeal ana pro-
fit, The propitions period has and prosperity must
attend the enterprise sanctioned aud aided by The puUc
countcnanCe and patronage.
Relieving this we take pleasure in throwing what
light we can or matters appertaning Ia the silk inie'
rest friend, whose acquaintance we cannc; too gh'y
estimate has conned some periodicals, and conmu
nica,ed some facts us. which consider important
at this iunclure aud offer them, hoping That lhey may
moi be without some benefit.
Burn,ah now under English Government among other
and valuable Of trade, numbers that OF SIR cu
ture II appears the Bumans have at least II different
kinds Of silk worms varying in habits aud Appearances
but all profitable in their proper locations and treatment
Some Of them remarkable, and we should suppose
mos, valuable. One Of these is the Maya worm, which
feeds on a variety of trees and never reared =: me
house Immense quantities of c0coons formed by then
are gathered by the natives and carried 10 the factories
of Calcutta every year The thrivcs best in dry
weather. but can project itself from wet, invariably TIKI
inc shelter under the leaves. Many Of the inhabitants
take the hen young and remove them near their
dwelling, where they more eiectually protect them
from their enemies; whom young. the black ant, and
when older, BIRDS among which the owl, is fond Of them
When they begin 10 pn which in about 80 days. they
descend IRON the tree ard tnken in baskets with Dry
leaves, which they adhere The Muga is much longer
than the mulberry worm, and produces COCOON Of two
inches in length, and proportionae thickness.
Another valuable species is tho Era or Aundl worm,
which feeds chiefly on Palma Christi (Which grows
silly and Iuxuranlly in this country 1t docs. mol re-
quire as much attention The Mulberry though
produced in year. The before they spin,
either white green The not reelcd. but
spun as that OF the Muga. The silk is aad harsh
at first but from repeated w0shngs becomes sol" and
glossy. Nearly all that is made is consumed in the
country where it is produced, aud forms the constant
OF the poorer classes The silk though IL
warm and durable. The life O: person being sci
dom sufficient 10 OFT garment. The is
ed IN almost every house in Assam
These two varieties would suit our climate well The
last mentioned particularly desirable. as the Phma
Christi suffers hut Itc from being stripped Of lis eaYcs,
and will produce fine crop Of seed, which valuable
for castor OIL