Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-05-13
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six.

'rought' into Europe, those who
,rought it did not know what it was,
Tor how it was obtained, nor where
vas the original country whence it /
3ame. Its beauty, when made up
nto garments, induced in every one
who was able to pay the price a de-
sire to obtain it. For, coming from
4 great distance. and through the
hands Of numerous merchants, the I
price was exerbitant; twelve ounces
Of gold being demanded for a single /
pound of'|this scarce commodity Fl
The Greeks had known silk from the
time of Alexanders conquest Of Per-
sia. The Persians had supplied the
Roman Empire, till the time of JUS
tinian, in $50. This emperor, be-
coming indignant at the rapacityi Of
the silk merchants, contrived, after
many unsuccessful attempts, to Oh
tain some OF the silk-worm S eggs, by
means of a couple of pilgrim monks,
who concealed them in the hollow Of
their stats. They brought over also
such instructions concerning the
mode of feeding the worl ns, and man
ulacturing the produce, as enabled
the Greek empire TO supply itself =
The rearing of silk-Rorms soon
spread all through the countries Of
the Levant: Greece, Sicily, and sev-
eraE towns in Italy, afso obtained
these valuable insects, and shared in
the lucrative traffic d4duced from
their labors.
The first thing we Sc in the pro
cess of obtaining silk, is a multitude
of small eggs, which are laid by a
whitish-gray moth, extremely frqil,
whose only existence is Cor this one
service of laying eggs. Persons who
cultivate silk, place these moths up
on sheets of paper, with the edges
just doubled up, as a wall to keep
them in There they deposite their
eggs, whic adhere, by glutinoa Us
matter, to the paper. The eggs. a re
now about the size Of a common PIN
head, and of a yellowish color. The
moth lays considerable number of
them, between two and three hu n
bred, and then dies, without;in this
state, ever tasting food.
Let US return to the eggs, which
are adhering in clusters to the sheets
Iofwhite paper. These sheets are
hung up, with the eggs inward, to a
beam, in an airy room; never to a
hdmpen line, as that is injurious to
them. In a few days, they will be
sufficiently dry to admit Of the
Sheets being rolled up, with the eggs
inward; in which state they may be
/ hung up for the remainder of the
| year, or rather they are put into
stone or glass bottles to prevent &C.
cident. They are kept in the early
! part of spring considerably cool, be-
cause they must not hatch ill the
mulberry leaves are sufficiently ipr-
ward to feed them. A little warmth
! Is allowed them as soon as these
leaves begin to bud. Presently will
\ the eggs swell, and become pointed
4 Now the rolls of paper are spread out,
Hand hung with their backs toward
| tie sun, to gain warmth. The eggs
| first change to a gray color, and in a
few days become bIaekish. These
must now be kept in pretty warm
place; and the next day, the rolled
lup papers will be found full of small
black worms, the size of ants.
4 Their apartment must be airy, yet
kept considerably warm. Broad
frames placed like shelves, oneNabove
another, are provided for them, on
which they are kept and fed, till
they begin to spin; the room being
kept all the while iii regular and
comfortable degree of warmth.
The silk worm isa sort Of eater
pillar, about an inch and half in
length, ola milky or pearly color
1t feeds voraciously upon the null
berry leaf, so that it can not be
reared III any country where the eli
mate is bet warm enough for the
mulberry tree to grow certainly and
luxuri antIy. 1t will, indeed, eat the
lea ve$ of lettuce, bu t it does not
thrive unless it has its own proper
food. II eats night and day. The
moreit feeds, the E,ster it grows; and
the faster it grows, tie more silk it
produces; SO that its voracity is a
good sign for those who rear them for
profit. The Chinese feed the m with
flesh leaves every half hour, both
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