The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-11

continuance Ia 10 De apprenended, ana II 80, what
steps should be taken TO arrest its progress. The
distress 1t has created in those districts where no
inco0siderable proportion OF the population derived
its chief means of subsistence FROM the various
and preparing the silk for the market
and the social peril arising from any serious check
10 the industry OF Lyons have given the subject an
Importance In France which has already induced
TO examine it in all its details These inquiries are
not yet at Ar end nor have both sides yet been FULLY
neard. 80 much progress, however, has been made
Ia the investigation, that we may SHely proceed 10
Jay before our readers the following conclusions as
those wnch appear to be most generally accepted III
explanation OF the deficient yield of silk in france
Until the early part Of the present century the
rearing OF silkw0rms was carried on oy maSnan'ers,
or silkwom breeders whose establishments consist
ed chiefly of themselves aud their families, conduct.
ing their operations in their ordinary dwelling
houses The quantity OF eggs on which they oper-
ated rarely exceeded Two or three ounces, and the
yield Of cOcOOns was usually about l40lbs.
to the ounce OF eggs. The caterpillar
were fed on the leaves OF mulberry trees,
growing almost in u wild state These trees. pre-
ferring poor celcareous soil, were lett nearly in
their natural condition, rarely snured, and suffered
to grow to their full height producing a not very
abundant crop of leaves Of n smaller size and lighter
color than those of the cultivated mulberry but
tanning large amount Of Dutritive matter. The re-
suit OF this was silk of a very superior quality
both for toughness and elasticity, but some wha
high In price. The magnanier was rarely the pro
plet0r OF the mulberry trees. which we're grown
source OF profit by large agricultural prOpretOrs,
who sold the leaves to the skworm feeders. These
latter chiefly depended on their own moths for the
supply OF eggs for the next years broods, rarely
purchasing eggs, unless from neighbOrng pro-
ducers. and selecting, for continuing the race,
the Mgest and finest cocOOns, and, when the
moths were produced, preserving those only whose
strength and physical conformation was such az
experience had shown to be the best fitted for ensur
ing healthy add hardy of caterpilars. The first
change made in the system was on the part OF the
attention to the best mode of increasing the crop of
leaves. This was effected by planting the trees in
richer soil. and literally manurng. The trees, in
stead OF being left to their natura! growth were
topped, and denser mass Of foliage WAS soon pro-
duced, the leaves being larger, thicker, and moro
abundant than before, but containing much larger
proportion of fluid and having consequently far
less concentrated amount OF nutriment in given
The effect of this apparently improved culture
soon declared itself. The sikworms fed on these
leaves were less healthy the crop of cocoons less
certain, and the quality Of the silk frequently dete-
riorated. The yield of cOcOOns fell oil from lao lbs.
to 100 lbs then to 80 lbs and even lover and finally
the small breeders and producers abandoned their &C.
equations in instances too precar0us or unre
munerative. The profits of the owners Of mulberry
plantations rapidly diminished in consequence, and
the system of uniting the two occupato OF breeder
and mulberry grower was adopted, the magnane'7es
being at the same time mounted on much larger
scale Instead of two three ounces of eggs being
operated on from twenty to fifty was the usual
quantity, and the eggs became regular article Of
merchandise. the smaller breeders finding it more
profitable to wind off all their cocoons than to re-
serve them as the nucleus OF future broOds. The
ratio Of caterpiars to the number of eggs in the
mean time steadily diminished, as did also the yield
OF cOcoons. the silkworms having become more
liable to epidemic diseases, and les able to resist
those atmospheric influences to which they were at
all times so susceptible. In the larger establish
ments these atmospheric variations were sought
to be counteracted by artificial heat, which.
while it accelerated the changes through which
the caterpiars passed, reduced the cost OF
producing the silk. But IT was found that, In spite
of improved modes of ventilation and the utmost
attention to eanness the liability of the silk worms
TO disease and the number OF eggs which we're worth
less were on the increase The yield OF cocoons fell
from the average OF lao lbs to the ounce OF eggs,
under the old system to So and even 80 lbs; and
this year where IL has not ute failed 1t has rarely,
exceeded Ia lbs. The disease known IA the gat-
tine" has become exceedingly common among the
silkwOrms the breed Is evidently generally enfee0ed,
and the eggs brought to irket are Of 80 doubtful
quality that the small breeders fear % purchase and
are preparing to abandon the rearing OF slkworms
altogether
The evil. therefore, il attributed to the overcul.
ture of the mulberry tree, which has increased the
quantity OF leaves NJ sacrifice OF quality, ana to
the absence OF proper in selecting the moths des
tined 10 produce the eggs for ensuing operations
II has been found, moreover, that the yield
cocoons dminishes In proportion to the qusntty
caierpillars reared in the same establish nent those
mognaneyIs operating on from one To ten ounces OF
those in which from ten TO twenty ounces are under
taken. The remedy proposed N, that the present
system of stimulating the mulberry trees should
be abandoned and that the utmost care should be
taken In selecting moths in the most perfect cond
tons OF health and physical conformation, other
wise il il TO be feared that from the constant inter
mixture Of the still vigorous races with those affect
ed by the artificial system OF diet aud breeding the
silkworm in France will become universally enfee-
bed the quality Of the SILK permanently deteriora-
he'd and its production as branch Of profitable in
49,
Unfortunatey, however the growth Of the evil
has been gradual extending over the whole OF the
present century. The value Of agricultural proper
ty fitted for the present mode vi cutvating the
mulberry has been fixed on the superstition that II
was per manent branch of industry. and return
TO the old system would 1t Is feared, seriously en-
nance the price of silk, and therefore dimnish its
consumption. very large number OF persons are
engaged in the various processes OF preparing the
silk for the market and II IL consequently OF the
highest importance that the causes which have de
4riorated the race OF silk in France should
Je thoroughly investigated, aud that the remedy
should be applied TO interfere "a little "a pos
sible with existing interests. The rapid progress
which the spread OF epidemics am pns the csterpn-
lars has OF late made, renders the suton OF these
questions matter of urgent necessity and we ear.
nestly invite the attention OF naturasts and CON-
nercial men 10 subject In which we, a. well as the
population OF the silk districts OF southern Europe,
are so largely interested.
Miscellaneous Foreign Items.
The British Essex Herald has reason to believe
that the whole OF the foreign legons will cease to
exist by the 18th instant.
At Winchester, England, on 23d uitimo, the TIA
lans Giuseppe Bagava, aged 20; Giovanni Bsrbala-
10, 1s and Matteo Pettrick, I'll, were hanged. They
we're convicted Of the wilful muroer of Joseph Pat
tnson and Evan Evans, on board the bark Globe,
II the Bosphorus.
The four Chambers of the Swedish Diet after a
Stormy debate OF four hours duration, have ne
,,sca ali ITO cations vh,cb the government
hd proposed 10 introduce in the Legislature for the
liberty Of the press.
Last wear the duty on private carriages In Eng.
land amounted to f2s3,s53 In the preceding year
the duty was f374,il9.
The expense Of collecting the revenue Of England
LIST year. was G., s63 1858, exclusive OF the Post
dice.
The Russian squadron under Admiral Behrens
has left Cherbourg for the Mediterranean The
us,al aalutea were piypn and returned. These