Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-09-25
Che family Circle.
Something About Silk.

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are six and porcelain both of them origin
al inventions, and known and practiced by
the Chinese for centuries before any other
nation knew Of their existence. From
China the manufacture Of silk was at
length introduced to Persia Greece learn
ed il from Persia; and Rome from
Greece till, ultimately, this valuable art
sDread itself over the known world. One
of the most ancient of the Chinese sacred
books saws: From ancient times, the
Son of Heaven (the emperor himself
directed the plough, and the empress
planted the mulberry tree the royal
pair thus securing food and raiment for
the nation, and setting a noble example OF
Industry aud providence There are but
four provinces in the empire that produce
the fine silk for expectation and the best
of these Is Che heang, OF which the >ou
is peculiarly adapted to the successful.
cultivation Of the mulberry, the only tree
that furnishes food for the sllkworm.
Great pains is taken to prevent the trees
from bearing fruit, in order that their
whole strength may tend to the production
of the greatest possible quantity OF young,
healthy leaves and 50 valuable are these,
that in gathering them a step ladder is
always used, to prevent any injury TO the
tree or its products.
As the young worms thrive best amid
quiet and seclusion, the houses in which
they are reared are usually placed in the
center Of each plantation, 50 as TO be as
far as possible removed from noise and
disturbance of every kind The bark OF
dog will often prove fatal to brood ];
and immense numbers are sometimes deS-
troyed by a thunder storm Sheets OF
paper are spread for the deposit of the
eggs, and they are Matched By artificial
heat. The mulberry leaves, that cOnstl-
tute their sole food, are weighed out with
great exa ctness, and placed in small bas-
kets, and the worms will pass from one TO
another a. the baskets become empty
When they have gained their full size. and
become OF a clear, transparent yellow,
they are removed to their spinning apart
ments. where, in about SIX or seven days
/ they complete their c0c00ltS. Then the
DuDls in these are Immediately smothered
/ in cose Jars, to prevent their making their
way out, to the detriment Of the siik-a
/ few only of the pupr being reserved for
future propagation.
The silk is next wound upon reels, and
after the glutin has been removed by warm
water, it Is then ready for the looms
these are Of the simplest construction
the same that they have used tor ages
and are worked by hand, without the aid
Of steam or machinery. Yet in the
manufacture OF grapes, damasks, and
lowered satins they stand first in the
world and they are likewise very skilltuI
in initiating the 1arest and most delicate
patterns Of European workmanship
! More than fifteen millions Of dollars worth
Of silks are annually exported to Europe
and America, yet the laws Of China for
bid any one vessel to take away more than
hundred catties, t. c. l33 lbs, of sllk
at one time. This law is, however, little
REGARDED, as there are always to be found
silk merchants whose love OF the Mexican
dollar stands paramount to all consldera
tions Of duty or danger and supercargoes
of foreign ships take away all the silk
they desire, provided they have specie tc
pay for it.
Besides the immense quantities export
ed, there is probably ten times as much
silk retained for home consumption, As /,
used by any other nation in the world
From princes to peasant-meD, women
and children-all wear silk; ana not only
for robes and jackets, but for trousers
caps. and even shoes. Though linens ano
nankeens are much used for ordinary wear
on festival and gala days, Of which the
Chinese have an incredible number, ne
Celestial would consider himself true Il
his nationality or his religion, unless deck
ed out in silken costume.
OF such vast Importance to the welfare
of the empire are the silk manufactures
regarded, that the empress is their avowed
patron; and she goes annually, with hel
maids of honor, to worship the got o
silks. while she even condescends to appear
occasionally among her women engaged a
the imperial looms, to direct and encourage
their labors, and to bestow special rewards
on such as merit them, by the manifesto
ton of unusual taste or skill.-Little Cor
pOral.