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his history bears to the benevolence of his Creator. And thus a conclusion, which has been denoimced as hostile to religion, will be found to be in harmony with its highest truth.

SUGGESTIONS FOR T H E INTllODUCTION OF T H E SILKWORM INTO

T H E W^EST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE, AND MORE ESPECIALLY

A N E W SPECIES W H I C H MAY BE FED ON T H E TEAZLE

PLANT. BY MR. H . DENNY, A.L.S.

I t has been several times suggested that the cultivation of the Silkworm should be introduced amongst the cottagers of this country, with a view to improve the condition and diversify the occupation of our agricultural population. This would afford an industrious employment for their children, and thus add very considerably to the general income of the family, with little or no outlay, and also be the means of increasing our commercial products.

The first period when this branch of national industry was attempted in England was, I believe, in the sixth year of the reign of James I., who was extremely anxious to promote the breeding and rearing of Silkworms in England, and in 1608 he issued a royal edict, despatched official circular letters, also to persons of influence throughout the country, recommending the subject to their consideration ; and arrangements also were made for the distribution of mulberry trees in different comities. The experiment was unsuccessful in consequence, it was said, of the climate being unsuited to the Silkworm. About a century later, 1718, a Company was incorporated, which obtained a lease for 122 years of Chelsea Park, where mulberry trees were extensively planted, and large buildings erected for managing the business of breeding Silkworms. This scheme alsa failed. The last attempt to introduce this trade in the United Kingdom on a large scale was made in 1835, by a Company which commenced its operations by planting 80

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acres in the county of Cork with 4,000 mulberry trees, but the design was abandoned, and the Company transferred its operations to Malta.

At this period there was but one species of Silkworm (the Bomhyx Mori), reared for its silk in Europe. !Now, however, a second species, the Hicinus or Assam Silkworm (Bambyx Cynthia), is become a competitor as a silk-producing insect. I t was introduced into Prussia in 1856, and has since spread through Germany, and even into Sweden and Russia, with the most extraordinary results. As the produce of the two insects, however, is very different, I think that both species might be introduced with success.

In 1825, Mr. John Murray published a pamphlet on the common species, in which he says, " I have often thought that the cultivation of the Silkworm would form a most valuable and profitable addendimi to the poor-houses in England. The aged, and even the infirm, might fijid here an occupation of healthful interest to themselves, and relief to the burdened benevolence which supports them. There can be no question about the success of this method of culture in England, as, with all the disadvantages the individuals had to encounter, I have seen, I think, 61bs. weight of silk raised in one season by a poor family in Whittlesea, near Peterborough."

The last individual who brought this subject before the public was Mrs. Whitbj^ of T^ewlands, near Lymington. This lady, besides calling the attention of the Agricultural Society of England to the importance of the measure, at the meeting of the British Association at Southampton, in 1846, communicated the results of an experiment she had begun on her own estate ten jrears before, and exliibited specimens of raw and manufactured silk, produced from the worms of her own rearing and feeding. This lady's experiments have all been with the ordinary SUk^vorra (Boniby.c Mori). She


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began by planting various sorts of midberry trees for the food of the worms, a most important step, as the deficiency of the mulberry tree in this country has been long considered fatal to the success of cultivating silk in England. From Mrs. Whitby's experience, she found the Dwarf or Phillipine species by far the best, as producing more leaves, and from being more easily propagated than any other, and which, although closely plucked to feed the worms, continued strong and vigorous. Of the various races of Silkworms she found that by procuring the eggs of the large ItaKan sort she obtained as great a proportion and as good a quality of silk, as is produced in Italy and France. This was attested by several eminent manufacturers in London, Manchester, and Coventry, and Mrs. Whitby had the honour of presenting 20 yards of rich and brilliant damask, manufactured from silk grown at J^ewlands, to Her Majesty, who was graciously pleased to accept of this indication of a new source of riches in Her dominions.

In other countries a very large amount of revenue is derived from this source. According to Count Dandolo, the amount of raw silk and silk articles exported from Italy alone in 1808-9-10, amounted in all to 334,580,628 lire Milanese, being an average of 83,646,157 lire Milanese, annually, or £2,790,671 18s. sterling. And in this country, although we do not rear the Silkworm, we have a large trade in silk. In 1820 our exports were valued at £371,000 ; in 1856 they had reached £3,000,000. The average imports of silk in 1856-7-8, were worth £7,000,000. We have now above 300 Silk manufacturers, with 200 millions of spindles going, and steam machinery of 4,000 horse-power, independently of the hand-weaving of Spitalfields, Dublin, and Coventry. We have 15,000 men, and 35,000 women employed in the manufacture; and it is supposed that all those engaged


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in the production, manufacture, and sale of English Silks, do not number much less than a million of persons. It surely then is a subject worthy of consideration ; for though it is not expected that, even if the rearing of the Silkworm were to be successfully introduced amongst the rural population of this kingdom, it would supersede the importation of foreign silk, it would at all events be the means of bringing into the home market a large amoimt of raw material for the first time, and consequently secure a proportioijate share of capital to be expended on native products, instead of being sent to the foreign merchant.

The great difficulties urged against the probability of successfully carrying out this project are the changeable climate of Britain, and the inadequate supply of the necessary food required for the worms, with other minor obstacles. The variableness of climate cannot be entirely obviated without considerable expense, which would consequently increase the price of the article, and thus defeat the object in view. The insuffi.ciency of mulberry plants in cultivation, however, is more easy to remove. If a market is produced for the mulberry leaves, the supply wOl soon meet the demand. Wlien the latter becomes an object, let additional plantations of the trees be cultivated in proportion to the amount required, and then, lest the trees cannot bear the great loss of leaves which the frequent gathering of them would entail, and continue to produce a good crop in time for the next demand, the trees might be only partially stripped, or alternate trees defoliated, which would ensure a succession of leaves, and only require a larger number of trees to commence with. Mrs. Whitby says one of her earliest pupils had a productive nursery at Godalming, for the white mulberry (morns alba), and many others were planting in different parts of England, and she is so sanguine in her expectations, that she thinks if gentlemen in England and


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Ireland, who have a few acres to spare, would plant mulberries for posterity as they do oaks, we should in a few years be independent of other countries for our supply of raw silk.

The lettuce has been suggested as a substitute for the mulberr}'-, because of its easy cultivation and cheapness ; but I understand, from J. D. Holdforth, Esq., of this town, that this plant will not answer as a general source of food, from its being deficient in the resinous or gummy material which gives strength and lustre to the silk derived from the mulberry plant; and secondly, from the lettuce inducing a disease in the worms which proves fatal to great numbers, hence its use should be only occasionally resorted to, and then in small quantities.* "With all these obstacles, however, according to Mrs. Whitby's report, very favourable results were arrived at. After making every allowance for occasional unfavourable seasons, and labour, machinery, outlay of money, &c., she found that land laid out for furnishing food for the caterpillar would yield at least £20 per annum, per acre, profit.

With regard to the rearing of the Silkworm there is little doubt that if we became practically familiar with their habits, and paid due attention to their pecidiarities and wants, they might be reared in England as well as in any other country, and with as little loss by death. Equable warmth, throughout the period of their existence, cleanliness, classification, and rentilation, with adaptation of the food as to its maturity to the diSerent ages of the insect, will ensure success. For instance, the caterpillars in their infancy ought to be provided with early leaves, from their more delicate structure, agreeing with the feeble masticating

* Sig. Grisari succeeded, however, in feeding worms of the Bomhyx Cynthia, the new species, upon willow leaves and lettuce leaves, and obtained cocoons similar to those produced from the leaves of the Castor Oil plant, the natural food of this insect.


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organs of the worms, while on the contrary, if these were supplied with mature leaves of a firm texture, the worms would not be able to consume a sufficient quantity without exhaustion, and thus induce disease and death from want of support.

Another point to consider is the proper temperature the worms require, which is between 58° and 68", and it has been found that they thrive better in a half-subdued light, or even comparatively dark room, the light being in the same manner injurious to the eggs, as it is known to be to seeds of plants. In its native country the insect lives and passes through its changes under the shade of plants, and even in the miserable huts of the peasants of India, where light scarcely ever penetrates. In the year 1850, Mrs. Whitby was most successful in her rearing; the worms had no disease, and made their cocoons in 30 days, and the silk obtained was as strong, bright, and beautiful, as that which in 1844-5 was pronounced superior to the best Italian raw silk.

During the last few years great attention has been paid to other species of Bomhyx, whose silk is not only more abundant, but which is in general use by Eastern nations, with a view to its introduction into the manufactures of this country. Silk is easy to obtain in large quantities from China and other countries, but the introduction of a new raw material is not the object contemplated. I t is the production at home of a material which shall obviate the importation of it from a foreign market, and thus increase the prosperity of our labouring population. To accomplish this two or three other species of moth have been introduced into Europe, as also into some of our foreign dependencies, for the cultivation of their silk. The French and Prussian Governments have considered the subject of national importance, and hence have promoted the cultivation of this new branch of commerce. The Scientific and other Associations have investigated the


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nature and food of the different species of silk-producing lepidoptera, and given the results to the puhlic. In this country the Society of Arts have agitated the question, and published several articles upon the Bomhyx Cynthia, in their journal. I t is, however, to l lerr Ernest Kaufmann, the chief merit is due, as from numerous experiments and transmission of the eggs of the Bomhyx Ricinus or Cynthia to various individuals, he has done more than any other person to ensure the accomplishment of this new branch of industry. Professor Kaufmann delivered a report on the comparison between the growth of Ricinus and Mulberry Silk, before a general meeting of the Acclimatisation Society of Prussia, on the 22nd Oct., 1858, from which I have derived the most important information on this subject I am about to bring before you.

The first fact alluded to by Kaufmann is highly important afi regards the cultivation of the Assam Silkworm, which is, that seldom more than one brood of the common Silkworm (Bomhyx Mori) can be successfully reared in one season in Germany or Prussia. Further south, the mulberry, if prudently divested of its leaves, will reproduce a quantity of foliage sufficient to supply a second brood with advantage. But in more northern latitudes, where the vegetation is less vigorous, a second crop can scarcely be expected. The cultivator, therefore, must be satisfied with one brood of eggs only, of which every healthy female will lay from 400 to 500. The number of eggs laid by the Assam Silkworm, however, is not so great, seldom above 300. But this is compensated for by the circumstance that the insect goes through its series of transformations in about six weeks, and it is, therefore, possible to obtain eight or nine broods from a single pair in the course of one year. The author gives an approximate estimate of the enormous quantity of cocoons to be derived from a single pair of this moth, in so short a space of time,


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supposing the young caterpillars to be supplied with the requisite amount of food, and all necessary attention paid to them. I t must not, however, be supposed that every egg wiU produce a caterpillar and cocoon; many casualties wiU necessarily occur. The common Silkworm, for instance, loses on an average in each brood from one-fourth to one-third of the original number. Taking the highest of these as the proportion for the Assam Silkworm, although this species is more healthy, and by making the deduction at the outset, it leaves one hundred couples as the first produce of the original pair. Proceeding in this manner with the calculation, it will be found that at the end of the year the descendants of this pair will have reached no less a number than ten thousand million miUion couples, and that the eggs of these latter wiU amount to the enormous sum of two million million million.

The author calculates that 3,300 empty cocoons are amply sufficient to yield one pound of silk, but he assumes that 4,000 would be required, and this would give 600 billion pounds of silk as the entire product of one couple, and, assuming the population of Germany at 45 millions, this calculation at the year's end would allow more than 10,000,0001bs. to each individual, and many a poor wretch, he says, who now shivers in the winter's cold, would have reason to be grateful to the first pair of moths for a warm and comfortable protection against the inclemency of the season. In making this statement, however, Herr Kaufmann merely does so to show the moderate estimate he has arrived at of the prolific powers of the Assam Silkworm. He does not suppose for a moment that it would be possible, or even expedient, to rear such an enormous number, as neither land nor labour could be spared to furnish the immense supply of vegetable matter which would be required for that purpose. The numbers reared must be regulated by the demand for the material, and


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the silk cultivator w ould be at liberty to discontinue his operations at the end of the 2nd or 3rd generation, or to limit the number as he might find it profitable or convenient.

Another point worth consideration is the value of the cocoon, in the two species of Silkworm. It is well known that if the moth is allowed to emerge from the cocoon of the common Silkworm, the continuity of the silk is destroyed, and, therefore, it is desirable to destroy the life of the moth for the sake of the value of the silk, keeping only such a number as is requisite for the continuance of the breed. In the cocoon of the Assam Silkworm, however, the insect provides a place for its exit, which does not injure the fibre of the silk, and the empty cocoons can scarcely be distinguished from those containing a chrysalis, except by their comparative lightness. There is, consequently, no loss of silk incurred in providing for future generations of Caterpillars. As regards the climate of Britain, which is very variable, and therefore considered so unfavourable to the common species, this will not be an obstacle to the introduction of the new species, as from the Turin Gazette, we find that Sig. Yicenzo Grisari (who was the first person that undertook the rearing of the Assam Silkworm, upon the Castor Oil plant in Piedmont and France) discovered that the worms of this species do not suffer from a low temperature, nor from strong winds nor continued rain, but, on the contrary, he obtained finer and better formed cocoons than those produced by the ordinary method of keeping the worms confined in houses. His worms were reared upon the Castor Oil plants while in the ground, and in the open air of the gardens of the Chemical Laboratory of Turin. Sir Wm. Reid, Governor of Malta, (who took great interest in introducing the Assam Silkworm into Malta, and also in transmitting its eggs to the West Indian Islands, Erance, Italy, and Algeria), states in a despatch to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, accom-


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panied by specimens of silk spun from worms bred at Malta, that the worms are breeding faster in Malta than they can rear Castor Oil plants to feed them with, and also that they were thriving in the open air, and as they consumed the leaves of the Castor Oil plant, they travel from plant to plant, feeding upon several other plants growing near, but apparently doing best on the former.

If then the insect can be transported from Assam in Bengal, and successfully reared in latitudes differing so widely as Assam, Turin, Piedmont, France, Italy, the West Indies, Algeria, Malta, Germany, Sweden, and Russia, surely there is a presumption in favour of the insect thriving also in Britain.

In order to arrive at the value in a commercial point of view, the expenses of an ordinary silk crop must be taken OS a basis for an estimate. Supposing that the time of one man is required on an average to attend to the produce of each ounce of eggs, the cocoons from one ounce will, on this computation, cost as follows :—

£. s. One Man, 45 days 13 Thalers, or 1 17 8 cwt. of Mulberry leaves 8 „ or 1 5 Fuel, Eent of Buildings, Wear

and Tear of Utensils, &c. . . 1 „ or 0 3

d.

n

Value , peroz. .

£. s, d. . 8 12 6

U Cost . . .

"Profit . . 3 5 7i . 5 6 lOJ

£8 12 6 21 Thalers, or 3 5 7iJ

" This estimate," Ilerr Kaufmann says, " is rather above the mark than below it. By returns from the silk its rearer expects not only to cover all his expenses, but, as in all commercial and agricultural occupations, to receive a surplus, which it is expected will be as much. The chief outlay of capital being for buildings, plantations, &c., which are made with the expectation of their being required only for a few weeks in each season; whereas, if more than one crop could be obtained each season, the outlay under this head would not be increased, while the returns would be doubled/" With the


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Bombyx Mori, however, this is impossible, the climate and the food being the obstacles.

Although this estimate for adult labour is made according to the foreign rate of wages, I think it might be very considerably lessened, as is the case in factories, by employing children. If, then, some of the elder children of the agricultural labourers were properly instructed in the business, they could perform all the necessary duties required. The great point to enforce would be punctuaKty in attendance, supply of fresh food, and cleanliness. This might be accomplished by giving, in addition to the daily wages, a sKght per centage for every 100 cocoons fully completed, which would make it the interest of the young labourers to increase by all the means in their power the number of cocoons. " With the cultivation of the Eicinus Silk," says Kaufmann, " i t is far different. While the former must be content with one brood in a year, the latter can have from 8 to 12; and, granting that the expenses in each case are alike, the cidtivator in the latter case is in a position to turn his capital some 8 or 12 times as often, and is, of course, able to afford his article at a much more reasonable rate. There will also be a comparative diminution of all outgoings, owing to there being no loss from intermission ; to the management being less expensive ; and to the very low value of the food. From all these circumstances it will be apparent that the Ricinus Silk must claim to be ranked among the cheapest of the textile substances. That it never can be dear is also evident from the fact that carding is found to be the most eligible mode of treating the cocoons; from which, in all cases, the moths may be allowed to escape, whilst the breeder looks for his profit to the quantity rather than the quality.

" As regards the silk produced from the different species of moth, none of these equal that of the Bomhyx Mori, for


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brilliancy of lustre. The silk of the former is dull in comparison with that of the latter. As an article of luxury in dress, the silk of the Mori will always be certain to command the admiration and preference of the public ; but goods will, eventually, be produced from the Ricinus Silk, in which the great difference in price will ensure its use among the various classes of persons, from motives of economy. I t is confidently expected, however, that with more experience in its preparation, and improvements in machinery, the silk will even bear the test of a comparison with the old material. There is not a shadow of doubt with regard to its practical value as a strong and durable material, equally well adapted for fine and for serviceable articles of clothing; for stuffs for the use of the upholsterer; for coarse sail-cloth and tent-cloth ;— and that it will speedily come into universal demand." Herr Kaufmann, moreover, hopes " it may one day be his lot to see the labourer following his plough in a SUken smock-frock, the product of his own industry, which he thinks may be realised, as, by a little attention during the summer months, to a light and easy occupation, a sufficient material might be produced to clothe a whole family for a length of time." In India there is scarcely a native who has not a small patch of the Ricinus plant near his hut, or in the hedges of his fields, amoimting to perhaps the 20th part of an acre, which generally yields enough sUk for the clothing of a family. Mr. Hugon, in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, says " The silk of this insect is the daily wear of the poor, besides being used by every class in winter." Dr. Heifer, in a paper read before the same Society, says, " I t gives a cloth of seemingly coarse texture, but of incredible durability; the life of one person being seldom sufiicient to wear out a garment made of it, so that the same piece descends from mother to daughter, and from this property might be well adapted to mix in certain textures with cotton."


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Sig. Grisari states his intention of trying to rear for the same purposes the larvae of Pavonia major and minora which feed upon various plants, and produce a good but coarse silk. In the neighbourhood of Halifax the latter species used to be plentiful, and I have no doubt all the osier cars in the "West Eiding will also produce this insect in abundance. Whatever may be the ultimate result of the introduction of the true Silkworm (Bomhyx Mori) into Britain, there appears little doubt that the rearing of the caterpillars of the Bomhyx Cynthia may be accomplished; for as this has been successfully done in Germany, why not in England ? The Castor Oil plant, however, upon which it feeds freely, wiU not bear a Northern winter without protection, and, therefore, fresh plantations must be reared annually, which would be an objection. But Kaufmann has found, very fortunately, that the caterpillars will thrive equally well upon the common teazle, which is a most important discovery, inasmuch as, while one plant would have to be cultivated exclusively for the insect, the other is already an article of extensive cultivation, solely for the sake of its heads in the dressing or fuUing of cloth; and the remainder of the plant being worthless, is left for manure. Now, the leaves and barren branches would supply an abundance of food for a large number of worms, and hence the produce of a crop of the teazle would realize, with a very small extra outlay, a double revenue. I t appears to me, therefore, that, in a clothing district like the West Riding of Yorkshire, where the cultivation of the teazle is so extensive, either the growers of the teazle themselves might employ some of the labourers* children to gather the leaves and attend to the worms in buildings erected expressly on the spot, or that it might be a source of remuneration to many cottagers to cultivate the teazle as a crop, instead of potatoes or other vegetables; as in a small building, like a summer

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house, many hundreds of caterpillars might be reared upon the refuse of the teazle crop, and only require a little time devoting daily to supply them with fresh food, removing cocoons and refuse substances, which could be readily done by the children before going to work or school every morning.

Kaufmann says an acre of the Ricinus plant at its full growth is found amply sufl&cient to feed a quarter of a million caterpillars. The quantity of leaves which, without detriment to the plants, might be obtained from an equal space of ground planted with teazles will depend upon the state of growth at which the plants have arrived shortly before the buds reach maturity. When the foliage is in full vigour at least one-half may be removed. The cultivation of the teazle yields a clear profit, varying from 25 to 100 thalers per acre, and since the plants have many large leaves and stems of great length, there is thus, in addition to the crop of heads, a large amount of vegetable matter, which may be fixed at 14 or 15 per cent, per acre, dry weight, available for the food of caterpillars, but which, at present, only serves to augment the manure heap. Supposing, then, that over and above the returns from the teazle crop, an additional profit might be derived from a portion that would otherwise go to waste, it is surely a sufficient stimulus to encourage this new branch of industry, independent of the profit derived from the silk.

In the Canary Islands the natives have already more than doubled the value of their rural products by the easy cultivation of Cochineal. Why should we not follow their example, and attempt the introduction of the Silkworm into the rural districts of England, and more especially into the West Riding of Yorkshire ? I am happy to find a similar experiment is in agitation in the neighbourhood of Leamington, where the teazle is extensively cultivated, and


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Robert Baker, Esq., formerly Factory Inspector of this district, is exerting himself, with the co-operation of Lord Leigh, to introduce the silk culture into the Beformatory, as an occupation for the inmates. Having expressed my wish to M. Kuland, Esq., Librarian to H.E.H. the Prince Consort, to introduce the same insect into Yorkshire, that gentleman politely wrote to Herr Kaufmann on my behalf, for a supply of cocoons, when the latter kindly transmitted me 16, from Berlin, on the 10th Nov., 1859. Unfortunately, this small number did not prove sufficient for a successful experiment, as 10 of the chrysalides were dead, and of those which produced moths, the sexes did not appear simidtaneously, and the majority were males. "With a larger number, however, more favourable results might be anticipated.

I t may probably be urged that even if we could train the children of the cottagers and others to attend to the rearing and feeding of the worms, they would not be able to unwind the cocoons in a way suitable and careful enough for the market, or that could be depended upon. Now it happens, fortimately, that this difficulty, if it did exist, as also the idea that silk cannot be properly reeled in England, is anticipated, as a most valuable reeling frame has been invented and patented by Messrs. Chadwick and Dickens, of Manchester, by which not only the reeling from the cocoons is rapidly and efficiently performed, but the silk is carried directly upon bobbins cleaned and spun, thus not only dispensing with much of the throwster's labour, which is indispensable to prepare China Silk as it is usually imported for the manufacturers, but producing a bobbin of Silk of double the fineness of any China Silk imported, and equal to the finest French grown silk, and calculated to be worth more by 8s. or 10s. per lb. than the same kind of silk would be if reeled from cocoons in China. This machiae will be of equal importance in reeling silk spun in this country, as the

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producers of silk will only have to send the cocoons to the Silk merchant without any previous operation, which will greatly faciKtate the production of the raw material, by reducing the labour to merely rearing and feeding the Silkworm, until it has perfected its cocoon.

The effect the cultivation of silk in England, supposing it to succeed to a considerable extent, will have upon the Cotton Market is another point of importance, since the enormous sums now paid to America for cotton would be diminished, if the Ricinus Silk is brought into competition. Professor Dieterici, in a statistical work on the Manufactures of Germany says, " Cotton fabrics are daily assuming more importance, and superseding, or at least entering into serious rivalry with those of linen, the chief reason for which is the continually augmenting production of the raw material, and he conceives the same reason will bring the Eicinus Silk into general use. I t is estimated that America, Asia, and Africa produce annually nearly four million bales (each of 300 or 4001b8. weight) of cotton, and this is continually increasing. Of this quantity by far the largest proportion is worked up in Europe, and chiefly in England, which requires a weekly supply amounting in value to one and a half or two million dollars. Dieterici estimates the value of the cotton yam manufactured in England and Scotland in the year 1858, at nearly 165 million dollars. In the Zollverein this manufacture is yet far from, being on so extensive a scale, but it is gradually and steadily progressing, as is plain from the fact that on the average of the years 1849 and 1853 the importation of raw cotton had risen 136 per cent, above that of 1837, while that of foreign yarns had only increased about 35 per cent, above that of the same year. Proceeding in his calculations he shows that a sum of 33 million thalers is annually expended within the ZoUverein upon cotton manufactures; and, admitting that a


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large portion of this must be placed to the account of labour, still half, or more, remains to that of the raw article, and he speculates on the benefit that would arise should Germany produce the quantity of the raw article which he is sanguine enough to anticipate. Prussia would no longer be compelled to send so considerable an amount of its coin across the water, — it would remain at home. A domestic production would compete with and supersede cotton in part, with no detriment to the manufacturing interest; on the contrary, the existing cotton factories—^the manufacturing machinery in which might readily be adapted to suit the exigencies of the new manufacture—would receive a fresh impidse, the processes being so comparatively easy, and the consumption of the fabrics being continually on the increase, and in these benefits he seems confident that the whole of Western Europe would also partake.

•*• The follomng statistical calculation is curious, if not important:— It is computed that 16 yards of Gros-de-Naples, of ordinary quality, or 34

yards of a superior description, are manufactured out of lib. of reeled Silk, to produce which ISlbs. of cocoons are required. The average weight of a cocoon is from 3 grains to 3 J grains j its average length when reeled off about 300 yards. Taking the Silk consumed in the United Kingdom annually at S,000,0001bs., the following are the statistics of production:—

Baw Silk 6,000,0001bs. ISlbs, of Ckjcsoons to lib. of Eaw Silk 60,000,0001b8. 30,000 Worms to lib. of Cocoons 1,800,000,000,000 Worms. loz, of Eggs to 1001b. of Cocoons 600,000 oz. of Eggs. 161b. of Leaves to lib. of Cocoons 96,000,0001bs. of Leaves. 1001b. of Leaves from each Tree 9,600,000 Trees.


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