The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

CHINESE MODE OF REARING SILK-WORMS, ETC. 123
eration, the cocoons are complete, and it now becomes neces-
sary to take them in hand before the pupae turn into tnoths.
which would immediately bore their way out, and spoil the co-
coons. When a certain nmnber, therefore, have been laid aside
for the sake of future eggs, the chrysalides are killed by being
placed in jars under layers of salt and leaves, with a complete
exclusion of air. They are subsequently placed in moderately
warm water, which dissolves the glutinous substance that binds
the silk together, and the filament is wound off upon reels.
This is put up in bundles of a certain size and weight, and
either becomes an article of merchandise under the name of
" raw silk," or is subjected to the loom, and manufactured into
various stuffs, for home or foreign consumption. The Chinese
notwithstanding the simplicity of their looms (see frontispiece),
will imitate exactly the newest and most elegant patterns from
France. They particularly excel in the production of damasks,
figured-satins, and embroidery. Their crape has never yet
been perfectly imitated ; and they make a species of washing
silk, called at Canton " ponge," which, the longer it is used, the
softer it becomes.
The Chinese have from time immemorial been celebrated for
the beauty of their embroideries ; indeed, it has been doubted
whether the art was not originally introduced into Europe by
them, through the Persians.
From what has been said, it is evident that the raising of the
midberry-tree should first engage the attention of the cultiva-
tor, since its leaves form the almost exclusive nourishment of
the silk-worm. It is scarcely necessary that we should in a
work of this description enter more fully into the cultivation of
the mulberry-tree. This has already been so ably done by
Jonathan Cobb, Esq. of Dedham, Mass., Dr. Pascalis of New
York, Judge Comstock of Hartford, Conn., and E. P. Roberts,
Esq. of Baltimore, as to leave no stone unturned, or any want
upon the subject.
In such parts of the Chinese empire where tlie climate is fa-
vorable to the practice, and where alone, most probably, the
silk-worm is indigenous, it remains at liberty, feeding on the
leaves of its native mulberry-tree, and going through all its mu-