The Morns nigra is not the best species for the nourishment of the silk-worm, although the cater pillar feeds readily on the leaves. The white fruited mulberry, Morns alba, a native of China, is the best, and is greatly preferred by the in sect. M. alba is now cultivated in many parts of Europe, frequently as a pollard by road-sides. It comes into leaf a fortnight earlier than the black mulberry, which is an advantage in the culture of silk-worms. The white mulberry does not thrive in Britain, the winters being too severe. The Philippine mulberry is a favourite in the south of France, on account of the size and quantity of the leaves, and the ease with which it can be propa gated.
In the south of Europe, mulberry leaves are sold by weight in the market, and the buyer chooses them either young or mature, according to the age of the insects which are to feed on them. Young worms are fed on tender leaves, while full grown caterpillars require the stronger nutriment of the mature leaf. Attempts have been made to store food for the silk-worm by drying the leaves in the sun, then reducing them to powder, and placing the latter in jars. This powder, moist ened with water, is eaten with avidity by the silk worm, and..,Iay prove a valuable resonrce in late seasons, or uer circumstances which affect the principal crop. It is even thought that three or four crops of cocoons per year may be obtained in northern climates, by keeping successive hatchings of eggs in warm rooms, and supplying the worms with this food during winter.
In the Bengal Presidency, the districts of Bard wan and Rajshahi in Lower Bengal are the great silk region. In the latter alone, an area of 80,000 acres are under mulberry cultivation, but iu Bogra, Maldah, Murshidabad, Birbhum, and Miduapur, the plant is also largely grown. Three growths of silk-worms of the Bombyx mori are usually obtained in the year, in November, March, and August.
The wild silks known as tasar or tusser are the produce of several undomesticated worms.
which feed on various trees. That of Chutia, Nag pur is the Antherma paphia, and it feeds on Vatica robusta and Zizyphus jujuba ; but when semi-domesticated, the leaves for its food are those of the Terminalia alata. This species is trivoltine, August, November, and May. Many attempts have been made to introduce the tasar silk in European commerce, but have failed. The chief tasar worms of Assam are the dome,sticated eria or Attacus Ricini which feeds on the castor-oil plant, and the semi-domesticated mooga or Antherma Assama, which feeds on the soom tree.
Silk Fabrics.—Of the districts and towns in British India famed for these, may be named in the Madras Presidency — Chedambaram, Dindigul, Madura, Tanjore. In the Mysore State--Bangalore, Mysore, and Tumkur. In the Bombay Presidency—Ahmad abad, Burhampur, Dharwar, Surat. In Bengal— Benares, Birbhum, Gaya, Patna. In Burma— Pegu, Rangoon, Shooay-dagon, Tounghoo. In the Central Provinces — Bilaspur and Chanda. In Assam and the N.E.—Darrang, Manipur, Rung pur, Sibsagor ; and principal places of silk manu facture are Peshawur, Lahore, Amritsar, Multa,n, and the capital of the neighbouring state of Bahawulpur. The silks of the latter place are con sidered the best, and the next those of Multan.
Many of the sarees or women's cloths made at Benares, Pytun, and Bnrhanpur, in Gujerat, Narrainpet and Dhanwarum, in the territory of His Highness the Nizam, at Yeokla in Kandesh, and in other localities, have gold thread in broad and narrow stripes alternating with silk or muslin. Gold flowers, checks, or zigzag patterns are used, the colours of the grounds being green, black, violet, crimson, purple, and grey ; and in silk, black shot with crimson or yellow embroidery, , crimson with green, blue, or white, yellow with deep crimson and blue, all producing rich, har monious, and even gorgeous effects, but without the least appearance of or approach to glaring colour, or offence to the most critical taste. They are colours and effects which suit the dark or fair complexions of the people of the country ; for an Indian lady who can afford to be choice in the selection of her wardrobe, is as particular as to what will suit her especial colour—dark or com paratively fair—SS a lady of Britain or France. At the London Exhibition of 1862, silk pieces, figured and gold embroidered, were sent from Bahawulpur by H.H. the Nawab.
Assam.—As each householder reels, spins, and weaves his own cloth, the holiday attire of the Assaniese is usually of silk. In Durung, t'han of good silk measuring 10 yards can be purchased for from 5 to 10 rupees, according to the fineness. The cloth is occasionally coloured, but the Assam ese silks are usually of the natural colour as wound from the cocoon.