Shortly after becoming king, James I. endeavoured to establish
the silk manufacture in England, as had already been successfully
done in France. He gave every encouragement to the breeding of
silkworms. He sent circular letters to all the counties of
England, strongly recommending the inhabitants to plant mulberry
trees. The trees were planted in many places, but the leaves did
not ripen in sufficient time for the sustenance of the silkworms.
The same attempt was made at Inneshannon, near Bandon, in
Ireland, by the Hugnenot refugees, but proved abortive. The
climate proved too cold or damp for the rearing of silkworms with
advantage. All that remains is "The Mulberry Field," which still
retains its name. Nevertheless the Huguenots successfully
established the silk manufacture at London and Dublin, obtaining
the spun silk from abroad.
Down to the beginning of last century, the Italians were the
principal producers of organzine or thrown silk; and for a long
time they succeeded in keeping their art a secret. Although the
silk manufacture, as we have seen, was introduced into this
country by the Huguenot artizans, the price of thrown silk was so
great that it interfered very considerably with its progress.
Organzine was principally made within the dominions of Savoy, by
means of a large and curious engine, the like of which did not
exist elsewhere.
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