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THE BEGINNINGS OF SILK CULTURE

The culture of silkworms (Bombyx mori) began in China about 5000 years ago. The ancient Chinese were the first to discover that the cocoons of a lowly caterpillar could be unwound and the filaments woven into some of the most beautiful fabrics in the world. Silk was so highly prized that the lustrous fabrics were reserved exclusively for the royalty of China.


The secrets of silk production were closely guarded by the Chinese for thousands of years. It was not until about 300A.D., that sericulture spread to Korea and from there to Japan. In 552 A.D. two Nestorian monks, under orders from the Emperor Justinian, smuggled silkworm eggs from China and bought them to Europe. This was the beginning of the silk industry in the West. Sericulture spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia during the following centuries.



THE INTRODUCTION OF SILK CULTURE TO AMERICA

The English began making silk in the 13th century, but their success was limited by their cool and damp climate. Silk culture began in America in 1603 when silkworm eggs and mulberry seeds were sent to Virginia by order of King James !

The English hoped to rival the French and Italians in silk production by having the American colonists raise silk for them. Silk was produced erratically in Virginia and Georgia until about the 1760¡¯s. By this time, cotton and tobacco had proven to be more lucrative products for the southern colonies.

THE DECLINE OF SILK CULTURE

Silk culture remained a profitable home industry in Mansfield until about 1844 when a blight devastated mulberry orchards throughout the country. The blight coupled with the crash of the M. multicaulis market led to the demise of silk culture in America. Few continued to raise silkworms after mid-century and those who did found it difficult to compete against foreign countries like China where labor was cheap and plentiful. The local silk factories, which were well established by this time, continued to operate using imported raw silk.

HOME PRODUCTION OF SILK

In the early days of Mansfield¡¯s silk industry, the silk cocoons were unwound in the home using a simple hand reel ¨C the same as was also used for measuring skeins of woolen yarn or linen thread. The cocoons were placed in a kettle of hot water and then were stirred with a brush. The silk fibers which adhered to the brush were then attached to the reel. Usually about ten cocoons were unwound (reeled) at a time. The fibers were pressed together to form a single strong thread which could then be easily wound as the reel turned.

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