1. History
Early Sericulture
Silk owes its position as one of the three leading textiles to its qualities of strength, elasticity and beauty—in which respects it surpasses all other fabrics. Its production dates far into antiquity; for centuries China was the seat of the industry, guarding the secret methods and processes with the utmost care. During the sixth and seventh centuries A. D. the secret began to leak out and sericulture gradually found root in the Near East and the Levant, whence it spread to Greece, Italy, France and Spain. Japan also took it up and developed it to a very high point.
Industry in America
Attempts to establish the industry in America have been generally unsuccessful, high costs precluding the possibility of competing with foreign conditions. In addition, the raising of raw silk has been built up principally in countries where there is a system of home industry—a social and industrial system never developed in the United States. However, although America has never been a factor in the producing of the raw material, it has risen to a place of utmost importance in the manufacture of the finished textile. Immense quantities of raw silk are imported from abroad—principally Japan, Italy, and China—and its conversion into the finished products constitutes a most important part of our industry.