A three-page popular article from Appleton's Journal (1869) summarizing Louis Figuier's account of sericulture in "The Insect World." It covers the history of silk from China to Europe, the silkworm's anatomy and life cycle, rearing methods (rooms, feeding, moults, cocoon spinning), egg production, and the reeling of cocoons into silk thread. Two illustrations show a rearing establishment and a silk-winding establishment.