486 Miscellaneous. 



another version of the old tale of the shield which was silver on one 

 side and gold on the other; both observers are right, but each party 

 seems to have become acquainted with only one side of the question. 

 Mr. Austin writes as if he did not agree with Mr. Strickland — but 

 both these Terns are summer visitors here — both were influenced by 

 the same high winds, and both probably were obliged to steer for a 

 time the same course. — Ed.] 



On the Progress of the Silk- culture in the West Indies ; and the ad- 

 vantage of the employment of Cold in the preservation of the Eggs of 

 the Silk-worm^. 



The eggs alluded to in the last report as obtained from Guadaloupe 

 continued to hatch daily in small quantities, and at first appeared 

 healthy, but soon showed signs of weakness, and few eventually 

 came to maturity, and but a small number of cocoons were spun. 

 Similar results attended the creole eggs of this island. At the latter 

 iend of October I visited Martinique, to ascertain the result of the use 

 of an ice-house to preserve the eggs. Being favoured with an intro- 

 duction to M. Vecoul, President of the Agricultural Society, &c., who 

 takes a lively interest in the silk-culture, at his house I met M. Bouis- 

 sett, who has for several years had to contend with similar diflicul- 

 ties to those I have had to contend with, and from him I ascertained 

 that he had some time since arrived at the conclusion, that a degree 

 of cold, approaching to freezing, was necessary for the eggs in order 

 to obtain vigorous worms. 



The colonial government of Martinique granted a sum of money suf- 

 ficient to erect an ice-house on a large scale in the town of St. Pierre, 

 at a cost of about 1000/. sterling; and under the supervision of M. 

 Bouissett, chambers have been constructed in the interior of the 

 building of various degrees of temperature for the reception of the 

 silk-worm eggs, and he has found that the eggs wintered for three 

 months commence hatching in about nine days, and in three days 

 all are come forth as in the best-conducted establishments in Europe ; 

 and that the worms have proved uniformly healthy and vigorous, and 

 in due time spinning excellent cocoons of great beauty, size and 

 weight. This result is extremely satisfactory, as it removes at once 

 all that has hitherto hindered success, and there is now every reason 

 to think the silk-culture will prove a source of wealth to these colo- 

 nies, as this has been the invariable result in every country in which 

 it has hitherto been established. The fact that a degree of cold 

 nearly approaching to the freezing point is essential to the egg in 

 order to the production of a vigorous worm, does not appear to be 

 known to the silk-culturists of Europe. It is very gratifying to me 

 to be able to state, that I found the utmost willingness to impart in- 

 formation to me in Martinique, as I also did on similar occasions in 

 Guadaloupe ; and I have just heard from M. Bouissett, who informs 

 me, that on accomplishing my proposed visit in the latter end of this 



* Extracted from despatches addressed to Lord John Russell. 



