FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 27 



have been informed that if they have a sufficient number of 

 mulberry trees under cultivation to provide food for the silk- 

 worms, the Bureau of Science will be glad to furnish eggs with 

 which to start. Eggs and cocoons have been supplied to those 

 who were prepared to raise them, and instructions in the care 

 of the worms have been given to several persons who wished 

 to establish silk farms. 



The production of silk is well suited to the people and the 

 conditions in the Philippine Islands. The many years' work at 

 the Bureau of Science has fully demonstrated that silk can be 

 produced, but it is not to be expected that under present condi- 

 tions the desired growth of the industry will result. The neces- 

 sity for demonstrators to carry on this work is pointed out on 

 page 54. 



Efforts are being made again to introduce the eri silkworm, 

 which feeds on the leaves of the castor plant. The cloth woven 

 from the silk of this silkworm is believed to be of superior 

 quality. However, it is to be remembered that the silk of the 

 ordinary silkworm is a well-known product with a market value, 

 while eri silk is little more than a curiosity, which even if pro- 

 duced in quantity would require time and money to introduce to 

 the world. 



Dr. R. P. Cowles, of the University of the Philippines, has taken 

 advantage of the facilities at the Bureau of Science in order to 

 carry on some experiments in breeding silkworms. There is 

 a large amount of practical work as to the best races of silk- 

 worms that should be introduced and crossed with our own in 

 order to retain the present stock in vigor and free from danger 

 of disease. 



CHEMICAL LABORATORY 



Personnel. — See division of general, inorganic, and physical 

 chemistry and division of organic chemistry. 



INVESTIGATION 



The effect of the European war has been greatly to increase 

 the burden of work on the chemical laboratory of the Bureau of 

 Science. Many supplies have been cut off from the Philippines 

 by the inability of certain countries to keep up their manufactur- 

 ing industries and by the tremendously increased and continually 

 increasing freight rates. In connection with its regular routine 

 work the chemical laboratory has been called upon to solve 

 problems that required much research ability. For example, new 

 bleaching methods have been made possible to several enterprises. 

 Many industries have been improved and adapted to war condi- 



