ON SERICICULTURE. 105 



a single exception. In addition to this, T have been able to 

 eliminate the disease, which is such a serious drawback in 

 other countries." It is probable that other places, such 

 as Jamaica, where the thermometer rarely falls below 68°, 

 and does not exceed 90°, might produce a like result ; in 

 which case the development of silk industry will not fail to 

 produce, alike to the colony and its parent, most beneficial 

 results, as is evident from the following extract : ^' The fact 

 of producing silk day by day was most wonderful, and was 

 what was not done in any other part of the world; and 

 Mr. Chad worth, M.P., at the same meeting took occasion 

 to say, in reference to this Australian plan, that the daily 

 production exhibited an improvement in the production of 

 silk which would be as important a fact as ever occurred in 

 the silk trade." * Another branch relating to silk industry 

 may be with advantage introduced into Great Britain, viz., 

 the reeling of silk from the cocoons. This has been hitherto 

 confined in Europe chiefly to Italy and France, but there is 

 no reason why it should not be allowed to benefit the women 

 and children of Great Britain. The art is easily learnt,t 

 and cocoons from our colonies will shortly be sent over to 

 be reeled in Europe ; there is therefore no reason why a 

 lucrative occupation should not be given to our opeiatives. 

 It is to be expected also, in this as in other industries, that 

 English mechanics and machinists will not fail to improve 

 the reeling machines now in use. With a view to this end 

 being attained, it is proposed in Colchester to start some 

 reeling machines, not only to show what can be done in 



• N. S. W. Correspondence relating to cultivation of silk, presented to 

 both Houses of Parliament by command. Sydney, 1870. 



f We have the authority of Captain Mason and Mrs. Whitby for this 

 statement. Reeling machines may be obtained from Messrs. Teutschel, 

 Colchester. See Advertisement. 



