574 MONTHLY SUMHAEY. 



was introduced to TeDcriffe along with the Cactus on which it 

 feeds or hangs, and rapidly spread. The cultivation of the 

 Cactus, and the propagation of and gathering the cochineal insect, 

 now furnish a profitable employment to a large part of the 

 population of the Canary Isles. 



Ailanthus Silk-worm.— Specimens of this species of silk- worm 



feeding on branches of the Ailanthus glanditlosa, and of its 

 cocoons and the silk manufactured from it, have been exhibited 

 in the Conservatory during the latter part of August, and have 

 attracted much attention^ especially from those visitors who are 

 interested in textile fabrics. 



This insect was introduced from China a few years ago by the 

 Society of AcGliraatisation of Paris, through their able secretary, 

 M. Guerin Meneville, as a silk-worm hardier than the common 

 species, and likely to thrive in the northern provinces of France. 

 The idea has been eagerly adopted by some philanthropic indivi- 

 duals, who sde in it the commencement of a new branch of 

 Industry. Lady Dorothy Nevill is one of these, and she has been 

 leading the way in trying the fitness of the worm for this climate. 

 She has now had one year's experience, and her success has con- 

 firmed her previous expectations to such a degree as to induco 

 her to publish a translation of M. Guerin Meneville's account of 

 the insect and its mode of culture, with such additions as her own 

 experience dictated. She has now further sent to the Garden, 

 the specimens which have been exhibited, in order to show the 

 appearance of the worm and the plant on which it feeds. 



The caterpillar feeds on the AilantJms fflandulosa, a shrub in 

 troduced from China, but now naturalised in Europe. It grows 

 luxuriantly in the poorest soil, and flourishes well near the sea 



coast. 



• Perhaps the shortest and simplest way of explaining the 

 mode of cultivating this silk will be to imagine that some 

 one who now visits the Garden resolves to try it, and to detail 

 the successive steps which he will have to take in order to do 

 Bo. We must premise that the insect has two generations in the 

 year, but the first year a. beginner can only have the second 

 brood, as he will not be ready for the first. We shall imagine 

 that he has a small piece of ground, which he proposes to devote 

 to this purpose. 



January. He need not care much about the quality of the soil, 

 for the Ailanthus will thrive any where and in any soil, but host in 



