REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 549 



and we quote Mr. Walker's conclusion as to the chances of improv- 

 ing it: 



''I am of the opinion that saving can be made in the following 

 ways : In the present machines the two threads of each basin are so 

 dependent upon each other that when one thread breaks the reels of 

 both threads stop. Judging from the result of carefully noted exper- 

 iments within the past week, I am of the opinion that if these threads 

 were made independently of each other the daily production would 

 be increased by 125 grams without increase of the labor employed. 

 Again, the two girls at the reels, owing to their slight experience, 

 are unable to keep the threads sufficiently free from almost exhausted 

 cocoons, and as a result bunches run up into the croisure and cause 

 the rupture of the filament. By careful noting of the time lost by 

 these breakages I found that it amounted to 29 per cent, of the working 

 day. I put Mrs. Vaccarino in the place of the two girls, and by her 

 superior ability in taking out exhausted cocoons she diminished the 

 loss of time to slightly over 6 per cent. It is probable that with 

 properly constrvLcted pui^geurs the ratio of time lost would be reduced 

 as low as 10 per cent. And I am now experimenting with some devices 

 which justify, I think, my hopes of arriving at such a result. If I 

 do succeed, I shall, without increasing my labor, increase my pro- 

 duction from 1.87 pounds to 2.37 pounds. 



"This silk will require in its production: 



For labor ....... , $6 35 



For cocoons ... 9 24 



Total 15 59 



*'The product will be worth: 



Silk $11 85 



Waste ... 2 00 



Total 13 85 



''This would reduce the daily loss to $1.74, or the loss per pound of 

 silk produced to 74 cents." 



THE DISTRIBUTION Of EGGS. 



In 1885, as stated in our last report, a quantity of silk-worm eggs 

 were purchased of American silk-raisers and 150 ounces were distrib- 

 uted to applicants in different parts of the country. The general re- 

 sult was so unsatisfactory as to prevent the repetition of the experi- 

 ment. There were but few of the sellers who had the slightest idea 

 of the care to be taken in egg production, and it has not been thought 

 wise to continue the encouragement of this kind of work. There is, 

 too, undoubtedly, evidence of the existence in the country of much 

 "seed" of mferior races, and it is our aim to prevent the use of this 

 as much as possible by the gratuitous distribution of choice qualities. 

 In 1885 our distribution was confined to the class of races commonly 

 called the large Milan, and the same policy will be followed in 1887. 

 Silk-raisers who have had cause to be dissatisfied with their stock, 

 either from failure in their education or from poor prices received 

 for their product, will do well to apply to the Department for a new 

 supply. 



The reason for confining the distribution of eggs to the large Milan 



