Silkworm from Japan. 407 
on it falling into a basin below. It is called soba-aku, or lye of 
buckwheat. The cocoons of the third or worst quality are 
plunged before reeling into a bath with /i-aku, or potass, which is 
obtained by burning branches and leaves in their green state: 
this ash is mixed in a basket with an equal quantity of buck» 
wheat ash, and boiling water poured on it. When the lye has 
been soiled by the cocoons placed therein to soften, it must be 
renewed. The lye might also be used to boil the cocoons in be- 
fore reeling. In boiling the cocoons, old or fresh, it is important 
not to soften them too much or too little. In like manner a lye 
may be prepared with the ash of the nezasa, a small kind of bam- 
boo, or from green straw, but the one named above is considered 
the best. When the si'k is intended to be dyed, the cocoons are 
soaked for some minutes before reeling in a lye made according 
to the receipt above mentioned. If the buckwheat lye is too 
strong the silken thread will-be, it is true, white, but weak, hav- 
ing lost its green colour. The soba-aku, or buckwheat lye, is good 
for silk intended to be dyed purple or brown, but not for other 
colours. In proportion as the silk is the less soaked to discharge 
the green colour it will bear the dye best.* 
The pierced cocoons are soaked three days in lye made from 
straw ; afterwards they are wrung out in a bath of cold water 
until the green colour disappears, but it ought nevertheless to 
reappear afterwards. In order to makea stiffening for the weaver 
(ori nori), they take for 175 grammes by weight of silk a decoction 
of 75 centilitres of starch (wheat), mixed with a little of the starch 
made from the seeds (warabi) of varech d’aigle, Plerts aquilina, 
and a mai (1°6 foot square, measure of Japan) of (funori) seaweed, 
Fucus cartilagineus. Silk treated with this decoction, and after- 
wards placed in a bath of fresh water to take away the stiffening, 
has a very beautiful lustre.” 
It is perfectly clear from this account that the culture of this 
wild race of Japan is reduced to a regular system at the begin- 
ning, having three variations as to its termination, and that no 
difficulty is experienced in the cultivation, is evidenced by the great 
quantity of this silk exported from Japan.{ It is quite evident 
® Mons. Guérin-Méneville states, in the Revue de Sériciculture, 1863, p. 
67, that a Hamburgh merchant had recently received seventeen bales of the 
cocoons of the Yamamai, weighing about 680 kilogrammes. 
+ Mons. Guérin-Méneville states, Revue de Sériciculture, 1863, p. 3, 
that he has seen in London whole bales of the Yamamai silk, from Japan, ot 
a quality nearly equal to the best silks of Italy and France. 
