Silkworm from Japan. 427 
on a firm basis. Even now so much is this new species valued in Eu- 
rope, so great a demand exists for the eggs, that we read :* “ Liberty 
having been accorded by the Japanese authorities to purchase the 
eggs of the Yamamai, the governments of Holland and Switzer- 
land, as also the French merchants, have taken advantage of the 
permission, and, to my knowledge, at least twenty kilogrammest 
of eggs, of which fifteen are for France, have been imported this 
winter. This large quantity, so easily obtained, is a proof that 
the cultivation of this species is carried on in Japan on a large 
scale, and is no way injurious to the cultivation of the B. Mori.” 
Shall we in England be behindhand in taking advantage of this 
new opening? It would appear that since cool moist localities 
and temperatures are most suitable to this species, many parts 
of England, and especially of Ireland and Scotland, might pro- 
duce large crops of cocoons. Is it then well to leave the de- 
velopment of this new source of riches entirely to the energies 
of private individuals? Does it not rather demand the foster- 
ing protection of government? Individuals cannot afford to risk 
their money, and, what is more precious, their time, in these 
experiments, with the sole prospect of enriching posterity ; but, 
alas, not themselves, or their children. Few have the requisite 
knowledge to carry out the necessary experiments; and of these 
few, how many have the means and inclination? When the ex- 
port of silk from China and Japan alone reached, in the years 
1855—56, to 62,899 bales, in 1862—63, to 72,884 bales, in 
1861—62, to 79,199 bales, and in 1858—59, to 83,130 bales, and 
when it is placed on record that a fair proportion of this might be 
produced at home, it is clearly time that some experiments should 
be carefully conducted to show if this be possible, and, if so, to 
extend and encourage a knowledge of the art throughout our 
counties, whereby this great result may be produced. We should 
then be able to count another utilitarian triumph for Entomology, 
in addition to those over the bee, the Bombyx Mori, the Coccus, 
and the Cantharis vesicatoria, &c. We should open up a new 
field of employment to our women and children. A handsome and 
useful material would be brought into more general use; for 
it would be in England as in Japan, where, according to Dr. 
Sacc, of Barcelona, { ‘the Yamamai enables the ladies to wear 
* Revue de Sériciculture, 1866, p. 52, by Mons. Guérin- Méneville. 
+ Nearly 50lbs. 
t~ Revue de Sériciculture, 1863, p. 288. 
VOL. V. THIRD SERIES, PART V.—MARCH, 1867. H H 
