Restoration of the Silkworm. 307 
the worm in the spring of 1864, when the eggs deposited in the 
spring and autumn of the past year began to hatch on the 21st of 
March in a temperature of 65°. . 
First, then, with regard to the white worms, it was observed 
that, although for two years running the black worms had been 
all weeded out from them, yet the per-centage of dark worms was 
far greater than before; showing thus, according to the expe- 
rience of cultivators, a great accession of strength and health; 
great numbers of the eggs likewise adhered firmly to the paper 
on which they were deposited, instead of being loosely scattered 
as heretofore, but the white worms have never yet produced a 
second crop. This variety, though far from being in the best 
health, showed no increase of degeneracy over previous years. 
With regard to the black worms, they hatched on the same day 
with the others, although some had been deposited in spring and 
others in the autumn of 1863. All were decidedly unhealthy, 
although those from the autumn batch were far less so than those 
of spring, the latter being so terribly affected with jaundice, and 
with some disease that turned the worm dull green, that I was 
compelled to throw the whole away. The worms from the 
autumnal batch went on well enough and spun good cocoons, the 
moths from which deposited a goodly number of eggs in the end 
of May, and these began to hatch for a second crop in September, 
1864. They are apparently healthy, and from a few of their eggs 
I shall carry on an experiment for amusement, but I feel fully 
persuaded now, after several years of observation, that the con- 
stitution of the worm has been so thoroughly undermined that, 
although we may be able to restore it to its natural appearance, it 
will never be able thoroughly to shake off the various diseases to 
which it has so long been subject. The only way open to the 
sericulturist is, therefore, to re-seek in the original habitat in 
China for the wild worms in their natural state of freedom on the 
trees, and should any of these be procurable, then may the entire 
stock in Europe be gradually renewed, and the present impending 
ruin be averted. 
Dr. Bonavia of Lucknow, the active and enterprising secretary 
to the Agri-Horticultural Society of that province, having in the 
spring of 1864 furnished me with a few eggs obtained from Mar- 
seilles, I proceeded to ascertain whether they differed from the 
Cashmere worm or not. 
These began to hatch, in a temperature of 67°, on the 4th of 
April, when the Cashmere worms were already fifteen days old; 
in the batch were a few of the dark coloured ones, but none, 
