AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES. 205 



confined largely to the environs of Uyeda on the Chikuma-gawa, 

 of Nagato and Ida. 



c. The southern silk district joins the central towards the south- 

 west, and comprises the provinces Mino, Omi, Echizen, as well as 

 Tamba, Tango, Tajima. Besides these, the remainder of south- 

 western Hondo has little to boast in the way of silk-culture. This 

 is also true of the provinces of Tokaido, with the exception of 

 Koshiu and Musashi, already mentioned, and in Gokinai, Sanyodo 

 and San-in-do in the west. It is furthest developed in Mino, prin- 

 cipally about Hachiman, and in Goshiu or Omi, east of the Biwa 

 Lake, where Nagahama is especially distinguished for the amount 

 of territory devoted to the industry. This third silk zone supplies 

 to the remainder of the Japanese silk product 15 per cent, of raw 

 silk, and 5 per cent, of seed cartons, and falls far behind the middle 

 and northern sections in importance. 



The export of Japanese raw silk began in 1859. The high price 

 received in consequence of the diseases prevalent among the silk- 

 worms in Europe proved a great stimulus to wider culture and 

 production. The falling ofif in consequence of the growing trade 

 in graines was found to be but temporary. A noticeable improve- 

 ment in the exported gnge took place, as in 1872 the government 

 built at Tomioka, in Musashi, a great reeling establishment, or 

 Filmida, in which the cocoons were unwound in a fine even thread 

 under Brunat's skilful direction. The high price of this raw silk 

 from Tomioka has caused a great deal of emulation, and a large 

 number of Filandas have sprung up in silk-raising centres and 

 silk-markets, generally at the suggestion and expense of the 

 government In this way the quantity, relative value, and total 

 amount of the exported silk products of Japan have greatly in- 

 creased, notwithstanding many disturbances and fluctuations. In 

 1883 it reached the highest figures yet known, viz., 56,432 Piculs 

 at 60,128 kg.; but the value fell some 350,000 yen behind that 

 of the previous year, when for 52,021 Piculs the sum of 18,638,984 

 yen (nearly ^^3,654,703) was realized. 



TJie Breeding arid Importance of the Yama-Mayii, or Oak spinner — 

 Antheria {Bonibyx) Yania-mai Gner.-Menev. in Japan. 



The effort to find some substitute for European silkworms de- 

 cimated by the Pebrine {Noserna bonibycis^ Naeg.) has led not only 

 to the introduction of Japanese white and green spinners, but has 

 attracted attention to other Bombycides, and caused numerous ex- 

 periments. The most encouraging attempts at new breeds have 

 been made with Japanese and Chinese Oak spinners {Antheria 

 Yama-mai and AritJi. Pernyi), the former from Japan, and the 

 latter from the Chinese provinces Shantung and Sze Chuen, chiefly ; 

 also with the Ailanthus spinner {Saturina Cynthia) which is much 



