ADVERTISEMENTS. 



Dr. WALLACE 



ON 



OTJI_.TTJIR, 



The experiments of Mrs. Whitby, at Lymington, in 1836 (se'e her Manual), and of 

 Capt. Mason, at Yateley, near Farnborough, in 1866-70 (see Society of Arts Journal, 

 Nov. 26 and Dec. 31, 1879), of Dr. Wallace, 1870-76, and others, show clearly that in 

 all parts of Great Britain where the Mulberry Tree thrives, and is not cut off' by early 

 spring frosts, the cultivation of its silkworm, the Bombyx Mori, may be advantageously 

 carried out. 



Of all crops, that of silk is the most valuable, producing from 70 to 100 per acre, 

 and at the present price of grain (eggs), viz., 21s. per ounce, from ^100 to .500 may be 

 obtained from a single acre in one season. 



One hundred ounces of grain may under successful cultivation be obtained from moths, 

 the produce of one ounce, in a single season. 



Owing to disease, the silk producing districts in Southern Europe and Asia are unable 

 to reproduce healthy grain (eggs or seed) year by year. This necessitates their obtaining 

 from fresh countries a change of seed annually : a few years ago they sent to Japan a 

 million pounds sterling per annum to purchase grain ; but now the resources of Japan are 

 exhausted. The market is, therefore, open for English and Colonial reared grain, which, 

 when properly prepared and introduced, will be heartily welcomed by silk producers in 

 Southern Europe : but in truth, England may easily, aided by her cool temperate climate, 

 produce healthy grain for the world ; for Australia, California, South America, the Cape, 

 and other similar countries, have at last discovered that blessed as they are with an almost 

 perpetual summer, they can produce silk in successive crops all the year round ; and that 

 for this reason they can compete most favourably with Southern Europe in the production 

 of silk as a raw material ; leaving to England the production of grain for the ivhole world. 



The MULBERRY TREE may be cultivated in all countries and localities where the vine 

 succeeds, and the MULBERRY SILKWORM, JJombi/x Mori, may be reared in all countries, 

 where the Mulberry Tree nourishes, as easily as in the South of France and Italy. 



The Moras Alba, or White Mulberry, and its varieties, are generally preferred in silk- 

 worm culture to the Morns Nigra or Black Mulberry, because 



1st. The silkworms like it better, and feed on it more ravenously. 

 2nd. Its leaves are softer and smoother for them to eat. 



3rd. Its growth is more rapid and luxuriant in this country, shoots five to six feet 

 long in ordinary seasons on good soils being easily produced by the best varieties. 



4th. The silk obtained by feeding the Avorms on the White Mulberry is of a finer 

 and richer quality than that obtained by using the Black Mulberry. 



But for "Grain" production, that is where eggs only are required as a crop, the 

 Clack Mulberry may be used, where obtainable, with advantage. 



The Mulberry Tree succeeds best in situations sheltered from the east and north winds ; 

 slopes lying to the south or south-west are especially suitable ; light loamy deep well- 

 drained soils are the best ; light and poor soils, if warm, are also highly suitable ; heavy 

 soils, if sloped, well drained and exposed to the sun, produce a large crop of excellent 

 leaves ; but in damp low-lying valleys, subject to freijuent fogs, the leaves get rusty, 

 and unfit to be used as food for silkworms ; heavy, cold, undrained soils, especially those; 

 with a retentive clayey subsoil, are unsuitable. 



The Agricultural prospects of Great Britain, at present so much, clouded 

 by adverse seasons, ought to include the cultivation of silkworm " grain." 



