84 COMPLETE INSTRUCTION IN 



DISEASES OF SILKWORMS. 



Much might be said of the diseases of silk- 

 worms, the cause and cure. But $3 the United 

 States have never yet been afflicted in this partic- 

 ular way, it is deemed best to pass the subject 

 lightly over, merely noting a few facts. 



Within the last half-century, almost every 

 country where silkworms are reared has been 

 afflicted with a most terrible disease, so that it 

 was feared, at one time, that the silk industry 

 would be entirely swept from the face of the 

 earth. The French government took great inter- 

 est in this subject, and appointed Pasteur, one 

 of the ablest scientists of his day, to investigate 

 the cause, and, if possible, recommend a cure. 

 He was allowed by the government every possi- 

 ble facility to prosecute his work, and he was 

 also ably assisted by other scientists, who might 

 be named, Professor Lebert, De Osinio of Italy, 

 Frederick Haberlandt, Emilio Cama, and others; 

 while, later on, Colonel Charles Brady, of Sydney, 

 New South Wales, by patient, persistent study 

 and labor, through many years of experiment, 

 at last overcame the diseases and developed 

 some of the finest breeds of silkworms that have 

 ever been known to the civilized world. 



