35 



eighth, fifteenth, and twenty-first day after leaving the egg the 

 caterpillars are dormant and require no food, but after the 

 twenty-first day they have an adundant supply of leaves for fifteen 

 days, at the end of which period they are placed on bamboo 

 shelves with divisions. The caterpillars form cocoons which must 

 be placed in the sun for three mornings successively. In hot 

 weather the chrysalises are killed by the sun, in cold by boiling 

 water. It is most essential that the room in which the cater- 

 pillars are placed should be clean, warm, and free from insects. 



3. The chukkan breeds in December, and the eggs must be 

 kept in a warm room for eight days. After the eggs are hatched 

 small bits of leaves should be sprinkled over the young cater- 

 pillars for seven days, and after that whole leaves should be 

 given three times a day for eleven days. The caterpillars then 

 form cocoons, which must be put in the sun four days for three, 

 six, nine, and twelve hours respectively, after which they are 

 placed in a warm room and are ready for use. 



4. The eggs of the burra polloo are kept suspended in an 

 earthen pot in a closed room for twelve months, after which they 

 are treated like the eggs of the chota polloo. 



5. The value of the silk produced by these silkworms is as 

 follows : 



Chota polloo Es. 16 to 20 per seer 



Madrassie ... ... ... ,,25 



Chunkkan ,,14 



Neto 9 



Burra polloo ,, 25 to 26 



The breeding time of the madrassie is in January, and that of the 



neto in July. 



6. The Deputy Collector of Cutwa is of opinion that the 

 silkworms cannot be exported; but the Deputy Collector of 

 Culna thinks that the eggs and cocoons of the burra polloo might 

 be exported successfully. 



7. There would probably be little difficulty in procuring a 

 supply of silkworms for exportation. 



From C. S. TUBNBULL, Esq., to E. V. COCKEEELL, Esq., Magis- 

 trate and Collector of Hooghly (Dated Grhattal, the 7th 

 October, 1869.) 



SIB, 



I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your office 

 memorandum No. 440, dated 30th ultimo, enclosing copy of a 

 letter from the Government of Bengal, with memorandum 

 received from Dr. Bennett, descriptive of the mode of treating 

 silkworms and cocoons in the exportation to Australia, and calling 

 for any information I can give on the subject. 



