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This matter of hibernation is very important, and particularly 

 with regard to the most valuable annual mulberry silkworms ; 

 annual worms, strictly so called, are beyond all question the 

 largest givers, individually, of silk, and in quality also they are 

 at the same time much superior to any of the double, treble, or 

 many brooded varieties. "With the exception of one single wild 

 or out-door worm, feeding in the open on mulberry trees, every 

 known variety and race is absolutely a creature of domestication, 

 produced by long ages of artificial rearing and treatment, more or 

 less strange to natural conditions. The one wild mulberry silk- 

 worm yet extant is understood to be incapable of domestication. 

 I do not vouch for that fact, but from what I have been able to 

 learn of the history and habit of this solitary species which has 

 escaped the influence of man, it seemed to me to indicate most 

 forcibly the necessity of a proper hybernation with all silkworms. 

 I think the double and many brooded varieties may, in some sort, 

 be considered abnormal and in a certain sense impaired. (See 

 my communication, June, 1868.) It is true, generally, that they 

 are vigorous and prolific, and show indications of health now but 

 seldom (in Europe) seen in the annuals; but the annuals in 

 countries untouched by the disease are much inferior to the 

 annuals of Italy and France, and by no means so highly superior as 

 are both these latter to the double and many brooded. Hence, the 

 great importance of endeavouring to save some of the fine races of 

 Europe before they all become, as many are already, utterly extinct. 



I consider it a very proper subject of speculation, whether 

 indeed the stand-point of excellence reached in Europe is the 

 ultimate degree of perfection attainable. Centuries ago mulberry 

 silkworms were introduced into Europe from Asia. In progress 

 of time, by change of food and climate, or treatment and manage- 

 ment, or by a concurrence of causes, they became greatly superior 

 to Asiatic descendants from the same origin which we are well 

 informed are treated now in precisely the same way as were their 

 ancestors of many hundreds or thousands of years ago. Many 

 high class races were gradually produced, and so to speak, 

 ennobled, by the skill and care lavished on them by the French 

 and Italians. It is possible that the disease which has so suddenly 

 swept away the best European silkworms may have been a resent- 

 ment of nature, not of improvement having been pushed too far, 

 but of conditions of further improvement not having been main- 

 tained or continued, and fresh elements of vigour supplied. It 

 was this idea that led me to urge others to do as I am myself 

 doing, namely, to endeavour to take the highest stand point 

 reached in Europe as our Australian starting point to obtain the 

 finest silkworm grain obtainable, and treat it systematically for 

 improvement, rather than merely reiterate here the self same 

 treatment to which the worms were before accustomed. If fivo 

 and twenty years ago (before the disease revealed itself in Europe) 



