47 



good grain of the best kinds had been introduced on to this conti- 

 nent, and treated with judgment and discrimination, how good 

 long ere now would have been the position of Australian silk- 

 growers ; how thoroughly we should now be able to command the 

 markets of the world for grain, as well as of Europe for silk. In 

 all probability the disease would never have made its presence 

 known in this country, for the silkworms reared here would have 

 escaped the causes, whatever they may be, which have been so 

 disastrous in Europe, and these Colonies, would now be enjoying 

 the profits of a production, greatly exceeding the aggregate value 

 of all the gold, wool, and other commodities now raised here. 

 The policy, however, of introducing such a wealthy industry was 

 not then, and still is not felt ; the statesman is yet to appear, 

 who will take up the subject and deal with it effectively. 



"VVe are familiar enough with the phenomena of hybernation, 

 both in the vegetable and animal worlds. In a true sense all 

 nature requires a rest ; and yet, during the period of sleep, 

 wintering, or hybernation, very influential causes and processes 

 are at work, which give tone and character to the future course 

 of the organs which determine the greater or less development of 

 every animal or plant. To Englishmen, accustomed in their 

 notions of high culture, whether of animal or vegetable life, to 

 endeavour by selection and well-considered nurture to produce 

 and perpetuate the qualities most desired, and in which all 

 experienced persons are very careful not to overstep or overstrain 

 the limits of time or season, it is remarkable that no other people 

 should have paid due attention to this simple but most important 

 matter of hybernation. It is only quite recently (last September, 

 and long after the publication of our doings in Australia) that a 

 French gentleman, highly distinguished by his talents and acquire- 

 ments in science, in some experiments with which he was charged 

 by his Government, bethought him of the same notion which 

 had occurred to us, that of artificial hybernation, and his success 

 is announced to the world as a " singular discovery" (une 

 decouverte singuliere). (See the French papers, December, 1869, 

 and January, 1870). The Italians appear to have tried artificial 

 hybernation previously, some ten or twelve years or even longer 

 before this " singular discovery" (as experiment only) ; while 

 here, in Australia, as you are well aware, we have acted for years 

 habitually throughout whole seasons working by cold and 

 moisture to produce and maintain hybernation. This artificial 

 wintering is the principle with which I started to obtain when 

 required a succession of rearings hatched out at will, day by day 

 through the season, of the annual mulberry silkworm. Perhaps 

 it was my procedure in this respect, so strongly commented on, 

 and the knowledge of it circulated by the Silk Supply Association 

 of London last year, which directed the attention of the French 

 authorities to the subject. 



