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As to the probability of a continued demand for foreign raised 

 silkworm grain in Europe I wish to be very careful in answering 

 such an enquiry. It is generally believed that the entire mass of 

 all the silkworms in all the great silk growing countries of Europe 

 is more or less aifected or predisposed to disease, and I therefore 

 think that even under the most favourable circumstances, whether 

 in Europe or elsewhere, a considerable time must elapse before 

 the worms regain their old standard of health ; the disease has to 

 be worn out and time or science to reinstate the elements of 

 health and prosperity ; but all this while what is to become of 

 the stock now dwindling away ? Many years ago in a certain 

 district in England sheep fed for a lengthened period on the same 

 pasture gradually lessened year by year their yield of wool and 

 otherwise deteriorated, until suddenly one season they had no 

 fleece at all. Science was called in and investigation made, when 

 it appeared that for a long period the wool had been exported or 

 deported from the locality year after year, and no representative 

 matter placed in its stead ; in short the soil had parted with all 

 its wool, so the sheep had no wool to gather, and dame nature 

 was too hard pressed to be allowed time to collect and replace 

 unaided in the soil the deficient elements ; it was recommended 

 to manure the pasture ground with refuse wool from the factories ; 

 this was done and in due time the sheep reappeared clothed in 

 fleece. Now I have never heard of refuse silk, I mean silk rags 

 (whatever becomes of the rags is a mystery, for the annual 

 quantity must be enormous), being used as manure for mulberry 

 trees, nor of its chemical constituents being used to make good 

 the drain which for many centuries the land has undergone. We 

 use up cloth and rags of every kind, except silk, again and again 

 in one form or another, but old silk what becomes of it? Is it 

 waste pure and simple? I do not pretend to say that the 

 European silkworm will not recover in its old homes its old vigour 

 and excellence, but I do opine " not yet." 



I hope these replies will satisfy you. I am very tired and can 

 write no more at present ; but I remain 



My dear Dr. Bennett, 



Yours very faithfully, 



CHAELES BEADY. 



P.S. "When I speak of the disease in this letter, I mean that 

 extraordinary visitation which has destroyed and still ravages 

 what is left of the most valuable stocks in Europe ; this disease 

 is of quite a different character to any of the many ordinary and 

 often very severe maladies to which the silkworm has been liable 

 for many years. The cause or causes of the disease are yet found 

 inscrutable there is something not yet revealed or at any rate 

 not comprehended, for the plague seems to be heedless of any 

 influences for good, except fine weather and the best food or change 



