SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 199 



others something better, which will produce still larger 

 cocoons, according to the information I have. 



I have now a variety from Japan, that I expect to 

 be their annual variety, that I will be able to try the 

 next season also. In Japan, as in other silk countries, 

 they cultivate several varieties ; some better than oth- 

 ers. If this kind is their annual variety, according to 

 the accounts I have of it, I know it will be a good 

 sort. But, last year, I received a variety from Japan, 

 which I tried this last season. It belongs to the 

 class of worms called trivoltines, because they hatch 

 several times during the season ; and in California the 

 eggs of that variety hatch eight or ten days after the 

 females have laid them. I have made this last season 

 three crops of that variety, each time coming to per- 

 fection. Their cocoons are of a pure white, but small, 

 and for that reason I cannot recommend them to be 

 cultivated. For my part I will not cultivate them any 

 more, for two reasons : First, the fact of hatching so 

 readily, keeps you busy all summer after them ; and 

 certainly one good crop of a good variety, (which is 

 only one-third of the work) is more valuable than 

 three crops of those. Second, their cocoons being 

 too small, are consequently of little value, as they pro- 

 duce the short silk ; and you must all know that short 

 silk brings the small price and long silk the larger 

 price ; and I prefer long silk. 



Some eggs of that Japanese variety, that were left 

 in my garret, have hatched out for the fourth time. 



My old, or first variety, produces yellow cocoons, but 



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UNIVERSITY 



