Xll 



Major Coussmaker is pursuing with a praiseworthy deter- 

 mination, at Poonah, the culture of Tusser silkworms, with 

 a view of making Tusser silk as systematic an industry 

 as that produced by Bombyx mori and the other mulberry 

 silks. 



Besides many others, the enthusiastic labours of the 

 French, aided by their Socie'te' d'Acclimatation, set us a 

 great example. They have succeeded in domesticating, if 

 not in almost naturalising, several Eastern species of wild- 

 silk producers, and in obtaining from them silk of some 

 industrial value. 



I would take this opportunity of mentioning that at 

 the Paris Exhibition of 1878 the highest prize, a grand 

 medal of honour, was awarded by the Jury of Class 34, 

 Group 4, to the Indian Government on account of the 

 collection of examples of the wild silks of India then 

 exhibited. The medal was forwarded to His Excellency 

 the Viceroy of India. 



Thomas Wardle. 



Leek, Staffordshire, 

 July 1881. 



