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ON SERICICULTURE. 



By Alex. Wallace, M,D. 



In consequence of the present dearth of silk, owing to the 

 great prevalence of disease in the silk-producing districts of 

 Europe, other cocoons besides those of Bomhyx Mori have 

 been eagerly sought after in order to supply the deficiency. 



Twelve years have now elapsed since the first attempt 

 was made at Turin to introduce a new silkworm, Bomhyx 

 Cynthia, into Europe. Since that time the idea of acclima- 

 tizing new races has spread, not merely over the whole of 

 Europe, but also into her colonies. At the present time 

 some dozen or more species of silk-producing Bomhyces are 

 undergoing the trial of naturalization in new climes, and 

 many thousand experimenters are at work in their laudable 

 efforts to introduce new and profitable industries in various 

 parts of the world. In fact, the future aspect of Serici- 

 culture is changed ; the production of silk may no longer be 

 considered as limited chiefly to one species and a compara- 

 tively small district. Owing to the facility of rapid com- 

 munication between distant countries, by the agency of steam 

 transit, the whole tribe of silk producers, many of whom 

 have till lately remained but little noticed in their own re- 

 treats, are now rudely brought to light, dispersed over 

 the world, and their habits and customs investigated with a 

 view to the utilization of their produce. Who can foresee 



