ON SERICICULTURE. 97 



The Japanese varieties of the B. Mori produce respectively 

 white and green-tinted cocoons ; and are therefore termed re- 

 spectively " white" and *' green." The silk is fine and strong. 

 The larvae are darker-coloured, and have more definite 

 stripes — vers zebreSf according to Capt. Hutton — and are 

 more vigorous than the common variety grown in England, 

 producing the large oval yellow cocoon ; their cocoon is 

 small, of a pure white or greenish tint, and of the dumb-bell 

 shape ; that is, narrower in the centre than at the ends. A 

 friend in Japan writes to me, bearing date June 26, 1868. 

 " By both mails we received a number of Italians, who have 

 come to purchase silkworms' eggs. It is marvellous the grow- 

 ing demand for the Japan eggs and stock. Four summers 

 ago we had about ten of the continentals, and they purchased 

 most of the cards at something under Is. each ; but this year 

 it is reckoned that upwards of eighty are coming, and bring- 

 ing with them credits to the extent of 8,000,000 or 9,000,000 

 dollars, and a dollar to-day is worth 45. 65^., and the price 

 of cards will be from 155. to 205. So this must be a good 

 business for the Niphons." August 6th he writes — " I have 

 witnessed the whole process of the tame worm (B. Mori), 

 and have been struck by the care and attention shown 

 throughout; and I think it is mainly due to the strict charge 

 taken of them that the Japan seed is in this present year in 

 o;reater demand for the French and Italian markets. This 

 year it is estimated that over 2,000,000 cards, valuing 

 125. 6d. each, will be exported. Already, in Yokohama, 

 upwards of 1,000,000 have been purchased, and the Italians 

 are still eager for more; and the quantities purchased in the 

 north, at Hakodadi and Ne-e-gata, are not known." 



Such is the demand for healthy eggs of B. Mori. It 

 seems well worthy of trial to import these Japanese va- 



1869. H 



