150 ON SERICICULTURE. 



year. The natives are holding out for long prices, and it 

 may be that when they see the determination of the Italians 

 not to buy largely, they may come down in price and rush a 

 quantity on the market. The cards this year have reached 

 five dollars {21s. 8f/.), and four years ago they sold at 

 l.s.6d. each." 



Now a Japanese card represents foz. of eggs, and last year 

 the price per card in Japan was from 125. to 155. ; in Eng- 

 land it would pay well to sell eggs at 55. per oz. — IO5. 

 per oz. would produce a handsome profit. 



At present even a higher price is offered as an inducement 

 to start with. But we must remember that other countries 

 are wide awake to these facts. California, Egypt, Australia, 

 are already in competition with the Japanese, and if the sup- 

 ply from these sources prove healthy the price must soon fall. 

 At present, however, the demand for seed of healthy races is 

 almost unlimited. 



It is especially desirable to renovate the old races of the 

 B. Moriy which have been ennobled for the quality of their 

 produce in former generations, but which are now fast dying 

 out from the prevalence of disease, by importing their seed 

 into new localities quite free from disease. 



The climate of Australia is especially favourable to this 

 plan. Mr. Charles Brady writes thus of Sydney : — " The 

 mulberry of all varieties thrives here marvellously well, and 

 I have every reason to believe that the silkworm, B. Mori, 

 may, even if severely diseased on introduction, soon become 

 quite sound by proper treatment under our invigorating 

 atmosphere ; my experiments have been uniformly successful 

 in regard to alienating disease, as far as T have had oppor- 

 tunity of carrying them on." 



Another point of great interest in reference to Australia is 

 mentioned by Mr. Brady : — " I have had silk-worms in all 



