ON SERICICULTURE. 151 



their staf^es of development from the egg to the imago every 

 day in the year, and I am able to feed up several generations 

 in the year, and rear a brood at will at any time in the year. 

 Hence we have a remarkable advantage in our climate in 

 being able to produce many crops a year, or, as it may be 

 otherwise expressed, to spread the season over a large por- 

 tion of the year, thereby gaining manifold what could other- 

 wise be obtained." 



With regard to other species I have but little to add to my 

 remarks of last year. With regard to the silk of Bomhyx 

 Cynthia , I have not yet heard the result of the experi- 

 ments instituted by Mr. H. Campbell, of Paris, who is en- 

 deavouring to solve the question of the price per lb. of these 

 cocoons from a manufacturing point of view, and till that is 

 done the sericiculturist cannot extend his opei'ations on a 

 sufficiently large scale to prove remunerative. 



With regard to the Bomhyx Yama-3Ia'i, the season of 

 1869 has been better suited to its culture than that of 1868, 

 as evidenced by the greater number of cocoons produced, 

 their greater size, and the greater vigour, size and darker 

 colouration of the moth produced therefrom.* Some cocoons 

 weighed from 170 to 180 grains (Troy), and produced moths 

 measuring 1~1\ inches from tip to tip; one fertile female 

 laid me 298 eggs, and would have laid twenty or thirty 

 more had I not killed her — to preserve her. 



The cold weather, however, of the months of May and 

 June, during which the thermometer frequently touched 32° 

 at night, and in the day time scarcely exceeded 45° for weeks 



* The colour and variation of those bred this year was especially 

 beautiful, varying- from a dark ashy-brown grey to a light mouse tint, 

 from a light yellow to a rich chocolate-brown, or a deep mahogany 

 colour, with every shade of intermediate marking and frequent blending 

 of two or more colours. 



