108 Correspondence of J. Nicklés. 
This og ea is — — for scientific instruction in 
France, since the new programme of Chemistry which has just been 
prescribed to the Feleutes of 1 i Faculty of Science, contains ques- 
tions relating to isomorphism, polymorphism, isomeromorphism, and in 
general all that relates to the relations between chemical composition 
and crystalline form. 
Introduction into France of a new species of Silkworm.—The “ So: 
ciété Zoologique d’Acclimatation,” alluded to in a former communica- 
tion,* is highly prosperous. It has made numerous laudable attempts 
to acclimate useful animals from different parts of the globe, and to 
domesticate wild animals. Ithough too recently formed to pro- 
nounce on the full success of its endeavors, it is already in possession 
of facts which give great ho . OF these, is the acclimation of the 
g pen 
Bombyx Cynthia (* chenille du ricin’”) a silkworm of India, which, ac- 
cording to Roxburgh, furnishes a silk so firm that clothes made of it will 
last a life time. The honor of having introduced this Bombyx belongs 
to M. Milne Edwards, the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences of Paris, 
who has made experiments also on the hatching of the eggs of these 
silkworms. 
As the Ricinus (Castor-oil plant) grows wg wonderful facility in 
the south of France and Algiers, attempts have been made for a long 
time to introduce the Bombyx Cynthia. But the —- with which the 
rope. A series of circumstances has led toa triumph over the diffi- 
culties, and some decisive trials place the success beyond doubt. he 
cocoons have a russet color. At one extremi ty there is an opening 
- which the caterpillar er in order to facilitate its escape on passing 
to the butterfly state. The threads of the cocoons are so agglutinated 
that at first it seemed impossible to divide them ; but M. Guerin Menne- 
ville has succeeded in proving the dividing possible after boiling the co- 
coons in alkaline water. There are experiments now in progress at 
Algiers, to ascertain the value of the silk per acre of Ricinus com- 
pared with that of an acre of mulber 5 
Industry and Agriculture of Algeria.—We cite some facts from an 
interesting report made by Marshall "Vaillant, Minister of War, on the 
agricultural and industrial condition of our French colony of "Algeria 
in 1853. 
Fertility of Algeria.—In 1853, Algeria furnished to France over 
a million bestolitare (over three millions of bushels) of cereal grains, 
valued at fourteen millions of francs. It has produced the tender 
wheat . blé tendre”) of the best quality weighing 86 to 88 kilograms 
‘in place of 76. 
_ Sosa in Silk.—The superior quality of the Algiers silk, attested 
by two medals at the London exhibition n and by the price it brings at 
* Mis Jounal, vl 
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