124 Indian Economic Entomology. [ Vol. I. 



abandoned. This confirms the generally entertained idea, which is that 

 crosses between European and country worms (at least when reared in the 

 way usual with Bengal silk-rearers) are of no commercial value. It was 

 considered worth while to undertake the experiment, as Mr. Cleghoru's 

 stock was distinctly finer than the Bengal variety, and if this superiority 

 could have been maintained — a contingency which at first appeared to be 

 by no means impossible — the stock would have been of very great value. 



Experimental culture of the Italian bees, originally introduced by 

 the late Mr. J. C. Douglas, was continued during the year. It was 

 found that the bee can be reared in Calcutta, provided constant attention 

 is bestowed upon it, but that without this contant attention, which it 

 would be impossible to afford on any but an experimental scale, the bees 

 die out rapidly. The Italian bee may therefore be considered as un- 

 suited for introduction, and unlikely to be cultivated on a commercial 

 scale in Lower Bengal. By artificial feeding and constant care, con- 

 tinued from the beginning of 1888 until well on into the rains, a very 

 weak stock of Mr. Douglas's Italian bees, received from the Superintend- 

 ent of the Alipur Jail, was brought into a flourishing condition ; after 

 this it was left pretty much to itself, as would be the case with bees 

 reared commercially, the result being that already, in April 1889, 

 though there is plenty of honey in the hive, the bees have nearly all 

 perished, the chief mortality occurring in the cold weather. 



