174 Reviews. [Jan., 



Boro-Pooloo, either to the Cashmere or the other species. This 

 other species is the Bokhara worm, which yielded cocoons, firm, 

 large, and full of silk. The sudden heat, however, of the middle of 

 April caused them all to turn yellow and die. The thread, too, turned 

 out to be weak, and did not reel easily. But it is the China and the 

 Boro-Poolo which appear to offer the best prospects of success, the 

 former a monthly worm, that is, taking about thirty-three days from 

 the time of hatching to the birth of the next generation, which, however, 

 can only be reared in Oudh in June, July, August, and September ; 

 while the latter is an annual, and can easily be reared in February and 

 March. In November, December, and January, on account of the 

 cold and the absence of leaves, — and in April and May, on account of 

 the dry heat, no silkworms can be reared with advantage on a large 

 scale in Oudh, but if the proper temperature can be maintained, small 

 quantities may be reared for the purpose of keeping up the stock. 



Large and lofty mulberry trees, though apparently they contain 

 plenty of food, are not of the most useful kind ; low and wide-spreading 

 trees are the best, because the leaf-gatherers are able to walk round the 

 trees, using both hands to pluck leaves, and every arrangement that 

 saves time and labour is gain. In small experiments the worms were 

 kept in trays made of strips of bamboo, woven into mats, and the dry 

 leaves were constantly removed, and fresh supplied in their place. 

 Great pains, too, were necessarily taken to preserve the worms from 

 the attacks of ants, for a few ants on a tray will kill thousands of worms 

 in a very short space of time, going about and biting one after 

 another, and in this way narcotizing them, possibly with a view of 

 carrying them away at their leisure, and producing effects very similar 

 to those of a snake-bite upon larger animals. 



The conclusions which Dr. Bonavia has come to with regard to 

 whether silkworm-rearing in Oudh can be made a paying concern, are — 

 that the China and Boro Pooloo worms can be easily reared in the 

 months above indicated, and that besides the annual crop of the Boro- 

 Pooloo, three or four crops can be had between June and September, 

 from the China worms. A proper rearing house, furnished with every- 

 thing that is necessary to regulate the temperature, is indispensable. 

 It should be situated in the midst of a mulberry plantation, propor- 

 tionate in size to the number of the worms. The hind of mulberry 

 to be preferred, is that called by natives the " Dasee Shahtoot," which 

 naturally grows tall, but must be kept down. Morus cucullata is only 

 of use when the worms are in their first stages ; but whatever kind of 

 tree be used it will require abundant watering during the hot winds. 

 The dry leaves of the trees, and the dung of the worms, will be pro- 

 fitably used as manure. Lastly, the reelers should be good ones, and 

 the silk reeled for the home market. Silkworm operations are most 

 likely to pay, not on land situated in the vicinity of cities, but on land 

 which is now being cleared; since in the vicinity of cities neces- 

 saries, rather than luxuries, are most in demand, and such districts 

 will always be found more profitably employed in producing food for 

 man. 



