402 AILANTICOLTURE — ITS HISTORY AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS. 



Guerin-Meneville made many attempts, since the year 1855, to introduce 

 and acclimatise these three fine species of worms, the cocoons of which are 

 so firm, and so easily operated upon hy the usual process. His labours 

 give the best founded hopes, almost the absolute certainty that he has suc- 

 ceeded in enriching Europe with these three valuable species of silkworms, 

 the productions of which furnish the clothing material for the entire popu- 

 lation of the extreme East. A very interesting account of the experiments 

 of M. Guerin-Meneville on the B. Anther cea (Yama-M'ai), as well as some 

 excellent coloured plates of this beautiful species, will be found in the 

 1 Rev. et Mag. de Zoolog.,' Mai, 1861, et seq. The Jury of the French Ex- 

 hibition, in 1855, appreciating the difficulties and the numerous essays of 

 M. Guerin-Meneville on this subject, granted him a medal as an encourage- 

 ment to continue in a work so difficult, though at the same time so rich in 

 useful results. 



In 1857-58, M. Guerin-Meneville at length received living cocoons and 

 butterflies of the Bombyx Cynthia, the Ailanthus silkworm domesticated in 

 China, and from that time to the present he devoted all his care and all 

 his leisure to realise this difficult acclimatisation, which he has now done 

 in a definite manner, and by his scientific efforts he has introduced this new 

 domestic insect into European agriculture. His efforts have been seconded 

 by the scientific men of Europe, by the Emperor of the French, by the 

 Queen of England, by the Bang of Holland, &c, and even by the poor 

 agriculturalists of France. Ladies of rank have also co-operated with him 

 in this scientific idea of creating a new industry in Europe ; among these 

 it will be sufficient to mention the names of Madame la Comtesse Drouyn 

 de Lhuys in France, and Lady Dorothy Nevill in England. In speaking 

 of this, lady in one of his works, M. Guerin-Meneville says : " Le nom de 

 cette dame se rattachera a l'histoire des debuts de railanticulture comme 

 un gracieux souvenir." 



This scientific undertaking is besides most disinterested on the part of 

 M. Guerin-Meneville, as he gives his new silkworms to all those who are 

 desirous of endeavouring to cultivate them. In a learned and interesting 

 Report, addressed to the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, ' Sur les 

 Progres de la Culture de lAilante, &c.,' and published at the beginning of 

 the present year, he thus speaks of his own zealous efforts in this respect : 

 " No novelty has ever been introduced, no useful project has ever been 

 inaugurated without a stimulus more noble than the mere desire of making 

 a fortune. In a question like the present one, no possibility exists of ob- 

 taining riches, except it be those of honour, and the desire of doing some- 

 thing useful to one's country." The scientific and agricultural societies of 

 the whole of France have not disregarded this zealous perseverance in a 

 work, the object of which is to benefit the public at large, for they have 

 honoured M. Guerin-Meneville and his fellow-labourers in this useful 

 endeavour, by granting them various medals and prizes. Those who are 

 interested in such a labour as the foundation in England of so important 

 a branch of commerce as that of Ailanticulture, can judge for themselves 



