March 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



SERICULTURE IN OUDH. 355 



After the first stage, the native mulberry leaf, which is called dasie, is 

 the best ; it is more consistent than the others, and therefore dries less 

 quickly, which is always a great advantage : at the same time the 

 worms, in their older stages, like it very much. I cannot say I think 

 very highly of the leaves of the Morus multicaulis (or small entire-leaved 

 China mulberry) for the Cashmere worm. But it may be very useful, if 

 the eggs are forced to hatch early by artificially increasing the sur- 

 rounding temperature, as it is the only one I know of which produces 

 tender leaves during the winter, but then it must be protected from the 

 frost. 



I must here express my sincere thanks to Nawab Mosim-od-Dowlah 

 Bahador, for the kind and ready assistance he has given me in allowing 

 me to use the leaves of about 100 native mulberry trees which he pos- 

 sesses in Makkagunge, and without which I could not have fed all my 

 worms. The number of men employed were twenty -four. All these 

 men were not necessary to look after the number of worms I was 

 rearing, but I considered that the greater number that could become 

 acquainted with silkworm culture the better ; and as all the men asked 

 for from the different districts of Oudh were not sent, I employed some 

 that were willing to learn the business from Lucknow and Gonda 

 districts. 



Mr. Turner very kindly sent me a reeler on Rs. 15 per month, and a 

 year's engagement, and also paying his expenses from and to Calcutta. 

 He was not procurable under cheaper terms. 



He arrived in Lucknow on the 2nd May, 1863, long after the worms 

 had spun ; so that I did not keep all the men to see the reeling, but 

 selected six of the most intelligent, and who appeared to take an interest 

 in the business. 



There should, properly speaking, have been two reelers, one to throw 

 the threads of the cocoons and the other to reel ; but I found a great 

 advantage in having only one, because, as he was put to great inconve- 

 nience by not having proper assistance, he took great pains in teaching 

 my men, two of whom, more intelligent than the rest, learnt the art in 

 a week ; so much so, that the Bengalee reeler, after that time, allowed 

 them to reel, and he only looked on, his face indicating a slight trace 

 of disgust at my men having learnt the work so quickly ; I have no 

 doubt that, by a little practice, they will be able to reel as well as their 

 teacher. Of the cocoons that were spun early in the season, one pound 

 contained on an average about 1,037 cocoons, and about 5,000 cocoons 

 produced one pound of silk. Of those that were spun later, one pound 

 contained more than the above, and it took a larger number of cocoons 

 to the pound of silk. 



Upon an average, 5 lbs. of cocoons produced 1 lb. of silk. 



The total weight of cocoons produced during the season, exclusive of 

 those kept for eggs, was 15^- lbs., and the amount of silk reeled from 

 them was 2 lbs. 12£ oz., also 1 lb. 7 oz. of refuse silk, which the reeler 

 calls chashum, and which is saleable and used for coarse fabrics. 



