THE TECHNOLOGIST. [March 1, 1864. 



356 SERICULTURE IN OUDH. 



I cannot say how much silk can be expected to result from a given 

 amount of eggs, under favourable circumstances. Unfortunately, I 

 omitted to weigh the eggs sent to me by Mr. Cope. Although I do not 

 in the least doubt the words of Mr. Cope, as to there having been 5 oz., 

 still as I could not be scientifically correct, I would rather leave the 

 decision of this point to future experiments. Besides, a small quantity 

 of eggs which Captain Hutton kindly gave me got mixed up with those 

 procured from Mr. Cope. The temperature in the Baradaree ranged 

 from 72° to 82° up to April ; after that it was hotter. One might now 

 ask, What advantages have been gained by this experiment with silk- 

 worms ?— I may reply, the following : — 



The knowledge that the Cashmere silkworm can live and produce 

 good silk in Lucknow ; that the native mulberry, common to the pro- 

 vince, is quite sufficient as a feeding material, though other kinds may 

 be very useful. Twenty-four natives from different parts of Oudh, who 

 never saw a silkworm before (and who had some idea that silk was pro- 

 duced by a plant like other fibres), have become acquainted with silk- 

 worm rearing, and six of them with the mode of reeling. Two of the 

 latter have become reelers, by means of whom many others may be 

 taught. 



These men will disseminate the germs of a new trade in Oudh. They 

 have learnt that they have the power in their hands of creating this new 

 trade, and with it a new means of living quite different from the ways 

 handed down to them from father to son. This alone is of sufficient 

 importance. It will be the means of rousing them from that apathy 

 which generations of oppression and prejudice have engendered. All 

 these advantages will result, provided we discover some means of pre- 

 serving the eggs during the hot months. 



I sent some of the cocoons produced during the above experiment, 

 and taken at random, to Mr. Turnbull, Mr. Cope, and Captain Hutton. 

 The undermentioned are the replies I received. 



From Mr. Turnbull : — " Your cocoons have arrived, and they are 

 certainly very fine, and better than Mr. Lindsay's (Hurdui), though they 

 have deteriorated much." 



Mr. Cope pronounced the sample I sent him " of very fair average 

 quality." 



Captain Hutton wrote the following in reply : — 



" Mussoorie, 9th June, 1863. 

 " My dear Dr. Bonavia, 



"The box containing cocoons of Bombyx mori, reared from Cashmere 

 stock at Lucknow, reached me safely a few days since. The size and 

 hardness are precisely what may always be expected in cocoons reared 

 in the plains, whether at Lucknow or in the Punjaub ; and the number 

 of these that were required to produce a seer of silk shows how greatly 

 they have degenerated below the European standard. 



You tell me that 10,400 cocoons produced one seer of silk ; ergo 

 5,200 went to the lb. ; while in France, previous to the late epidemic, 



