March 1, 1864.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 



SERICULTURE IN OUDH. 357 



2,500 cocoons produced that quantity. Hence yours are more than 50 

 per cent, below the late European standard. According to Mr. Turn- 

 bull's report of last year, I think he said Mr. Cope's cocoons were 56 per 

 cent, below the Cashmere standard, and as these are certainly very 

 inferior to the European, I am inclined to regard all cocoons reared in 

 this country from Cashmere stock, as at least 75 per cent, below what 

 they ought to be, and would be were it possible to eradicate the numer- 

 ous diseases by which the worms are overwhelmed. It is a folly to con- 

 tend that some are not diseased, for all are so, as is shown in the wide 

 departure from the natural colour, proving that the constitution of the 

 worm has been completely undermined by a long course of " breeding 

 in and in." Various diseases have arisen in consequence, and the only 

 remedy that can be effectual in restoring health, will consist in 

 causing the worm to revert to a state of nature. Upon this I am now 

 engaged, and with a very fair chance of ultimate success. 



In your climate, or in any part of the plains, no good can be expected 

 in the way of adding strength. The worm will alwa} r s degenerate from 

 the heat it must endure, and hence if you continue to cultivate Lucknow 

 bred stock, your worms will go from bad to worse. Your only plan 

 will be to procure every, year a fresh batch of eggs from a cooler 

 climate, from Cashmere if possible, until we can establish supplies in 

 the hills. 



There is no reason, however, to be discouraged in your attempt if 

 you find the present return remunerating. You can never hope to 

 compete with colder climates in the amount of silk produced, but unless 

 the secreting glands become affected, which at present does not appear 

 to be the case, the quality of all our produce from this stock will remain 

 the same or nearly so. It is in quantity only that you will be deficient. 

 When I say quality, I do not allude to the thickness of the fibre, because 

 that is regulated by the size of the orifices in the lip through which 

 the gum is compelled to pass from the reservoirs. As long as these 

 reservoirs contain gum, the fibre will be of the same thickness, but it 

 does not follow that elasticity and other qualities are regulated by the 

 orifices. Indeed, we know that they are not, but are dependent upon 

 temperature and the quality of the leaf. The thickness of fibre will 

 increase or diminish with the size of the worm, and the quality will be 

 regulated by feeding and temperature. In the fineness of the fibre I 

 recognize decrease in the size of the worm, arising from degeneracy. 

 Some regard the fineness as an advantage, but then they look to the 

 market, while I look to the health of the insect. You will, I think, 

 find that the quality of your silk this year will be the same as that of 

 the Punjab, and of mine at Mussoorie, but in a year or two our climate 

 will tell, and we shall leave you far behind in the amount of produce 

 from equal numbers of cocoons. As to the difficulty of introducing 

 the worm either into Oudh, Rohilcund, the Punjab, or any other part of 

 India, there is absolutely none, and never has been, provided funds 



