THE TECHNOLOGIST. [March 1, 1864. 



360 SERICULTURE IN OUDH. 



Another difficulty is in reeling the cocoons of the Tussiir worm, as 

 they do not reel in the same fashion as those of the mulberry silk- 

 worm. I managed to get some of them reeled by burying them in a 

 mixture of charcoal ashes and water for a few hours, in order to dissolve 

 the gum by which the threads adhere to each other, and which is not 

 even softened by the common process of steeping in hot water. The 

 silk is of a light brownish colour, and appears to be very fine. I sent 

 some of it to Mr. Turnbull for his opinion, and the following is his 

 reply: — "I have rewound the silk, and it winds very well, the thread 

 is 10-12, or crape size. The only drawback to that description of silk 

 is that it will not take the dye." 



Notes on the production and food of silkworms called " Tussur," by 

 the Kajah of Oel : 



" At the end of May, the moths leave their chrysalis and commence 

 laying. The eggs are hatched after nine days ; the worms are fed 

 on the leaves of two descriptions of plants, viz. : — The " Beree " and 

 " Koron v or "Sakhoo" and about a month after they form their 

 cocoons, within which they remain for about 20 or 25 days, and leave 

 them at the end of September, or beginning of October, and commence 

 laying as above stated. The young worms from them make their 

 cocoons in the beginning of October and November, which are kept for 

 eight months when, at the end of May, the moths leave them, thus 

 giving two crops. In this province there are no reelers. To the East, 

 viz : in Gya there are several ; moreover in this district the generality 

 of the people are not acquainted with the method of rearing silkworms, 

 but I have extended the cultivation." 



Report on silkworm experiments made on account of Government 

 at Seetapore, by P. J. Carnegy. 



" In all, five varieties of silkworms have been reared, viz. : Cheena 

 and Dasie worms from Bengal eggs ; Cashmere from eggs direct from 

 Cashmere, worms of the stock acclimatised at Lahore, and worms from 

 eggs saved at Seetapore last season. 



" Of the above varieties, the Cheena received from Mr. Turnbull, of 

 Ghataul, were the first reared. The worms, a small quantity, were 

 hatched almost simultaneously on the 10th of November, and continued 

 healthy until they formed cocoons, although at that time fresh tender 

 mulberry was very scarce. The cocoons formed were of average quality, 

 rather inferior in quality to the original stock, but superior in size. 

 Their success proves that silk culture can be carried on in Oudh during 

 the cold weather. Of the second variety, Dasie, I received a small 

 quantity of eggs from Mr. Turnbull. These eggs almost all hatched on 

 the 29th December, the worms were upon the whole healthy, and the 

 cocoons produced by them were fully equal to the Bengal stock. 



" On the 20th of January, I received twenty ounces of eggs from Mr. 

 Cope, of Umritsur. Ten ounces were from stock acclimatised at Lahore, 

 and ten ounces from Cashmere. The former showed symptoms of hatching 



