BREEDING PEARLS. 



Professor Huxley examined one at her request, and subjected it 

 to numerous tests, of which he reported the result to be that it 

 was absolutely indistinguishable from the ordinary pearl used 

 for jewelry. 



The process by which reproduction takes j^lace involves only 

 very simple preparations. Four or five large sized pearls (most 

 people have begun with three) are placed in a small chip or other 

 box with as many grains of uncooked white rice as the experi- 

 menter chooses — from 15 to 30 are usually used. Absolute free- 

 dom from disturbance is, by some, alleged to be necessary for the 

 formation of the new pearls, while others deny that this makes 

 an}' difference if they are not unduly handled or shaken. If 

 examined at the end of a certain period (about a year) objects 

 resembling small seed pearls will be found strewn about the 

 bottom of the box, while in many cases the original pearls them- 

 selves will be found to have increased in size. If again left 

 untouched for a further period of six months or a year, and then 

 examined, some of the seeds will be found to have become larger, 

 while fresh seeds will have formed. Each gTain of rice now 

 presents a curious appearance. A small circular bite seems to 

 have been taken from the end of each, the number of seed pearls 

 agreeing with the number of grains thus affected. 



The lady resident above referred to having kindly offered to 

 skew me her collection, I saw it at the end of December last. It 

 consisted of about five large or medium sized pearls and, as nearly 

 as could be estimated, about 120 small sized pearls, varying 

 from the most minute speck to a size large enough for use in 

 certain descriptions of jewelry. Every grain of rice was, so far 

 as I could see, marked as before described — looking in fact as if 

 some beetle had gnawed away a portion of its end. She in- 

 formed me that the larg*er pearls she shewed me had been in 

 their present box for about 20 years; that she had only put four 

 or five into the box when it was just closed; that, except to 

 shew to persons interested, the box had always been kept shut; 

 that any tampering with it had been impossible —to say nothing 

 of the fact that no one was likely to have strewn seed pearls m 

 it for the purpose of playing a practical joke which might not 

 even attract attention for a lengthened period. 



Shortly after seeing the pearls above mentioned, good fortune 

 led me to enquire of Dr. Howell, the principal Medical Officer of 

 Singapore, what he knew about the matter. It so happened that 



I could not have applied to better authority, Mrs. having 



for some years possessed and bred the pearls in question. I give 

 her experience in her own words, her kindness in furnishing the 



