68 



RAW- SILK. 



(G.) not, and believe no better method can be tliought 

 ix'uoxbur^Jh ^^^^^ what is in general practice, if liberally 

 ^%>ad'e''^ conducted. A little more space to the plants is 

 23Kov. 1812. i[jQ Qj^jy improvement I can suggest: a more 

 abundant supply of light and air to the leaves 

 would, I think, render them better food. How- 

 ever, this is only my own idea, and may not stand 

 the test of experiment. 



Like improving the various sorts of our domestic 

 animals as well as vegetables, there cannot be a 

 doubt, that the utmost attention should be paid 

 to pick out and reserve the very best cocoons for 

 breeding from, which present advantage to the 

 breeders may induce them to pursue a different 

 practice. 



Meterological knowledge would operate but 

 slowly in the improvements the Board have at 

 heart ; yet it is highly proper that this useful 

 branch of philosophical research should be more 

 cultivated over India than at present. Permit 

 me, therefore, to suggest, that the medical 

 gentlemen at the various stations might be en- 

 couraged to keep a register of the weather, which 

 could at all times be applied to various useful 

 purposes, even our own health. 



1 have no knowledge of the China mulberry 

 being cultivated in any of these provinces for the 

 silk-worm, which is rather surprising, as it is more 

 luxuriant, and of quicker growth than the common 

 sort, the leaves greatly larger, and every way more 



substantial 



