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the silk cultivator would be at liberty to discontinue his 
operations at the end of the 2nd or 3rd generation, or to 
limit the number as he might find it profitable or convenient. 
Another point worth consideration is the value of the 
cocoon, in the two species of Silkworm. It is well known 
that if the moth is allowed to emerge from the cocoon of 
the common Silkworm, the continuity of the silk is destroyed, 
and, therefore, it is desirable to destroy the life of the moth 
for the sake of the value of the silk, keeping only such a 
number as is requisite for the continuance of the breed. In the 
cocoon of the Assam Silkworm, however, the insect provides 
a place for its exit, which does not injure the fibre of the 
silk, and the empty cocoons can scarcely be distinguished 
from those containing a chrysalis, except by their comparative 
lightness. There is, consequently, no loss of silk incurred 
in providing for future generations of Caterpillars. As 
regards the climate of Britain, which is very variable, and 
therefore considered so unfavourable to the common species, 
this will not be an obstacle to the introduction of the new 
species, as from the Turin Gazette, we find that Sig. Yicenzo 
Grisari (who was the first person that undertook the rearing 
of the Assam Silkworm, upon the Castor Oil plant in 
Piedmont and France) discovered that the worms of this 
species do not suffer from a low temperature, nor from 
strong winds nor continued rain, but, on the contrary, he 
obtained finer and better formed cocoons than those produced 
by the ordinary method of keeping the worms confined in 
houses. His worms were reared upon the Castor Oil plants 
while in the ground, and in the open air of the gardens of 
the Chemical Laboratory of Turin. Sir Wm. Reid, Governor 
of Malta, (who took great interest in introducing the Assam 
Silkworm into Malta, and also in transmitting its eggs to 
the West Indian Islands, France, Italy, and Algeria), states 
in a despatch to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, accom- 
