566 
ESTABLISHMENTS FOR REELING SILK. 
Mr. Gaisford, We hope this gentleman 
will lose no time in following up the 
proposal with a full prospectus, and for a 
want of a better agency we shall, pro tem - 
pore, be most happy to receive proposals for 
joining this undertaking. It is likely that 
this will be only the forerunner of other 
establishments formed on similar principles. 
— There must be many spots of waste about 
Ghats and in this neighbourhood where, if 
merassee and other claims could be purchased 
out, and compounded for with the sanction 
of government, we should in a few years 
see a manifest improvement in the resources 
of the immediate neighbourhood of the pre- 
sidency. In such places, Mr. Mutti’s plan 
altogether, for the export trade, would pro- 
bably be the favorite, i. e. trees, with the 
Italian reel. Mr. M. has lately brought 
some very fine silk from Kutroor, in quality 
considerably above “ Tsatlee” ; but when 
his own account of his progress appears in 
print, we shall be the better able to judge. 
In the mean time he informs us that he has 
made a calculation by weight of the pro- 
duce of his St, Helena trees as compared 
with the Bengal field planting. The same 
quantity of land (an acre), which produces 
sixteen seers pucka or 321bs. of leaves per 
annum, will,if cultivated with trees, produce 
71 pucka seers or 1421bs. commencing from 
the 5th year, and for many years progres- 
sively increasing. This result we consider 
sufficiently important, not merely to induce 
persons on our side of India to plant the stand- 
ard tree, but to awaken the silk growers of 
Bengal to the necessity of experimenting 
on this subject. 
We shall anxiously await Mr. Gaisford’ s 
detail of the plan, and the prospectus of the 
first joint-stock purse proposed for agricul- 
tural improvement. — Courier^ January 21. 
TO THE EDITOR OE THE BOMBAY COURIER. 
Sir, — Some years have now elapsed since 
the commencement of attempts to introduce 
silk cultivation in the Deccan. These at- 
tempts have in no case been prosecuted 
under favourable circumstances, the Poona 
experiments having until lately been retarded 
by a conflict of opinions and unfortunate 
occurrences, and those at Ahmednuggur, by 
want of practical knowledge, and the 
proprietor’s unavoidable absence from the 
country. Still they have abundantly prov- 
ed, not only the capability of the country 
to produce this important article of com- 
merce, but its superiority over many of 
those where it has long been a source of 
wealth to the people. 
Various species of mulberry grow with 
wonderful rapidity and luxuriance. The 
white standard tree thrives better than in the 
richest silk countries of Europe ; and in 
four or five years is fit to afford sustenance 
to the worm, by which time it has attained 
such size as to be little liable to injury, 
and independent of all but the most mode- 
rate attention and expense. 
The climate is eminently suited to the 
silkworm which spins at all seasons ; passes 
through its metamorphoses more rapidly 
than in the South of Europe ; requires 
no costly buildings for its protection, and 
no artificially regulated temperature. 
The price of labour is very low, and that 
kind required for the manipulation of silk 
might be performed at their own homes by 
the women and childi-en, whose manual 
dexterity and delicacy of touch especially 
adapt them for it. 
All this has been repeatedly brought for- 
ward, and most fully by Dr. A. Graham in 
his treatise on the amelioration of India, and 
all who have had opportunity of forming 
a judgment, are agreed on the superior 
qualifications of the Deccan in the above 
particulars. 
Still nothing is done. Year after year 
is permitted to pass, leaving all these advan- 
tages unimproved. Vast tracts of country 
remain waste. A multitude of people are 
almost starving in idleness, and silk is all 
the while largely imported into the very 
parts which are so capable of supplying the 
demand of local manufactures, and exporting 
the raw material for our own in England. 
The government, it would appear, can do 
nothing except wish well, and give some 
slight encouragement, to the individuals 
who make a commencement. Officers are 
the servants of government, and cannot 
enter into these pursuits. From the natives 
nothing can be expected : the wealthy saokar 
will not embark capital in an enterprize un- 
suited to his habits, and, if he is in any way 
connected with the China trade, prejudicial 
to his interest : — to hope anything from the 
miserable cultivator, is futile. 
Is then the introduction of so important 
a product to be left to the weak efforts of 
two or three individuals, who, if successful 
amid their present difficulties, can only 
derive a small, and slowly wending, and 
scarcely obseiwable rill from a source 
which a single vigorous effort might open 
at once, and effectually to the whole country ; 
for its benefits once palpably set forth, this 
branch of trade would rapidly ramify and 
extend through the length and breadth of 
the land. 
I say then, let a Company be formed. 
Leaving all considerations of interest out of 
the question, there are well-wishers enough 
of the people to fill the list of shareholders. 
