182 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 24, 1882. 
to the Exhibition with a varied collection of stove, greenhouse plants, 
herbaceous plants, and small choice Conifers, all neatly and tastefully 
arranged, also Yines in pots and Figs ; the latter were very fine from 
eyes this season, and now in 8-inch pots, carrying from twenty to 
thirty fruits. Messrs. Jones tk Sons also exhibited Conifers and 
plants. 
Cottagers' Exhibits .—The schedule provides some thirty-nine classes 
for these exhibitors—viz., twenty-one for vegetables, seven for fruits, 
and eleven for plants and cut flowers. The prizes offered were well 
contested, and the exhibits filled a large tent nearly 150 feet long 
and proportionately wide, with a stage down the centre and on each 
side. The vegetable exhibits were especially noteworthy, Potatoes, 
Beans, Peas, Onions, Carrots, Parsnips, Celery, and others being 
remarkably fine. The whole of the Turnips and Cauliflowers were 
too large, and in consequence coarse. The managers of other large 
provincial societies will do well to follow the worthy example set 
them by the Committee of the Shrewsbury Society, and make liberal 
provision in their schedules for these classes of exhibitors, which are 
worthy of encouragement. 
SILKWORMS AND SILKWORM REARING.—14. 
(Continued from page 123.) 
More valuable in regard to its silk, and apparently easier to 
rear than the Attacus Cecropia already mentioned, is another 
species also of North American parentage, A. (or Telea) Poly¬ 
phemus (fig. 30), though I confess I see no good reason why it should 
Fig. 30 .—Moth and caterpillar of attacus folyphemus 
bp named after the one-eyed giant of mythologic lore. Indeed, so 
highly is this estimated by several of those naturalists who have 
made a special study of the silk-spinners, that although there are 
half-a-dozen or more belonging to this tribe of moths°which have 
been reared in the hope of turning their silk to useful account, 
Polyphemus has begun to receive the title of the American Silk¬ 
worm. The cocoon of the species resembles that of the common 
silkworm, that of Yama Mai, and others allied to it, in being closed 
at both ends. In shape this is oval and compact, the fibre of the 
silk, which is nearly white, being very strong and glossy. 
To Mr. L. Trouvelot, of Boston, U.S.A., belongs the credit, so 
we are informed, of suggesting that A. Polyphemus might be 
‘•tamed’’and utilised, at the time when people were inquiring 
into the merits or demerits of American silkworms. Previous to 
1860 scarcely a specimen of this worm had been reared in captivity, 
and its habits were unknown. This gentleman at once resolved 
to take up the matter practically, and prove, if he could, the 
theory he had put forth. “ At first,” he writes, “ the undertaking 
seemed very simple, but who will ever know the difficulties, the 
hardships, and discouragements which I encountered?” The 
insect not being abundant, there was an unavoidable delay, owing 
to the death of some of the earlier caterpillars bred and the long 
searches requisite to produce more. In spite of care bestowed it 
was not until 1865 that a really satisfactory result was attained, 
and Mr. Trouvelot had that season nearly 500,000 of the worms 
distributed over a patch of woodland five acres in extent, the 
bushes upon which they fed being enclosed with nets. I believe 
it was about three years after that date when British specimens of 
this silkworm were first obtained. 
Both in Britain and in America the insect is single-brooded in 
the ordinary way, but should the cocoons be kept at too high a 
temperature soon after they have been spun, the moths they con¬ 
tain will sometimes emerge towards the end of autumn. If eggs 
are obtained from these they are likely, under the circumstances, 
to turn out unproductive. The proper season for the moths to 
appear is the months of June and July, when each female deposits 
about three hundred eggs, which hatch in twelve or fourteen days 
after. Selecting from a number of trees upon the leaves of which 
the worms have been reared, it may be noted that A. Polyphemus 
has grown well when supplied with Birch, Beech, Chestnut, Elm, 
Hazel, Maple, Oak, and Willow. In this, as in some other species, 
there is the curious circumstance that the young silkworm makes 
