294 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September as, i«a. 
its bulk that we wonder how it could have been enclosed in the 
shell so recently. 
Of a yellow colour at first, with slight markings of black, the 
tubercles which are conspicuous later are hardly noticeable under 
an investiture of down. At each of the four changes of skin 
some alterations take place in its appearance, the grand increase 
of size, as is usual, occurring after the last moult. When adult 
the caterpillar of A. Yama Mai is of a beautiful green tint, having 
some curious silvery patches upon its sides ; the tubercles are then 
blue. Occasionally these silkworms show a tendency to wander, 
which renders it impossible to keep them in trays as we do the 
common species, and, indeed, from the liability of Oak leaves to 
dry up, food distributed thus would want a too frequent renewal. 
There have been instances of these silkworms attacking each other 
(usually in hot weather), when they are immured in cages; but 
this should not be deemed a proof that they are naturally of a 
cannibal turn, like some caterpillars given to prey upon their 
brethren or upon other species. I might, however, remark that 
on showing one of these caterpillars to an entomologist who had 
never seen the species before, but who had been a careful student 
of caterpillar ways and doings, he observed on examination that 
he should have imagined from its appearance it could probably be 
vicious. 
The experiments made with this silkworm both in England 
and upon the Continent during the years following the first arrival 
of eggs could not proceed very satisfactorily in consequence of our 
ignorance relative to its particular locality and its natural habits. 
To travel about Japan was difficult and dangerous, nor was in¬ 
formation attainable by putting questions to traders and others 
who might be expected to know. Unaware to a great extent 
how A. Yama Mai might live in Japan, Dr. Wallace published in 
I860 the following statement as the result of his practical inves¬ 
tigations:—“ It is necessary,” said he, “to supply the very young 
larvae with tender succulent leaves. They will bear a moderate 
amount of cold for brief periods with impunity. Though they avoid 
the direct sunshine, they like its warmth diffused through the 
natural leafy shade. Moisture is grateful to them at all times, 
and necessary to their existence, also a quick growth is most 
favourable. Dry hot weather is prejudicial to these larvae, for 
which reason the climate of Ireland would probably prove highly 
favourable to the cultivation of this insect. Lastly, I am com- 
vinced that they would thrive better out of doors on the trees 
than in confinement.” 
Fifteen years have elapsed since, and a goodly number of ex¬ 
periments made under various circumstances uphold the Doctor’s 
conclusions on the whole, but as yet, I fear, the Green Isle has 
not had her fair share of trial as a suitable home for the Yama 
Mai. The times now scarcely favour the introduction of a new 
industry to a land that furnishes statesmen and debaters with so 
many perplexing problems; but the day may come when the 
tourist, travelling in safety and comfort over Erin, may behold 
in many cottages the peasants busy over these or other silk¬ 
worms, supplying them with food, collecting eggs from the moths, 
or winding off the cocoons. 
Every silkworm has a liability to some malady or complaint, 
and the A. Yama Mai has been noticed to suffer from three at 
least, which are well defined as to their character and their 
period. Soon after the hatching, while they have only passed one 
or two of the changes of skin, the worms turn yellow and become 
soft. A similar complaint affects the common silkworm occa¬ 
sionally, French authors calling it the jaundice. The cause of 
this, Dr. Wallace suggests, is want of vitality or of power to 
assimilate nourishment from the food. Another complaint to 
which middle-aged worms are chiefly liable occurs in consequence 
of too high a temperature. The green hue of the surface fades 
to a dull brown, cracks appear at the segments, from which a 
white or greenish fluid issues when the worm attempts to move, 
and it speedily shrivels. Worms that are under the influence of 
the last complaint are familiarly said to be “ peppered,” from the 
tiny specks on the skin that precede the attack, under which they 
are sure to die if once seized. Unfortunately some of the largest 
in a brood are apt to be taken off.—J. R. S. C. 
LATE GRAPES. 
In your opening remarks on the Crystal Talace Fruit Show you 
suggest two or three causes for the fruit not being first-rate, and 
you specially remark that many Grapes were not ripe. Speaking 
from experience Grapes do not ripen very freely this autumn, 
and the cause is obvious—namely, the very changeable weather, 
scarcity of sun, and, above all, the low night temperature through¬ 
out the summer. Certaiuly we look for cold nights in September, 
but to have a cold low temperature through July and August is 
quite another matter. Noting your remarks on the Bath Floral 
Fete, I see again you say the Grapes were very unripe—this, too, 
in what I should consider a very favoured locality. The very 
pointed remarks of “ Cultivator ” on late Grapes are opportune, 
and I fully endorse all he says as to early starting. He, however, 
mentions Lady Downe’s and Alicante, which were ripe at the end 
of August, keeping until May. These varieties, however, unless 
the crop is very heavy, are two of the best for ripening early, and 
that, especially as regards the Alicantes, means keeping well. 
The Gros Colman, however, not being a quick Grape at colour¬ 
ing, wdll be far from ripe now—that is, where there is a fair crop. 
Of course Vine 3 with only two or three bunches will be ready. 
Last year Gros Colman with me was not ripe until late in October, 
yet I failed to see the evil of late ripening. I cleared these out 
the last day of January, consequently did not start the Vines 
early, but let them gently start, then used the fire. My crop is 
heavy this year—too heavy perhaps; still I believe with a fair 
autumn, especially such bright days as we have had recently, 
they will be satisfactory. Having, however, determined to cut the 
Grapes out this year I shall start early to see the result. I always 
consider Gros Colman a grand Grape, though perhaps somewhat 
difficult to manage. It is greatly to be hoped that we may have 
a fine November, this being the most trying month for Grapes ; 
and I scarcely wonder at growers cutting the fruit early in 
November and bottling it, the rest to Vines being also beneficial. 
I have said nothing respecting the Muscat of Alexandria, but 
this must be forced early to have the Grapes well finished. I 
must, however, say that if not very highly coloured they will 
keep better than the blacks. This I always think is due to the 
extra heat given them. I do not advocate growing Grapes all 
the summer without fire ; on the contrary, I believe in having fire 
from the day the Vines are started. I think fire heat employed 
late is almost useless as far as the Grapes are concerned, though 
the wood will receive some benefit.— Stephen Castle, West 
Lynn, Norfolk. 
A VISIT TO CARTER’S SEED ESTABLISHMENT. 
I have just returned here from some holidays spent chiefly in 
Dublin, London, and Sussex. Like many of your correspondents and 
readers, gardening and all matters of collateral interest have for me 
on such occasions a special attraction. When visiting your metro¬ 
polis I usually try and see as many of the public parks and remarkable 
nursery establishments as possible. I thought I should be breaking 
new ground and adding to my own horticultural knowledge if this 
time I tried to pass through and learn something of the nature of one 
of the monster seed warehouses, especially the wholesale department. 
Accident took me to Messrs. Carter’s, High Holborn,and the requisite 
permission was freely granted. 
While waiting a few moments in the wholesale office until the 
manager had disposed of the most urgent business, it was easy, even 
at the threshold, to see many things curious and new. Communica¬ 
tion with the docks, other points of the metropolis, and the various 
departments of the establishment was by telephone, and almost in¬ 
stantaneous. Looking around the general office the staff seemed very 
numerous, though I afterwards understood this was only a portion of 
the clerical department. I noticed the manager running through a 
great mass of correspondence (some hundreds of letters) and dictating 
replies to several shorthand writers. I learned that the clerks in¬ 
cluded those who were not only masters of Her Majesty’s English, but 
of almost all the modern languages—a matter easily understood to be 
indispensable when orders are received from almost every country in 
the world. I had an illustration while waiting of the international 
nature of the business, by the firm being called on to sirpply suitable 
seeds under specified conditions to the lately acquired island of Cyprus 
in the Levant, for laying down croquet and lawn tennis grounds on a 
new principle in Melbourne, and a request for the statement of prices 
“ by the San Francisco mail of September 7th of Carter’s machine- 
cleaned grass and farm seeds ” from one of the largest consumers of 
California. London to Cyprus, Melbourne, and California ! Here 
vras food for reflection relative to the wide ramifications of the great 
seed industry of this country. 
Even though hurrying rapidly along some hours were expended, 
and many things learnt by me that the exigencies of your space pre¬ 
clude a reference to. But one of the most striking features that few 
gardeners or amateurs have any idea of is the vast scale of supply 
and demand for a seed speciality with such a firm as this. Take an 
illustration that forcibly struck me here. Peas are a speciality, and it 
was very remarkable the labour and expense bestowed on maintaining 
their reputation, and to me instructive. The morning of my visit 
there were eighty-one women employed sorting peas in this depart¬ 
ment alone, and I learned on occasional exigencies the number runs 
up to 118. Every bruised, injured, or small pea was rigidly rejected, 
so that of the tons of their well-known varieties (Telegraph, Tele¬ 
phone, Stratagem, die.) sent out how many gardeners think that every 
individual pea has passed through the fingers of the sorters ! This 
no doubt is how great English firms maintain their reputation, and is 
well worth the notice of my countrymen as a typical case. 
