October 12, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 849 
for the food of A. Yama Mai, called by the Datives Kunogi, ascer¬ 
tained positively to be Quercus serrata. Many plantations of this 
tree were seen by Mr. Adams ; very frequently they were made 
on the slopes of hills, but not carried to aDy height or in the 
valleys between the hills. The soil was mostly sandy, and the 
spring is so cold that the early leaves often suffer from frost. 
Separate nurseries for young Oaks were formed, in which acorns 
were sown, and the seedlings afterwards replanted in suitable 
positions. It was also usual to cut down the Oaks to the roots 
every four or five years to allow them to develope young shoots. 
Following the change from winter to spring is a rainy season, 
“ when still it rains day after day,” and then hot weather usually 
sets in. The worms have hatched out, as a rule, before the down¬ 
pour commences, but the continued moisture does not harm them, 
for it is one of the peculiarities of A. Yama Mai that leaves well 
besprinkled with water suit its constitution. These silkworms, 
indeed, both old and young, have been observed to sip drops of 
water or dew with a relish, as our English “ drinker ” caterpillar, 
Odonestis potatoria, has the credit of doing, only rarely, I believe. 
In order to obtain the eggs the moths, when they emerge in 
distinguish their shape and attitudes (fig. 57). As the silkworms 
were then nearly full-grown this is a natural protection, doubtless, 
afforded to them at an age when they would prove tempting 
morsels to birds. He was told, however, that it was believed 
many of them were destroyed by sparrows or other birds at some 
period of their life, on account of which scarecrows had been put 
up, which the birds appeared to treat with cool contempt. Cater¬ 
pillars of several other species not recognised by this gentleman 
were seen to be feeding amongst those of the Yama Mai. Ants 
red and black were said to be noxious to the silkworms, especially 
the red. Mr. Adams did not observe these. The black he noticed 
in crowds upon some of the Oaks colonised by Yama Mai, though 
he looked in vain to see them attack the worms. Possibly they 
drag the young and feeble ones to their nests sometimes. 
The average time of growth in Japan is sixty days, varying a 
little with the warmth of the season. Spinning begins in ten or 
eleven days after the last change of skin, and the worms are 
allowed to form their cocoons on the trees and bushes. These are 
carefully cut off, with a portion of the branch attached to them, 
and placed within doors upon shelves. Several days having been 
allowed for the silkworms to change to chrysalids, they are next 
removed from the vegetable matter and shaken separately. Those 
that do not rattle are presumed to contain only dead insects. 
July or August, are enclosed within small cages of bamboo, which 
are subsequently hung up under the eaves in dry corners. About 
the end of the year the eggs are moved by the finger and distri¬ 
buted over wooden trays ; these are then placed in some cool posi¬ 
tion till the time of hatching has arrived. An ingenious plan is 
next put into operation : the eggs in little batches are pasted on 
slips of paper, which are tied to a small branch facing the north. 
By this arrangement the juvenile worms can easily reach the 
leaves, and from that time until the cocoons are sought after no 
special care or attention is bestowed upon those so placed. In the 
case, however, of worms brought up on boughs or twigs of Oak 
inserted into bottles a regular renewal of the food is necessary, as 
they feed both by night and day ; but then, probably, the return 
in cocoons may be calculated upon with more confidence. Yet 
Ihe majority of Japanese breeders incline to the plan of giving 
the silkworms their freedom. 
Mr. Adams inspected many trees or shrubs upon which these 
were feeding at large, and he particularly observed the close re¬ 
semblance they bore to the twigs and leaves upon which they 
rested, so that the eye was apt to miss them until accustomed to 
TAMA MAI ON QUERCUS SERRATA. 
A selected number of those that do rattle are set aside for breed¬ 
ing, upon the calculation that each female moth will deposit from 
150 to 250 eggs. The rest of the cocoons have the enclosed chry¬ 
salis killed by the heat of fires or by exposure to the rays of the 
sun during two or three days. Winding the silk is said to be per¬ 
formed with facility by means of a wheel very simply constructed. 
At a suitable time the women and children go in search of wild 
cocoons of A. Yama Mai, which are to be found scattered over 
woods or hedges.—J. B.. S. C. 
STANDEN’S MANURE. 
I think it only due to the manufacturers of this manure 
(Corry, Soper, Fowler & Co.), after seeing it spoken of in the 
Journal of Horticulture as not being quite equal to its former 
quality, to state that I use it largely, and honestly affirm that its 
effects on plants are really marvellous. I use it abundantly on 
Palms, Ferns, Azaleas, Camellias—in fact, plants of all descrip¬ 
tions ; and the vigour with which they grow, the rich appearance 
of their leaves, is evidence that it is a most powerful stimulant 
and invigorating food for plants. As a highly finished Grape- 
producer it is, I believe, truly a gardener’s friend. I am certain 
that anyone who will apply it as a top-dressing to a Vine border 
