9 
few hints for the formation of a serieicole company ; this will 
be the subject of the third chapter. 
But should the answer be in the negative, I would still advise 
to commence at once (either at the expense of the government, 
or by means of public subscription), a model serieicole establish¬ 
ment, and would beg to state the motives which should lead to 
the adoption of such a measure : this will be the subject of the 
fourth chapter. 
CHAPTER II. 
Pat.machristi Silkworm ; and Japanese Silkworm. 
All what precedes refers to the mulberry tree silkworm Bombyx 
mori; but two new silkworms have lately been introduced and 
acclimatized in Europe, namely the castor oil or palma christi 
worm, Bombyx cinthia, and the Japanese worm Bombyx japonica. 
At different periods, during about a century, it had been stated 
by various silkworm breeders that the silkworm might feed on 
some other plants, and it had been stated also, that some other 
caterpillars might yield a valuable silk : succesive experiments 
had been made accordingly, but had always proved a failure. 
But a few years ago it was ascertained that a certain sort of 
silk (of an inferior quality) imported from Bengal, (or to speak 
more properly, from Assam) was the product of a worm which 
fed on the leaves of the castor oil plant or palma, cliristi. It was 
brought to Italy, from whence it soon spread all over the neigh¬ 
bouring countries. The acclimatization, which for a few years 
was a problem, is now an established fact; but the marketable 
value of the silk of th £ palma christi worm is not quite settled yet. 
This insect is quite different in size, figure, and habits from 
the mulberry tree worm, and its silk likewise differs both lb color 
and quality: the cocoon is so tough, that it can hardly be 
reeled, and in fact in Assam they do not attempt to reel if, but 
are contented with carding and spinning it like floss or waste silk 
(or wool or cotton) which accounts for the inferiority of quality, 
and the comparatively low price which it fetches in the market. 
In France and Italy, with the aid of some chemical process, they 
have succeeded in reeling that cocoon ; but this process does not 
appear to be in general a practicable one. 
At all events the drawback would be largely compensated by 
the advantage of a quick return, as the palma christi grows in a 
few mouths and everywhere. Another advantage of the new 
worm is that several educations might be carried on in the same 
year: the reproduction of this insect is so rapid, that the only 
difficulty is to check it. 
