The Polynesian., 1841-07-10


rived from the United States in the spring of
1889, and found the plantation in flourish
ing condition, and well stocked with trees.
He brought with him the best varieties of the
American worms, including the mammoth
white, and yellow, and the peanut, also a fine
lot Of the Morus Multlcaus. These were
planted Immediately, throve well, and were
so highly esteemed, that cuttings of but two
buds each, were sold to others about cngag
ing in the same enterprise, for from one to
two dollars the slip. The leaf grew beauti-
fully, thick and heavy, and to great length,
sometimes measuring fourteen inches. Its
only advantage by way of food appeared to
be its size and rapidity of growth. The
worms fed with equal desire upon all the
other varieties 1t was then concluded to let
the black mulberry run out, and to plant the
latter in its place. After the first year it
was discovered that if the mulberry was al
lowed to grow beyond certain size, it with
cred and became vaueless as food. This
was remedied by cutting it down yearly.
(The month of January, when vegetation had
mostly ceased growing being the best time).
Young and vigorous shoots then shot up, in
two or three months suitable for food. 4
sufficient quantity of trees being now planted
and doing well, it was determined to COM
mence feeding the worms in numbers. The
Canton, white and yellow varieties were first
tried, but they formed but small cocoons, of
exceedingly fine fibre, which formed beau
tful silk, but large proportion of it was
wasted in floss; so much so that it required
many thousands more to form a pound of
silk than the American variety, and it was
found impossible to make them profitable
The American eggs were then exposed. No
one had doubted but they would hatch with
the greatest readiness; but though in good
order, they Matched but few at time, from
four or five to as many hundred day, and
none on some days. 1t was thought that
the eggs from these would become acclima-
ted, and this irregularity cease; but it was
worse than before. Some Of the eggs hatch
ed in ten days from the time they were laid,
while others would not in as many months.
Every experiment by way of artificial heat,
freezing, wearing them next to the person,
etc. was tried, but equally in vain. 1t was
discovered that they needed winter, and
many were packed up in bottles, and sent
upon the neighboring mountains to remain
several months. Their height being but four
or five thousand feet, did not produce the re-
quiste temperature, and from their being I'M
perfectly packed, most of them decayed -
Those that hatched formed beautiful fine CO.
coons with but little floss, averaging about
four thousand to the pound of raw silk. The
experiment was now tried of crossing the
American breed with the Chinese, and with
the greatest success Two varieties of CO.
coons were produced, incining more to the
American than the Chinese, Que of deep
orange color; the other OF delicate straw
color These answered admir- ably, reurir-
ing from five t. seven thousand to the pound
of raw silk. They reecd with the greatest
easc--so much So that native women with
but few days instruction could turn of from
one half to three tourths of pound daily.
Their eggs hatched again in from fifteen to
twenty days, and came to maturity IN twenty
fonr onH hoyo continued 10 d., A.