Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-26
GERM OF PEARL LIFE
BELIEVE GEMS HAVE
POWER OF REPRODUCTION.


/ uctiel tiAht o NcitaAh SuAiSeS Va PS"AA -
able to reproduce itself 10 firmly implanted
| in the minds of all seaboard MaIays. The
question never has been authorttatively set
| tied. but tho following extracts from an
| article written by Nicholas Belfleld Den
| nys, PhD.. formerly curator of Raffies
| Museum. Singapore. and published by him
| while British consul at Sandakan some
| years ago, Is of interest to those interested
| in the propagation OF pearls.
| Speaking OF the breeding pearl. DR..
| Dennys says:
The pearls In question are reputed to como
chiefly from Borneo and Java, although
| found in nearly all islands Of the archipei-
| ago and even in Singapore. There does not
| appear to be any specific native name Tor
them, as distinguished from ordinary
pearls.
| In appearance those have seen resemble
the ordinary jewelers. pearl In look. though
| slightly more irregular in size. The largest
of regular shape l have yet seen Is some
| thing over S-16 inch In diameter. though
| an irregularly formed one is over 4 inch
| in length by SIG inch in width, while the
| smallest Is q mere psn-point OF microscopic
size.
In substance they are alleged to present
| exactly the same laminated section as the
| ordinary pearl when cut. and a woman resi-
| dent in this colony informs me that Prof
Huxley examined one at her request After
| subjecting 1t to numerous tests he reported
| the result that the bred pearl was abso-
lutely intfistinguishable from the ordinary
pearl used for 3ewelry.
The process by which reproduction takes
place involves only very simple prepara-
lions. Four or five large-sized pearls (most
people begin with three) are placed in
small box, with as many grains OF white
| uncooked rice as the experimenter chooses
from fifteen to thirty are usually used. Abb
solute freedom from disturbance Is by some
alleged to be necessary for the formation
of the new pearls while others deny that
| this makes any difference IL they are not
unduly handled shaken.
Examined at the end of a year, objects
resembling small seed pearls will be found
streWn about the bottom OF the box. while
in many cases the original pearls them
selves will be found to have increased in
size. If again left untouched for further
period of a year and then examined some
of the seeds will be found to have become
larger, while fresh seeds will have formed.
Each grain of rice now presents a curious
appearance. A small circular bite seems
to have been taken from the end of each.
the number of seed pearls agreeing with
the number of grains thus affected.
The lady above referred to kindly offered
to show me her collection, from which was
taken the pearl examined by Prof. Huxley.
1t consisted of about five medium-sized
pearls and, nearly as could be esti-
mated, about one hundred and twenty
small-siZed pearls, varying from minutest
speck to a size large enough for use. Every
grain of rice was, so far as l could see,
marked as before misunderstanding as If
some beetle had gnawed away portion of
its end. She informed me that the larger
pearls had been In their present box for
about twenty years: that she had only put
four Or five into the box: that, except to
show to persons interested, the box had
always been kept shut; that any tampering
with it had been impossible-to say nothing
OF the fact that no one was likely to have
strewn seed pearls in it for the purpose of
playing practical joke. which might not
even attract attention for a long time
Shortly after seeing the pearls above men,
toned, good fortune led me to inquire of
DR.. Rowell, the principal medical officer of
Singapore, what he knew about the mat
ter. l could not have applied to better
authority. Mrs. Rowell having for some
years possessed and bred the pearls in Ques-
ton l give her experience In her own
words: Il had three breeding pearls given
me. l shut these up with a layer cotton
seed above and below them. and some few
grains Of very fine rice Called 'PulotD
year later opened the box in the pres
ence Of two or three friends, and We dis
ones standing out distinctly by their great ter
size. though some of, the newly bred ones
were by no means Insignificant to look at.
One or TWO Were about the size of pins
head and perfectly round. The rice looked
crumbly and wOrmeaten."
I also was informed that breeding
pearls were in all cases originally taken
from pearl oysters and that when about TO
breed small black speck made its ap-
pearance on some portion of the pearl, and
continued to be visible so long as the
breeding process continued.
breeding pearls are found in several OF
the oyster and clam species, including those
known as tr1dacnae with a fan-shaped
she'll / am not able to say what is the
average percentage Of these pearl produc-
ing shells.
The pearls when discovered are usually
found embedded close to the valves of the
sheii, though in some cases are found adj
herring TO the fish. There appears to be no
certainty as to size, the breeding pearls
varying like the ordinary ones though the
rule as to the largest being contained in
the largest shells does not in the latter
case, hold good.
They are almost invariably spherical when
found. but when commencing to breed
change their shape to a more or less irreg-
uiar oval. with layers of scales on them
visible to the naked eye. In some cases
the scales are themselves spherical AS re-
CARDS the time occupied in breeding" IT
usually takes eight years for a seed pearl
to Increase to four times it's original diam
eter.
After a time (Which appears to be I'M
certain) breeding pearls die and change
their lustrous color to a dirty flake white.
the outer scales appearing to have peeled
Many attribute their formation tn ,nsects
although this otherwise feasible theory ;s
at variance with all received beliefs as tn
the formation of the pearl within the
oyster.
At the time of his death, which occurred
In Hongkong in 1901, DR.. Dennys had
small bcx containing breeding" pearls in
his possession. After his death they dis
appeared. and his brother, the crown 80
licitor. was unable to find them. The Ra
nee of Sarawak has collection of breed
Ing pearls" some two hundred in number
This is the only large collection TO-DAY ex-
tant. IN
GATHERING HERBS.