THE SILKWORM ITS REARING AND MANAGEMENT. 59 



came a chilly north-east wind, and, in consequence, many of that 

 large brood assumed the pupa state without forming a cocoon at 

 all, and the great purpose for which they had been reared was 

 frustrated. On examining these, it was found that the cold had 

 had the effect of congealing the gummy substance of which the 

 silk should have been made, and therefore they had not been 

 able to cause it to issue from the spinneret. 



Some of the Chinese instructions on the subject of cleanliness 

 and ventilation are amusing, as the following specimens will show. 

 " Dirty people must not come into the room, and it must be kept 

 free from filth. Let no leather nor hair be burnt near them. 

 They must not be brought in contact with the fumes of a frying 

 pan, or the smell of coal. They dislike wine, vinegar, and all kinds 

 of strong tastes, the smell of raw meat and fish, musk, etc. Don't 

 carry scent about with you. Let not any one eat ginger or broad 

 beans in the room. In the winter months, collect a heap of 

 cow-dung, which, on the approach of spring, may be worked up 

 into cakes and dried; these when burnt emit an odour that is 

 agreeable to the worms." Still more manifestly savouring of 

 superstition and notions of ill-luck are the following. ''Strange 

 persons must not enter the room, nor persons in mourning. 

 They cannot bear the sound of crying and weeping in the room, 

 also filthy and wanton conversation ! ' 



We will no\v suppose that the silkworms have been successfully 

 cared for during the first five or six days of their life. The first 

 moult may now be expected. Signs of it soon appear in the 

 failing appetite of the insects. Feeding may now cease, for when 

 once the " sickness " begins they will eat no more till they have 

 changed their skins. No more meals, therefore, are, given, but 

 the trays are cleansed as much as possible, so that the little 

 creatures may have everything in their favour in the trying period 

 that awaits them. The duration of this " sickness" is from 

 twelve to twenty- four hours, some performing the moult more 

 quickly than others. It is best to wait till the majority have 

 changed, before giving the first meal of the second age, in order 

 that the whole batch may be kept well together. Any laggards 

 that have not changed by the time the majority are ready may 

 either be removed to be separately tended, or destroyed, if there 

 are plenty of others, for they will be a good deal of trouble, and 

 most probably will not yield a sufficiently good return in silk to 

 justify the pains expended on them. 



When all are ready, the eating may be allowed to begin again, 

 and a bountiful supply given, as they will be extremely hungry 

 after their long fast. During the second age the feedings go on as 



