430 Transactions of thk 



SILK CULTURE. 



THE COCOONERY. 



The building to be used as a cocoonery should be regulated as to size 

 so as to accommodate the number of worms to be fed in it. One ounce 

 of eggs is said to contain from thirty thousand to forty thousand; but 

 we think thirty thousand as many as will on an average hatch from the 

 ounce. The smaller trivoltine or bivoltine kinds may contain more than 

 this number, but we think the larger annual kinds will fall short of it. 

 Taking thirty thousand as a basis, we may easily determine the space 

 required to feed the worms from any given number of ounces of eggs. 

 One hundred and fifty worms of full age or growth should have at least 

 one square foot of shelf or table room, and one ounce will therefore 

 require two hundred square feet, and this increased in proportion as the 

 number of ounces of eggs to hatch is increased. No extra building 

 need be provided for a cocoonery if there is a barn or other building on 

 the place that can be spared for use during the Summer season. The 

 shelving can be so put up that it can be taken down and laid away, and 

 so kept from year to year. It is said that in many portions of Spain 

 and in other countries sheep hoods are used as cocooneries, and that the 

 smell of old manure is believed to be of no detriment to the health of 

 the worms, but rather a benefit. So a horse barn or a ha}' barn can be 

 cleaned out and used without danger to the worms. 



VENTILATION AND TEMPERATURE. 



One important matter in fixing up a cocoonery is to pi'ovide the means 

 for plenty of ventilation. There should be an opening at the highest 

 point to let the bad air escape, and openings at the bottom to let in fresh 

 and cool air; and\hese ventilations should be fixed so as to regulate the 

 circulation of air at pleasure. There should also be some handy way to 

 wet down the floor (and this may be either boards or well packed earth) 

 in hot, dry, and still days. The evaporation of water judiciously used 

 may be made to keep down the heat two or three degrees in the build- 

 ing below what it would be without the use of water. 



Though this is one of the most even or uniform climates in the world, 

 yet the changes of temperature between the nights and days, especially 

 in the open valleys and in the Summer season, are greater than in many 

 other countries. Indeed, this regular daily change of temperature is one 

 of the greatest difficulties in our opinion with which our silkgrowers 

 have to contend. With our generally even temperature, if we could 

 'ispense with this daily change our climate would be perfect. In this 



ipect the foothills have a great advantage over the large open valleys. 



"o counteract this difficulty many propose building brick or adobo 



series. This expense is unnecessary; nor do we believe a brick 



•g good for the worms. The atmosphere in a thick-walled brick 



