No. 105.] 145 



After the most of the worms have arisen, the few remaining, may 

 be removed to hurdles by themselves. 



In three or four days, the cocoons maybe gathered. While gath- 

 ering, those designed for eggs, should be selected. Those of firm 

 and fine texture, with round, hard ends are the best. The smaller 

 cocoons most generally produce the male, and those large and more 

 full at the ends, the female insect. Each healthy female moth will 

 lay from 400 to 600 eggs. But it is not always safe to calculate on 

 one-half cocoons to produce female moths ; therefore it is well to save 

 an extra number to insure a supply of eggs. 



Preservation of Eggs. — The cocoons intended for eggs should 

 be stripped of their floss or loose tow, which consists of irregular 

 fibres, by which the worm attaches its work to whatever place it is 

 about to form its cocoon. These should be placed on hurdles in a 

 thin layer, and in about two weeks, the moths will come out always 

 in the fore part of the day, and generally before the sun is two hours 

 high. If laid upon net hurdles, (which is best,) they will immediately 

 fall through the meshes and remain suspended on the under side, 

 where they are not liable to become entangled in the cocoons. As 

 soon as the male finds the female they become united ; they should 

 he taken carefully by the wings in pairs, and placed on sheets of pa- 

 per, to remain until near night, when the female will be anxious to 

 lay her eggs, then take each gently by the wings and separate them, 

 placing the females at regular distances, about two inches from each 

 other, upon sheets of paper, or fine cotton or linen cloth. These 

 should hang over a line, or be tacked to the side of the house. In 

 two or three nights the moths will complete their laying, when they 

 should be removed from the papers or cloths. 



Frequently the males appear first in the greatest numbers, some of 

 which should be reserved each day, in case there should afterwards 

 be an excess of females. They should be shut out from the light, 

 otherwise they are liable to injure themselves by a constant flutter- 

 ing of their wings. The female is largest, and seldom moves or flut- 

 ters. 



Killing the Chrysalides — Curing Cocoons. — After the cocoons 

 have been gathered, those that are intended for sale or for future 

 reeling, must be submitted to some process by which the moths will 

 be killed, otherwise they will perforate and spoil the cocoons. This 



[Senate, No. 105.] 10 



