146 [Senate 



is done by various methods. The most simple and convenient, is to 

 spread them thinly on boards, and expose them to the direct rays 

 of the sun. In a hot day, many of them vvrill be killed in a few hours^ 

 but they must be stirred occasionally, or some will be liable to es- 

 cape the heat, and afterwards come out. The best plan is that 

 adopted at Economy. They place them in an air tight box contain- 

 , ing about ^e/i bushels, (the box should always be full^ or if not^a par- 

 tition fitted down to the cocoons) sprinkling evenly through the whole y 

 beginning at the bottom, about three ounces of camphor, slightlv 

 moistened in alcohol, and finely pulverized. The box is then closed 

 and the seams of the top covered, by pasting strips of paper over 

 them. They remain in this way about three or four days^ they are- 

 then spread out thinly in an upper loft to cure, where they should be 

 occasionally stirred. It will require some weeks to thoroughly dry 

 them. Before camphoring, the dead and bad cocoons must be taken 

 out, otherwise they will spoil the good ones. 



When it is convenient, it is best to reel as many of the cocoons a& 

 possible, immediately after they are gathered, as they reel much more 

 freely before they are exposed to the sun or dried. 



Succession or Crops. — Repeated attempts have been made to 

 feed a succession of crops of worms from the same stock of eggs. la 

 most instances, success has failed to attend these efforts. When 

 proper means are employed, and due care observed, the eggs may be 

 preserved, and worms successfully raised until the feed is destroyed 

 by frost. In many years' experience I have never failed in this re- 

 spect. 



In the spring of 1840, 1 communicated to Miss Rapp, of Economy,, 

 my method of preserving eggs in icfe^ which she immediately adopted^, 

 and has pursued it until the present time with perfect success, feed- 

 ing from 18 to 25 crops each year. The following is an extract of a 

 letter from the postmaster at Economy, dated Jan. 19, 1843. 



" Between May and September, we raised near two millions of 

 worms, in 18 sets of near equal numbers, about a week apart, produc- 

 ing 371 bushels of cocoons. The last crop hatched the 9th day of 

 September, and spun the 10th of Oct. W^e found no difference in 

 the health of the different sets. We are of opinion that the late 

 keeping of the eggs does not bring disease on the worms, if they are 

 kept right and gradually brought forward as they ought to be." 



