54 



JOTJflNAli OF HORTIOULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Jnl; 16, 1868. 



the cocoons, so that when Strang they may lie horizontally, for 

 the moths come out at the ends. The cocoons can be hung 

 perpendicularly by the thread to nails in a dry wall. There 

 are simple contrivances made harp-fashion, with striup; or rib- 

 bons, by which the cocoons may be held somewhat firmly in 

 position. I have tried the plan of glueing them to boards by 

 merely touching them with glue, aLd laying them thereon 

 until dry, when the boards can be set up against a wall, 

 And this method answers admirably, for they are as firmly 

 fixed as though in the place where spun, and the moths cer- 

 tainly make their way out much more easily than when the 

 cones are left lying about, as is done by some persons. 



As to the proper degree of temperature in which the cocoons 

 should be kept, I have no reason to vary from that which I 

 have recommended for rearing the worms ; but when the tem- 

 perature is naturally more than 70°, I should certainly admit 

 more Citernal air to the room, and apply artificial heat it 

 colder, admitting less air, but I would on no account shut it 

 out entirely, for the respiration of the insect is still going on 

 within its silken habitation. 



Silkworms' moths generally push through the cocoons after 

 SDnrise, about seven or eight o'clock, and it is then necessary 

 to watch them, in order to keep the sexes separate, for although 

 the eocoons may have been sorted, yet there are often mixtures. 

 The best way is to take all the females gently by their wings, 

 and place them on an inclined cloth or piece of calico until 

 they have discharged a reddish fluid, which will have been 

 done by the majority of them by half-past eight or nine 

 o'clock, when the males are introduced to them. Any that 

 have previously coupled must be left alone. Only just suiB- 

 oient light should be admitted to the room to allow one easily 

 to execute the work. The male moths are best kept in total 

 darkness when practicable until wanted, for when exposed to 

 the light they besit about. To couple the moths it is merely 

 neeessary to place them one by one near each other. 



After the separation the males are put away, the females 

 being left a few minutes to again discharge some fluid, after 

 vhich they are to be removed on clean linen, suspended on the 

 kind of stand I have before described, where they will quietly 

 deposit their eggs. Many persons suspend from the wall of 

 the room the linen, securing it by tacks, and pinning-up the 

 bottom corners, thus forming a channel or receptacle into 

 which any eggs, which sometimes fall, are caught and pre- 

 vented from being lost on the floor. The only objection I have 

 to this method is the perpendicular position which the linen 

 occupies, and which is certainly not so convenient for the 

 heavy insects as a sloping surface. An arm's length of linen 

 will easily contain 2 or 3 ounces of eggs. 



Should it happen that more females than males are produced, 

 then the most vigorous males may be used again if kept till 

 the next day. 



Having produced the eggs, their preservation in a suitable 

 manner is the next consideration. After a few days, when 

 they have all changed colour, from the yellow which they ex- 

 hibited when laid, to a dark ashy or violet hue, the linen is 

 taken from the stand, folded up, put into an earthen pot, tied 

 down with perforated paper and twine, and hung up in a cool, 

 airy, but dry place, such as a cellar. 



About October, when the weather is cooler, the jar may be 

 removed to a cool, dry room — one up-stairs I consider best — 

 where no fire is kept, and the temperature during winter does 

 not fall below freezing point, or if there be danger of its doing 

 so in December or January, a somewhat warmer position may 

 be temporarily provided. If mild weather occur early in spring 

 the pot and eggs should be again transferred to the cellar, un- 

 less there is danger from damp, in which case some other 

 oool place must be selected. My object in being thus parti- 

 enlar is to impress upon the reader that unless care be exer- 

 oised in keeping the eggs as cool as possible without freezing 

 from laying until hatching time, they would, especially in for- 

 ward springs, be liable to hatch sooner than wanted, before 

 there were leaves to feed the worms, and before the weather 

 had become sufficiently settled. A good plan to protect them 

 is to suspend the jar by means of a wire or cord from the 

 eeiling, or the wall if dry. 



It is customary to detach the eggs from the linen, and I 

 think this operation is best performed about Oc'ober, because 

 the eggs are then more at rest than in the spring, at which 

 season they fhould not be disturbed more than is absolutely 

 necessary. The best method to detach the eggs is to put the 

 linen and epgs to soak for twenty or thirty minu'ea in soft 

 water which is oool, but above the freezing point. Thisisof tens 



the gum and facilitates the operation of scraping off the eggs 

 with a wooden or bone knife, or a large spoon. When they 

 are off they should be washed with fresh water in a basin, 

 gently turning them about with the hands for a few minutes. 

 All the good or heavy eggs will sink, and the light ones float- 

 ing on the surface may be poured off. The good eggs are then 

 to be spread on a napkin in a cool room to dry, turning them 

 over now and then with a spoon, and keeping them separate by 

 gentle friction, otherwise they would stick together as they 

 dried. When the napkin has absorbed the greatest portion 

 of the moisture, the eggs can be transferred to another dry 

 napkin. They will probably be sufficiently dry next day to 

 be put again into the earthen jar, which should be tied down 

 as before. 



I do not think it would be advisable to place more eggs in a 

 jar than would cover the bottom to the depth of half an inch, 

 for great quantities together would be liable to heat. 



Many persons assert that the eggs keep better through the 

 winter on the linen, but I like the contact with the earthen 

 vessel, which, being cool, tends to preserve them, 'and no more 

 need be placed in the same utensil than is proper. 



Silkworms' moths generally lay two sets of eggs, the first 

 being the most perfect. It the moths are placed on fresh 

 linen the second day they produce inferior ones. This is or 

 was the secret of producing the famous breeds of Bergamo and 

 Brescia in Italy. It is not probable that all the moths will 

 come forth on the same dav, although the worms mounted to- 

 gether. During coupling they should be often looked at, and 

 any that separate should be put on one side a short time to be 

 used again. Some of the moths lay as many as five hundred 

 eggs, but the average, I think, is about three hundred. The 

 eggs, as already stated, are yellowish when fresh laid, but if 

 good grow darker, and lastly assume a violet tint, which they 

 retain until near hatching. — Lbonaed Hakman, jon. 



OUR LETTER BOX, 



Book (A Sun-ey Bee-keeper) — Yon can have " Bee-keepinp," froo by 

 post from our office, if yoa tncloso Ave postage stamps with your addreas. 

 It contains what you require. A new edition is in the press. , 



Chickens Drooping Suddenly (A Younj Farmer).— If yonr chicltens 

 were not penned m ttie yard and rick-yard, we should say the complflint 

 orifiinated from bad flourinpr. hut the earth is the best of Qoorint^. The 

 swollen leRS and other evniptoms arise, no doubt, from cramp, but where 

 does the cramp come from? Your description does not tell ns. nor can 

 we help oureelves. Pois'ins would have the game effect. We nro not 

 friendly (o the rubbish that ia Riven to pouitry under the name of smiU 

 whent, chickens' ment. &«. That which we have seen is made up chiefly 

 of dirt. House scraps are good if any nourisliing parlicles are nllnwed 

 to remain in them, and we are thus particuUr because the bill of f:ire is 

 not a tempting one. It doesnotsppakof good fooii, and not only chickens 

 cannot thrive without it, but the lack of it induces them to search for and 

 ont all sorts of substitutes; many of these are, no doubt, instrumental 

 in cansina the prevalence of such complaints as you name. Having to 

 gness at that whicli causes the evil, we have to suggest something that 

 will Ffmnve it When cliickeos have a rick-yard to live in they have 

 many helps to healib, but few to food. We advise you, then, to feed them 

 more 1 ly than you have done. Let them have ourd, some chopped 



egg, and bread and milk frequently, till they are three weeks old. If ihey 

 huve no access to green food, let them have heavy sods of growing gi'iiBS. 

 Discard the email wheat, except to throw a handful down to amuse tbfm 

 now and then. Feed twice a-day with good barley or oatmeal, flacked 

 with milk, if posBible. In the middle of the day give some whole ccrn; 

 but chickens must not be left to themselves at the early ages you men- 

 tion. This, we believe, will prevent all maladies. 



Foreign Fowls <nyhope).--Tbe Gueldrea and BredflS are very uBpfnl 

 fowls in their way, Imt are not destined to a greit popularity in this 

 country. As soon as wo have tinio we will give the principal points of 

 nil the French breeds. Tho<5e cnl'ed Bredas now were well known in 

 Englnnd, and impnrced from Holland thii-tv years ago as "crow fowls." 

 The Gueldres is only tie s ime fowl of a diflerent colour. 



Cit>F.n (An Old Siib<ieribnr) ~1^o tiUiZO-T is added to the expressed Juifo of 

 the Apples by the cider manufacturers in Devon or Somerset, yet their 

 cider keeps well. 



POULTRY MARKET.— JoLY 15. 



When melting bent itnd ecnrchinff sun come on dead ponlfry, only fhnt 

 which is killed carefuUv, with tlrict knowledge and ohBeivanco of nil 

 that is necessary lor its arrival in a proper state, will tnnble oi;e to 

 realise the prices Ihnt are made bv fresb parcels. It is when the oirelcss 

 sender finds his gnois condemned by the clerk of the market, that tho 

 .areful sender finds he reaps the reward of his painstaking and of his 

 knowledge. 



Large Fowls 3 



Smaller do 3 



Chickens 2 (1 



Goslings 5 



Oucklings 2 



Figeous 9 



d. s 

 fi to 4 

 6 3 



8. a 



8. A 



Pheaeantg te 



Partridges 



GuineaFowls 



Hares 



Kabbits 15 16 



WUddo 8 



