400 



JOUENAL OP HOBTIOULTUBB AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ May 28, 1868. 



leaves are required. The precise quantity it ia impossible to 

 fix, as it varies mncb according to quality and other circum- 

 stances. I will not say it is always necessary to weigh the 

 leaves, for any person will soon understand by the consumption 

 what quantity to supply. With regard to the surface the worms 

 should occupy, between every two there should always bo at 

 least the space of a third. The more they are at liberty to 

 crawl about, the purer is the air around them, and, conse- 

 quently, the greater is the chance of their growing strong and 

 healthy. This is one of the important points in silkworm- 

 rearing. When worms are placed on a sheet of paper, its sur- 

 face should never be even half filled with them, so that plenty 

 of room may be allowed for their growth. 



The First IWiod and Sleep.— The first period, up to the first 

 Bleep, lasts about six days, during which time the worms are to 

 be fed every five hours. They will consume from 12 to 15 lbs. 

 of clean, fresh, finely-cut leaves, which are to be lightly dropped 

 over them. On the first day a few ounces will be enough, on 

 the second 2 or 3 lbs. will be required, and the quantity must 

 be gradually increased on the third and fourth days, the 

 worms requiring more food, but their demands diminish 

 sensibly on the fifth and sixth days, because their dormant 

 state is at hand. 



On the morning of the fifth day it is desirable to shift the 

 young worms to clean sheets of paper, forming two parts of 

 one, by dividing the insects. Many persons leave this operation 

 until after the sleep, but I consider this early cleanliness goes 

 far in establishing the future health of the silkworms. They 

 will occupy, by the time the first sleep comes on, about 20 feet 

 of space. 



The operation of removing them to the fresh sheets of 

 paper is executed by giving the worms their first meal of 

 whole leaves, or leaves merely torn up the middle. The 

 leaves are to be laid over them, stalk upwards, and by these 

 they are lifted away as soon as filled by the worms, and 

 put where required. The worms remaining, because tliey did 

 not go on the leaves, must be again covered with leaves, and 

 afterwards any left can be lifted away by some portion of the 

 old leaves. 



This first sleep lasts about two days, after which the worms 

 cast their skins, and are soon again in want of food. During 

 the sleep keep the temperature at 70°, whatever slight fall may 

 at other times have occurred. Do not, now the worms are 

 small, attempt to touch them, for they are easily crushed ; in- 

 deed, great care is requisite even when large, otherwise they 

 seem to suffer. In feeding, distribute the cut leaves equally to 

 the worms, so that all may have the chance of eating without 

 loss of time, otherwise their sleeps cannot come on together, 

 which will make it necessary to continue feeding those which 

 are later. 



The Second Period and SZccp. — The second period like the 

 first lasts about six days, during which time the worms will eat 

 about 40 lbs. of cut leaves. On the first and and second days 

 they will require 10 lbs. or 12 lbs. ; on the third and fourth, 

 about 20 lbs. ; on the fourth and fifth, 10 lbs. By the time 

 this sleep comes on they will occupy 35 or 40 feet of space, or 

 nearly one entire stage, if allowed plenty of room. No papers 

 should be allowed to become too full of worms without dividing 

 these, which operation will generally be found necessary the 

 day after the first sleep, and again on the fifth day before the 

 second sleep. On each of such divisions the insects are 

 transferred to fresh papers as before described, and the refuse, 

 dirt, &c., removed. 



The meals should be repeated every five hours. It is 

 customary on the Continent to give the last more plentifully 

 at 11 P.M., and the first in the morning as soon as sufficiently 

 light for one to see, which would be about 4 or half-past 4 a.m. 

 As the worms go into their sleep give frequent light meals to 

 those which are backward, to push them along. Inequality 

 among them arises from neglecting this, and not keeping them 

 in a space proportioned to their growth. It often happens, 

 even with every care, that some of the first to sleep, awake and 

 shoot their skins before others on the same paper begin to 

 Bleep. In this case light meals must be continued frequently 

 until all take their sleep. Then immediately remove the for- 

 ward worms upon whole leaves, or leaves attached to the young 

 shoots, to other papers, leaving the sleeping ones until they 

 again become active, and can be transferred to another 

 paper by themselves. There is a method much adopted to 

 maintain equality, by observing when all are asleep, and then 

 starving the most forward on waking, even for twenty hours, to 

 await the later ones. I condemn this as unnatural, for al- 



though they do not die in consequence of going without food 

 even for several days, they must suffer. I do not, however, 

 think any ill effect follows confining this starving te intervals 

 of eight hours from meal to meal.— L. Hakman, jdn. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



White Dorkings (Ifftifc Bortin?).— It is said that the original Dorking 

 w.as a white fowl. There is no proof of it. A Mr. Evelyn is said to have 

 introduced them into Surrey. They are excellent birds, second only to 

 the Grey of the same breed. Their colour has hindered their being more 

 numeroHsly kept. They are beautiful in a clean atmosphere, but they 

 show smoke ; they will not do in towns. An average bird of the breed 

 will cost 25.9. They may have double or single conihs, but a pen mast 

 not be composed of both, and it is advisable to have all the birds in a 

 yard either with double or single combs. The rules for them are the 

 same as for the Grey. They must bo well made, have five claws, white 

 legs, and square^bodies, and be of large size. We have seen them almost 

 as large as the Grey. Combs are no test of purity. 



Death among Grey Dorkings f F. .S.). — We are at a loss even to guess 

 the cause of the death of yoar Dorkings. They have all the advantages 

 of locality, and your feeding seems judicious. Give them camphor and 

 wormwood in their water. If they have it not, provide them and the hen 

 with plenty of dust for the necessary dust bath. If the hen is not con- 

 fined, confine her ; do not let her drag the chickens about, as hens often 

 do in rain and dew till they perish. Are they fed at daybreak? if not 

 that will account for the death of some of them. They must have food 

 as soon as they are able to see it. Failing that they perish. 



Weak Feet in Chickens (A Constant iicader).— What do you call the 

 stump of the leg? Do they walk or rest on their knees? If they do, 

 they are suffering from general debility, and can only be restored by 

 generous diet, snch as chopped cooked meat, boiled egg, ground oats, 

 wormwcod, and bread and ale. If they walk on the ball of the foot that 

 may generally be traced to bad flooring of the poultry house, such as 

 stone, wood, or brick. If yon have such remove it. 



Feeding Rabbits (A. T.]. — Tame Rabbits require a few oats, plenty of 

 bran, green food, and water. They also require to be kept clean. You 

 must judge the quantity necessary by watching what they eat, not what 

 they waste. 



Caponising (Idem). — Making capons is not anywhere considered a 

 simple operation. We hold it to be wanton and useless cruelty. The 

 young fowls in this country that are only just arrived at the age when 

 the operation becomes possible, are larger and better than the French 

 capon that is ten months old. instead of resorting to cruelty to enable 

 you to eat poultry all the year, you will find it a great economy of food 

 and saving of trouble if you will arrange your hatching so that you will 

 have tender birds of proper age for table every month. The London 

 poulterers are without rivals in Europe for the quality of their poultry ; 

 and while " the consumptive capon on the table " is still found on the 

 continent, we in England have fowls larger and heavier, much younger, 

 and more tender, that have consumed only half the food, aad that are 

 not the survivors of scores. 



Gapes (C. X. H.). — If you make the bird inhale the vapour of spirits of 

 turpentine, let the bird remain in the box five minutes each time. Give 

 it also a pill of camphor the size of a pea daily. 



Boiled Eggs for Sitting iJ. L. L.). — We said from "the neighbour- 

 hood of Halifax,'* not, as you say, " at Halifax." We cannot refer to the 

 subject further. You can have a stamped copy of our Journal if you 

 order it. 



SoBDRBAN Pottltry SHOW'S (C. A. J.). — We know of no better guide to 

 them th ait.ir weekly-published list. Sea Anemones will not permanently 

 thrive in ^' marine aquarium, and least of all in one which never has the 

 water changed. 



Hen Canaries Eating Their Eggs iR. N. A.).—" I have never had a 

 hen which persistently followed this bad habit. If it be done before she 

 has laid her full complement, furnish her with a diop-nest. which is 

 simply an ordinary nest with a hole in the bottom through which the egg 

 falls into a chamber below, taking care, of course, that a suitable bed of 

 cotton, wool, or other soft material be ready to receive it. If it be a con- 

 firmed habit, indulged in at any time during incubation, blow an egg and 

 fill it with Cayenne pepper. This not being so palatable will, except with 

 very depraved appetites, effect a cure. I know a hen, however, which, 

 after hawing been cured last season by this treatment, has returned to 

 her former propensity, and two eggs duly prepared have disappeared 

 without any good results in the desired direction. I think I would try a 

 rotten egg, as savoury as possible. Failing cure, give her eggs to a nurse ; 

 if she is not valuable, twist her neck.— W. A.Blakston." 



Poisoning Black Beetles {An Old SuhscriberK — The article yon re" 

 ferred to appeared in No. 353. The address is — Mr. Chase, chemist, 

 14, Holborn Bars, London. 



Limes and Orange Peel {Nullus). — We have no information relative 

 to the subjects you name. 



POULTRY MARKET.— May 27. 



There is a slight improvement in trade, and the snpply of goslings, 

 ducklings, and chickens has somewhat increased. We hope there will 

 soon be a steady demand at moderate but remunerative prices. 



