SILK CULTURE. t^ 



creaces in the spring, to prevent their hatching before the leaves are ready 

 for them. When the warm weather commences, if too early for their food, 

 enclose the tin box in a wooden one, and place it on ice. As the tendency 

 in our climate is to premature hatching, the great object is to keep them all 

 back, as described above, till their food is plenty. When the proper time 

 arrives, the eggs should be brought out gradually from the cold cellar at 40° 

 to a room at 50° for one hour ; then to a room at 60° for half an hour, and 

 then to hatching room at 75°. Then use the " tarleton" netting, and pro- 

 ceed as described in " Feeding and Raising," Keep the temperature as 

 uniform as possible, and if it is increased about 2 degrees each day it will 

 hasten the hatching of the eggs. As the time of hatching approaches the 

 eggs grow lighter in color — and if the floor is sprinkled, to moisten the 

 atmosphere, it will enable the worm to eat through the shell more easily. 

 A small amount of moisture appears to freshen and invigorate them. The 

 eggs should be brought out about 4 p. m., or the cool of evening, as the 

 worms hatch out from 4 to 8 o'clock in the morning. 



SUMMED UP. 



The requisites for success in raising Silk Worms are — 



1st. — Having good, healthy eggs. 



2d. — Having the worms as nearly as possible of the same age in the 

 same trays, to insure their molting at the same time. 



3d. — Feeding regularly and plentifully as it is needed by the worms. 



4th. — Plenty of room so that the worms do not crowd each other. 



5th.— Fresh air and uniform temperature. 



6th. — Cleanliness. 



The last three are actually necessary during the 4th and 5th ages. 

 Never allow the trays to go one day without cleaning, particularly during 

 the above named ages, or the worms will suffer in disease or death just as 

 they are about spinning. Should there be repetitions found in this work, 

 it will be only in cases where the learner's attention is to be particularly 

 called to important items. 



FOOD PLANTS. 



The usual food for the"silk worm is the mulberry — the "white" being 

 the best and the " purple" the next. The " black" and " paper" mulberry 

 are not good food for them and should be avoided. The mulberry grows 

 readily and is easily propagated by cuttings or from seed. The white in 

 particular grows well from cuttings, and is the most economical and quickest 

 mode of planting to secure a stock. The cuttings must be started in rows, 

 3 or 4 inches apart, after preparing the ground by deep plowing and har- 

 rowing. They should be about 6 inches long, and in every case must be 

 cut before the eye. They must be almost entirely buried. The quickest 

 way to get a supply of leaves is by dwarfing — setting out the young trees 



