SILK CULTURE. ii 



cards placed upon trays, on which the eggs are to be laid. Some raisers prefer 

 a sort of smooth woolen cloth for the moths to lay on. It is advisable to 

 tip up the trays at one end, as it enables the moths to lay their eggs . 

 uniformly. The temperature of the room should be kept at 75° and plenty 

 of air given during their laying. Keep the room dark till laying is finished. 

 The moths may be removed in about 24 hours, as by that time all the 

 thoroughly impregnated eggs will be laid. Any eggs laid after that time 

 must be separated from the others. The eggs are fastened to the card or 

 paper on which they are laid, by a natural gum, produced by the moth 

 while laying, and it is best to use these cards with care, so as to preserve 

 the eggs, which being fastened, the young worms eat their way out better. 

 The eggs retain a light- yellow color for 12 or 15 days when they gradually 

 change to the gray, lavender or greenish tint, which shows them to be im- 

 pregnated. Those which retain their original color longer than this, are 

 generally worthless. The moths live but a few days after laying. They 

 do not eat anything during their short lives. 



ENEMIES AND DISEASES. 



The silk worm has its enemies and diseases. The former it can 'be 

 protected from ; but for the latter there are no remedies which are of any 

 use. Its worst enemies are rats, mice, ants and birds. Rats and mice are 

 the most persistent ones. By keeping the windows and doors covered with 

 netting or fine wire screens, the birds can be kept away. The others must 

 be watched for and destroyed. For diseases — the best and safest plan is to 

 immediately remove and destroy all sick worms, to protect the rest of the 

 crop from infection. One disease called " muscardine" is very destructive. 

 The worm becomes languid, suddenly dies, and in a short time becomes 

 stiff and discolored — in about a day a kind of white powder shows itself, 

 and soon covers the body. No outward signs indicate the first stage of this 

 disease, and though it attacks worms of all ages, it is most destructive and 

 fatal in the last age just before spinning. No remedy is known for it. Good 

 eggs, good leaves, a pure, even temperatured atmosphere, care in rearing 

 the worms, and cleanliness, are checks to it. It is advisable once in a 

 while to wash the trays and frames with " diluted carbolic acid." This is 

 the best disinfectant known, and is a sure preventive of disease. Another 

 disease called " pebrine," has for years been a scourge among silk worms 

 in France. The worms affected by it grow unequally, become languid, lose 

 appetite and often show discolored spots upon the skin. They die of it at all 

 ages, but most at the last age. The worms will be purged by eating unwhole- 

 some leaves. Too great heat will make them sickly. If the worm becomes 

 yellow, limp and soft, it is caused by a disease called "grasserie" or "jaun- 

 dice," which is very common in those raised in this country. When worms 

 die from being unable to molt, they are called " lusettes" — these cases are 



