dl 
be taken not to stain the clean ones with the black fluids of sash worms 
as may have died and become putrid, for there are always a few of 
these in every cocoonery. The outer cocoons of loose or floss silk are 
then removed from the inner cocoons or pods, and the latter sorted ae- 
cording to color, weight, and firmness of texture; those which best re- 
sist pressure indicating that the worm has best accomplished its work. 
Too much care can not be taken to remove the soft or imperfect cocoons, 
as,if mixed with the firm gnes, they would be crushed and soil the others 
with their contents. The very best of the firm cocoons are now to be 
chosen as provision for eggs for the next year, unless the raiser prefers 
buying his eggs to the trouble of caring for the moths and keeping the 
eggs through the winter. Eggs,bought from large establishments are, 
however, apt to be untrustworthy, and it is well for all silk-raisers to 
provide their own seed. The precautions to be taken in choosing 
cocoons for reproduction are set forth in Chapter VI. 
Kept at a temperature of about 70° F., new silk cocoons lose, through 
the giving off of humidity by the chrysalides, a material proportion of 
their weight. According to Dandolo the loss in 100 pounds during the 
first ten days amounts to about 74 per cent.* The amount of humidity 
in the atmosphere naturally affects this result. The loss continues until 
the cocoons are thoroughly dry, when it will be found that they have 
lost two-thirds of their original weight. 
* Dandolo states that 100 pounds of cocoons will suffer the losses indicated by the 
following table: 
Pounds. 
Weight when taken from the brush and after the floss has been removed....-.-. 100. 0 
NCCC MMO Meanie clbCie ac iscdac soci meise.cloteits coda wvateasaitte whys aieieea eae Sep eye 99" 1 
Ve ouMUmtMORGLE ScALVOL 2 au seaps)s roi a ye tera cic peta sr d= Se ties oye afer sole Seine 98. 2 
EPP UPC OLA CE Se VEGET: cot. cat ewan sate= Lesa snjninne sie Seale aid oe ae sme oleae 97.5 
Ne RRO UPVC SVULUET: 2 shia cle aiaicie are state wasicls cra ccisle Secale lea we sis 2 scwiesle se ineins 97.0 
eeu MINeN Cay SICH son lame eetre cress weal on eintee sakose wobec etcs acu aes 96.6 
Rivero upsides atbeley sa cys detsce this eee she SS hee einla Ge wevcis 4 cise deme asotewe 96. 0 
CMe SEE UGC UVISIUCLET So se yes ey eis loop cSeye aio mioms be Se biblouiee Lome biacei termes 95. 2 
eee ONO SLAmbEl 2s ts oe yee as oteis nara lan toe e.2 3 sles eye iaais be ses, soae ee eiene 94.3 
PV cereuniginitey Waly StATUEL sem. a Scciat asi gu Gis ising sent ideiciselee\ oe osieechee jens» sinter 93.4 
DVM ENGO MEG LY SoaALbOl A esicit eats coe cts, scw/arsaae cect «aes heise sede as eeeiweeisjse eco 92.5 
