dl 
be taken not to stain the clean ones with the black fluids of such 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 ac- 
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 ones, 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 
eges 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.* Theamount 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 
Vokes ita OM ERGanyy AMEE Ls acelers cisteie wie ste'Slole cig nc Fil Saas avi eAucehinn sheen oases Web I 
DCIS nWie day Spall ae coos canoe aS Sot Lee Sut oo = mioecers roe ae 98. 2 
Wigie Miph nee days alton aes cmcciee ns caeeicas cee a Dacsk Sawaks cane eeeseus se aeet 97.5 
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Weta hitesiocG ays atverisce sea a-1cecececiocas nsec er see ne edecinelenr at iy aocee hock os 96. 0 
Nereiet sev Onda ys! allel s= ec 23s 2cu coe wcccs sate he eas sass Seeedekivacace Gases 95. 2 
Pete miele Canwatter.._.cc caemetaet ans ofecc sc gaee wclsd eee a ec: wcce moose 94.3 
Se einem NOm VG; aehen samc tan nes Sees aes AHS eae alco deiee Sec ote debe wicks te 93. 4 
Pup ise aver ANlel aot hie tee actin soe cat elws Suk Sime Soe toe me chats Joe oaaee 92.5 
