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using twigs instead of leaves, the tender tips of the current year’s growth 
should be cut off with the spines. I have found this method of feeding 
to have decided advantages (though contrary to all custom in Europe, 
where the twigs and branches of the Mulberry are too valuable to be 
constantly pruned), for it not only allows more air to circulate as the 
food accumulates, but it gives the worms, as they grow in size, an op- 
portunity of clambering about, which they do not have to the same ex- 
tent where leaves alone are used. In adding the new meal there is, 
also, where twigs are used, less danger of the transfer paper pressing 
injuriously upon the worms beneath. 
Should the worms, from whatever cause, hatch before either Mulberry 
or Osage Orange leaves can be obtained, they may be quite successfully 
fed, for a few days, upon well-dried lettuce leaves. It will, however, be 
worse than a waste of time to attempt to feed them entirely on these 
leaves, or, in fact, on any other plants than the two here recommended. 
