SILK CULTURE. 311 



be pursued, we proceed to lay down sucli directions as "srill aid the iu- 

 experienced safely to commence it. Let tliem not suppose from the 

 failures we have so much dwelt upon, thatsiik culture is a difticult pur- 

 suit. Ou the contrary, it is a very simple one, as may he seen from 

 what has just been said of it as it is in the houses of the foreign peas- 

 antry. Tiie laws of healthy growth of the mulberry and of the 

 silk- worm must not be violated, that is all — aud this is not likely to be 

 done in the household cultivation of silk. Everj' farmer knows that it 

 is comparatively easy to raise a few hogs, or sheep, or ])oultry, but a 

 large number breeds diseases uot found among the smaller. Men in 

 the household are healthy ; collected together as an army, many dis- 

 eases prevail among them, however excellent may be the sanitary regu- 

 lations. This law of health is universal, and its action is stronger ou 

 the silk- worm than any other domesticated animal, because by improper 

 breeding its constitutional vigor is so much impaired. 



DIRECTIONS FOR THE Hs'EXPERIENCEt) SILK-GROOVER — ATMOSPHERIC 



CONDITIONS. 



1. Temperature. — The warmth during feeding should range from 08^ to 

 75°, and during the spinning of the cocoon about 80"^. As all our 

 climates show a much gTeater daily range of the thermometer, it is 

 necessary to feed the worms in a room in which the heat can be regu- 

 lated. 



A climate, therefore, of sudden changes and of great extremes during 

 the feeding and spinning seasons is not favorable for silk production. 

 As the worms usually hatch in the latter part of April, where irregular 

 weather prevails after that time, greater caution must be observed. In 

 many jjarts cold -changes are frequent until about the middle of May or 

 the 1st of June, and then the heat quickly increases until it is above 

 80O— from 85° to 95o. 



2. Moisture. — Wet weather is unfavorable, and hence a cold, damp 

 atmosphere must find a corrective in moderate fires, which at the same 

 time keep" up a moderate circulation of the air in the rooms. How this 

 is best done will be noticed when we speak of the proper construction 

 of the feeding-room. 



3. Calmness and electricity. — The central parts of the Mississippi Val- 

 ley are the pathways of storms, which, though most violent in the winter 

 season, yet in summer produce sudden changes of temperature and 

 violent commotion in the atmosphere, and are often accompanied with 

 heavy electrical discharges. Such storms often destroy a large portion 

 of the worms, and where they frequently occur, silk cultivation should 

 be cautiously tested. The climate of California is, of all others, most 

 free from the extremes we have specified, but the southern portions of 

 Kansas, Missouri, and many parts of the Southern States, are very 

 favorable. Other locations have advantages sufficient, with proper care, 

 to warrant success. 



THE MULBERRY PLANTS. 



1. Kimls. — The multicaulis and the white aud black fruited are re- 

 garded as the best for feeding. In India the first is highly prized, as 

 better adapted to a greater variety of soils, and as not inclined to grow 

 into trees. It puts up many flexible shoots, with a rapid growth both 

 of stalk and leaf, making the gathering of the latter easy to women and 

 children. 



