Silkworm from Japan. 401 
moult. To distinguish good eggs from bad : as to colour, the light 
grey are the best, dark grey medium, white are worst.* It is desira- 
ble always to open a fewif there is any doubt ; after thirty days are 
past a little worm of a clear blue (?)} is found therein; the quality 
of the lot may be estimated by opening one or two hundred eggs. If 
this opening be done by means of a sharp razor, or point of a needle, 
the young worms may escape injury. Some eggs that are offered for 
sale are well rounded, with a convex surface and shining; these 
are painted. The best eggs are well-rounded, light grey, and in 
proportion to their weight contain a more healthy worm, which 
will move vigorously, even in cold weather, on the palm of the 
hand, is of a clear blue (? yellow) or light colour, and a si-yoo, a 
Japanese measure of 385 grammes,t gives 101,000 worms. In- 
ferior eggs are not quite round, a little depressed in the centre ; the 
worm on emerging is small, and though it moves is weak. If they 
emerge too soon they call them waste (kego-kobne) and throw them 
away. One meets also with eggs rounded and at first sight of the 
best quality ; but on opening them, the little worms are weak and 
ofa red tint; these have fermented soon after they were formed. 
Other eggs are well rounded, and very shiny, seeming to be of the 
best quality, but they contain no worm. ‘These are forged eggs 
(fabriqués.) 
About the 22ud April, or a little later, according to the local 
temperature, the place set apart for the nurture of these worms is 
examined, in order to destroy ants and other vermin which are in- 
juvious. Rush mats are now set up around, and in the middle is 
placed a wooden frame (estrade) six feet wide, and as long or longer 
according to the extent required. Beneath are placed the buckets or 
troughs (oke), fitted with a cover pierced with a number of holes; 
at the bottom of the trough is fitted a pipe with stopper to allow 
the water to be drained off from time totime. The troughs are ar- 
ranged three feet apart from centre to centre; over the frame are 
stretched (musiro) mats, generally 2 feet 8 inches in width, 5 feet 
5 inches jong, 5 inches thick, and also (itodate) others, which are 
mats of the finest straw, 2 feet 7 inches wide and 8 feet long. 
Within are placed the eggs, which are carefully examined every 
morning. As soon as the young worms are born, they place fresh 
* Contrary to our European experience. 
+ Always yellow in Europe. 
+. 183: oi 
t 13}, 07. 
