Silkworm from Japan. 419 
for winding; 2. The eggs for reproduction. In order to obtain the 
second result greater care is needful than for the first, as not only 
is a large handsome cocoon desirable, but also a healthy moth and 
progeny, otherwise the race would deteriorate; hence the nearest 
approach to the natural state furnishes the best mode of culture. 
The brood therefore should at the earliest moment, in the egg state 
if possible, be placed out of doors on the living oaks, so arranged 
as to carry them on to the second moult. The branches of the oak 
must be freed from noxious enemies, especially from the little green 
spider, a great pest, which is very abundant. To do this it is recom- 
mended to place a pan of live sulphur among the trees ; this causes 
the spiders, &c. to drop, and if then the collar of the trees be smeared 
with gas tar, and be surrounded with ashes or sawdust*impreg- 
nated with gas tar, they cannot get up again. Afterwards the 
eggs may be suspended on the trees in little shallow trays or boxes 
pierced with many holes. The oak shrubs may then be covered 
with nets, or wire trellis-work, to keep away birds, &c.; in order to 
prevent the eggs being knocked out of the trays, it is desirable 
to moisten the lower part with gum and to attach the eggs. If 
the temperature descend below 54° it would be desirable to cover 
with matting the oak plantation while the worms are quite young. 
If circumstances are unfavourable for placing the eggs out of 
doors, the culture must be carried on either on trees in pots or on 
cut boughs in the manner before described, but with great care as 
to changing the boughs and water, and after the first or second 
change at latest the worms may be placed out on the trees in- 
tended for them, taking care not to place too many, lest the foliage 
be insufficient to last them till they spin their cocoons. 
The culture intended solely to obtain cocoons is somewhat 
similar, but inasmuch as several or many acres are devoted to this 
end, the precautions need not be so very minutely observed. Care 
must be had thoroughly to exterminate noxious vermin and insects, 
and to clear away all shrubs and herbage that might shelter them. 
It will still be well to bring up the young brood up to the second 
moult under protection in a small space, as before described, in 
order to render their chance of a crop more sure. Afterwards 
the worms might be placed out at large. In this case nets would 
be inadmissible, and guns would be of use to deter the birds. It 
might be desirable in some parts to bring up the young brood 
under a shed, using as a feeding apparatus the method described 
p- 414, of a bucket or trough, having two boards for a cover 
VOL. V. THIRD SERIES, PART V.—MARCH, 1867. GG 
