13 



(5) Knives to cut leaves and baskets to distribute them. 



(6) Coarse tulle and nets or perforated paper for changing beds and equalizing the 

 worms. 



(7) A supply of brush, straw, or shavings to construct the spinning place. 



(8) A thermometer. 



Wire, twine, laths, or canes are suitable for the lattice work of the 

 shelves. Make the space between the shelves about 14 inches. If 



Fig. 7. — The rearing room (after Gobin). 



possible, do not arrange the shelves along the wall, and allow a good 

 passage between the tiers of shelves (figs. 6 and 7). 



SILKWORM EGGS: HOW TO WINTER AND HATCH THEM. 



There are two kinds of silkworm culture: One for production and 

 one for reproduction. The object in the first case is to get the 

 greatest yield of cocoons, and with a little training, may be carried 

 on by anyone of ordinary intelligence. 



The object in culture for reproduction is to secure eggs free from 

 hereditary taint of disease, and experts only can be depended on 

 to conduct it. Besides a careful physiological examination through- 

 out the rearing, the body of the mother moth is microscopically 

 tested after death, and her eggs are not retained if signs of disease 

 are discovered. In this way the birth of healthy worms is insured. 

 Pasteur first applied this method of selecting silkworm eggs, and thus 

 checked the plague (pebrine) which was rapidly destroying silkworm 

 culture in Europe. 



165 



