20 



practice of doing- this by hand is to be condemned because it consumes 

 too much time and is apt to injure the worms. Thread nets (tig. 9) 

 and perforated paper are the best means to employ. They save two- 

 thirds of the hand labor, and thus allow beds to be oftener renewed, 

 which is a most important consideration. In the first age tulle or 

 mosquito net ma}^ be emplo3^ed instead of nets or paper. 



The manner of proceeding- is as follows: Place the last meal at night 

 on the nets and extend them over the worms. By morning the worms 

 will have mounted above the opening in search of fresh leaf. Then 

 lift up the nets, beginning at the top shelf, and place them on clean 

 shelves. Carefully detach from the nets any portion of the old bed, 

 and, if the worms are not molting, gather up the few worms that have 

 remained behind, and tenderly place them with the others. The 



change of beds is thus rapidly 

 effected with the least labor. 



It is xery important that the 

 tension of the net be such as to 

 prevent the worms from being 

 crowded together in the middle. 

 Perforated paper (fig. 10) is 

 another means often used to 

 effect change of beds; but it 

 does not allow the worms to 

 mount with the same facility. 

 It is also apt to break when the 

 worms become heav}^ and in 

 many cases it has to be renewed 

 annually, so, in the end it is no 

 cheaper than nets. 



In changing beds, do not feed 

 the worms that are first taken 

 up until all from the old bed 

 have been removed; then give a general meal, for all the worms born 

 on the same day and forming one class should have the same num- 

 ber of meals to preserve their equality of growth, which is necessary 

 for a successful rearing. 



Having adopted hours for feeding, these should be adhered to 

 throughout the rearing. When four meals are given, the best hours 

 are 5 to 6 a. m., 10 to noon, 3 to 6 p. m., and 9 to 11 p. m. 



Toward the. sixth day worms begin to eat less. This is a sign that 

 they are going to molt. Then another change of beds and doubling of 

 space are necessary. 



The molt or change of the worm is easily recognized by a swelling 

 of the head, whitening of the skin, transparency of the body, and a 

 fixed position. 



165 



Fig. 9. — Net used in changing beds. 



