21 



To change the beds, proceed as before, onl}^ leave undisturbed on 

 the old beds the worms that are molting. When all the tardy worms 

 have been taken up and placed on shelves, give them frequent 

 sprinklings of finel}^ cut up leaf to enable them to catch up with 

 the worms alread}^ molting. Diminish the feeding as the backward 

 worms begin to molt, and cease feeding entirely as soon as a single 

 worm comes out of the molt. Then wait twenty-four hours so that 

 the worms ma}^ be well over the change before giving a general feed. 

 In this way the equality of development necessary for a methodical 

 and successful rearing is maintained. A fast of twenty-four hours 

 will not hurt the advanced worms, while the extra feeding given to 

 the backward ones may enable them to l)ecome equal to the former. 



Fig. 10.— Perforated paper used in changing beds in the second and third ages. 



The beds or the worms on the old litter may be changed when the 

 general meal is given. 



Many cultivators do not change the beds and double the space until 

 after the first molt, allowing all the worms to change in the same bed. 

 In this case, owing to the distribution of leaf for one or two days after 

 the molting has begun, the molting worms are covered by a more or 

 less thick coat of litter, and exposed to emanations of bad gases in a 

 critical period of life, which is likely to cause disease. Besides, in 

 the first age, the worms are so small that they are likely to be lost in 

 the litter, or to perish from suffocation. Hence, it is healthier to 

 change beds and double the space before the molt. 



165 



