tf^i. -^n silk luorms. i"Ji 



tasted of the former, but soon returned to their 

 usual food. The silk collected from these, flie sent to 

 the Adelphi societj in London. 



I must now tell j*ou, that fhe fitted up a small 

 room with a stove, in which Jhe constantly ktpt ftre. 

 I am sorrj to add the disappointment which attended 

 her manufactory, because her persevering ingenuity 

 merited the highest succefs ; but I imagine it arose 

 from the extraordinary weather we have had'^ 

 for the rain has been so incefsant that we have num- 

 bered but few dry days this summer. She had so 

 many silk worms that (he found it impofsible to de- 

 vise means to dry the mulberry leaves thoroughly ^■ 

 before they were given to them ; and in consequence 

 of their living perpetually upon damp food, they had 

 an epidemic sicknefs, and many thousands of them 

 died. I account for her lofs in this way, because I 

 have always understood that a wet summer in Italy 

 is productive of exactly the same effects. It could 

 not be owing to cold, because her room was kept 

 properly heated. What general Mordaant has, done 

 with his manufactory, I have not y^t heard ; but I 

 must be a petitioner to him soon for eggs ; and if I 

 gain any information from him, which I think you 

 will like to know, I will immediately acquaint you 

 with it. 



You have treated the subject with so much judge- 

 ment, that I am more than ever convinced of its prac- 

 ticability ; but I must differ from you in the mode of 

 constructmg your hot house, from which light, I 

 fliould think, ought not to be excluded. Ought we not 

 to study the situation in which that creature is placed. 



