ri79i' on sili worms. 17^ 



•in a cold place, are apt to be so lax in the bellj as noc 

 to fatten quickly. It they be kept warm, this incon- 



renience is not felt ; the animal is at all times in a 



more costive state, and comes on in fattening much 

 more rapidly. This is a branch of rural economy not 



so generally understood as it ought to be ; and mils 

 Rhodes has great merit in having suggested the idea 



that the health of the silk worms may be. affected by 

 ,: the same circumstances. 



. As to the article light; it is very pofsible I may 

 be mistaken in that respect, having formed mj o- 

 pinion merely from the report of others. Whe . I 

 , said • that .windows might be saved in . houses to be 

 tpade for silk worms, it was my intention however only 

 to suggest that such large windows as are required in 

 stoves for plants, are by no means necefsary ; so that 

 the great expence of glafs might be saved. Whether 

 this lady's opinion, that light is of great utility to the 

 silk worms, or the opinion of Mr Wright of Paisley, 

 with several others, that they thrive better in the 

 dark, be the best founded, I pretend not to say ; but, 

 as there is a doubt on this subject, it would seem that 

 i/ the worm be affected at all by this circumstance, 

 it can be but in a slight degree, so that it cannot be 

 a matter of very great importance. It is proper 

 however it ihould be adverted to by experimenters. 



However this may be, there seenss to be no reason 

 to hesitate in agreeing with mifs R. in approving a 

 south exposure, where that can be commanded ; not 

 only because that is the warmest, and therefore will 

 save most fuel ; but also because the heat thus pro- 

 duced is lefs liable to generate noxious vapours, tloaa 



