35 [ 175 3 



CHAPTER II. 



VARIETIES IN SILKWORMS. — ( Bombyx MoH.) 

 1. Of small Silkworms of three casts or moult ings. 



s _ • _ ' 



I have reared, says Dandolo, a quantity of these silkworms sepa< 

 rately, the eggs of which may be found in several parts of Lombardy. 

 The worms and cocoong of this variety are two-fifths smaller thaii 

 those of the common sort. His experiments demonstrated, that these 

 worms consume, to form a pound of cocoons, nearly as mu&h leaves as 

 the large species; and, although smaller when they have reached theii' 

 full growth, they devour more fragments and shoots of leaves than 'he 

 common sort. Their cocoons are composed of finer and more beauti- 

 ful silk than the common cocoon: they are also better constructed, and 

 to this is owing the greater quantity of silk, which, Ai equal weights, is 

 drawn from those cocoons, than from common cOcodns. This variety, 

 in the opinion of Dandolo, should be infinitely more cultivated than it 

 has hitherto been: for, 



1. These silkworms require four days less of care than the commori 

 silkworms. 



2. They afford a saving of time, labor, and nloriey. 



3. They are not so long exposed to accidents — ^their life being 

 shorter. 



Some imagine the species to be delicate, but they appeared to Dan- 

 dolo to be strong and vigorous. Six hundred cocoon-s weigh a poiiiid 

 and a half. 



2. Of large Silkworms of four casts. 

 Dandolo reared many of these silkworms of a very large quality,. 

 The eggs came from Friuli: they produce larger worms and larger 

 cocoons, yet they are not much larger nor much heavier than the eggs 

 of the common species. The worms, at their full size, weigh nearly 

 twice and a half as much as the common worm. The cocoons are in 

 the same proportion: 150 of the large sort weigh a pound and a half, 

 while it requires 360 of the common cocoon to weigh as much. The 

 silk is coarser and not so pure as that of the common kind; the worms 

 are five or six days later in attaining their full growth, and in risingj 

 than the common silkworm. 



3. Of the Worms that produce white Silk. 



" I have raised," says Dandolo, "a large quantity of these, and 

 found them, in all respects, equal to the common silkworms of four 

 casts. If I reared silkworms for the purpose of spinning the silk 

 myself, I would cultivate only the silkworm of three casts, and thost' 

 that produce white silk, as preferable to all others; and every year 

 would choose the very whitest and finest cocoons, to prevent the de- 

 generation of the species." 



This species was introduced into France about forty-five years since^ 



