C 175 3 60 



ment about twelve feel square, and capable ot cummotliously hatching, 

 not only ten, twenty, or thirty ounces of eggs, but even two hundred, 

 if required. The small apartment must be particularly dry, and should 

 contain all the necessary implements that may be wanted. The fol- 

 lowing details may be thought too minute, but this should not deter 

 from giving every explanation deemed requisite in so important an art. 



This small apartment should contain, 



1st. A stove of moderate size, not made of iron, because the heat 

 could not be regulated so accurately, but of thin bricks. It must stand 

 out in the room. It is calculated to raise by degrees, slowly, and at 

 •will, with little wood, the temperature of the room.* 



2d. Several boxes or trays, either made of thick pasteboard, if they 

 are not 'argc, but if large, of thin boards.t The size of these boxes 

 should vary according to the quantity of eggs which are to be hatched. 

 For an ounce of eggs, the space of about eight inches square is required. 

 This may give an idea of the size and number of boxes that may bo 

 wanted, and we shall see hereafter how useful it is not to depart from 

 this rule. The depth of the wooden trays or boxes, must, of course, 

 be in proportion to their size. The boxes should all be distinctly num- 

 bered. 



3d. Some wicker trays or tables. 



Tliese wicker trays should be placed horizontally against the wall, 

 supported upon two pieces of wood fastened into the wall. When there 

 are many of these wicker trays to be disposed of, they should be put 

 one abo\'e another, with an interval of about twenty-two inches be- 

 tween them. Tiicse trays are for the purpose of holding the boxes in 

 which the eggs are to be hatched. The boxes must be so disposed as 

 to allow of easy inspection, that they may be examined as often as 

 necessary. Care should be taken that the wicker trays be not too close. 



4th. A flat sj)Oon for stirring the eggs well. 



5th. Several thermometers. They may be hung in various parts of 

 the stove-room ; or, still better, if laid by the side of the boxes, indicating 

 the precise temperature of every part of the stove-room. F'or, it must 

 be observed, tlie temperature varies in different jKirts of the room, par- 

 ticulai'ly between the part next the stove and that nearest the door. 

 This observation may be of use, as it may enable the cultivator either 

 to force or retard the silkw-orms by some days; thus to hatch them as 

 the mulberry leaf becomes fit for their food, which, in some positions 

 and soils, is earlier than in others. 



(ith. A few light portable trays, for moving the small ]x)xes which 

 contain the young worms, or for moving them when they are more ad- 

 vanced. They should be made of tliin board, about one foot in breadth, 

 and lonsenouyrh to lit across the width of the feeding frames or hur- 

 dies: the Jiandie should be fixed m the centre, so as to allow of their 



* The porcel.iiii stoves importccl from France, for about S 10, or lite tile stoves 

 inailc at IJetlilcheni, I'cnnsylvunia, would answer well. Tuif, tanners' waste bai'kj 

 or charcoal, are tlie materials for fuel. 



^ ShuUo'A- bai'.db )X'j3 v-rz very convenient for a s.nall quantity of eg-js. 



