69 [ 175 ] 



The hurdles or wicker trays should be placed above one another, at 

 a distance of twenty-two inches at least; and as many should be put, as 

 are required to give the space necessary for the quantity of silkworms 

 which are to be accommodated. 



The worms must be kept upon paper, which should line the wicker 

 trays, and extend a little beyond, to prevent the worms falling ofl'.* 

 Upon this paper, which should be strong, ought to be inscribed the cor- 

 responding numbers to those on the boxes; thus avoiding every chance 

 of the silkworms of different boxes being mixed. 



According to the size of the room, there should be one or more tlier- 

 mometers, one or two small fire-places in the angles, one or two ventila- 

 tors in the ceiling, or in the floor, and one or more windows; and also 

 as many doors as may be convenient. In this room it might be proper 

 to place a stove, similar to that in the stove-room, as in cold weather it 

 may be used to save fuel. 



The principal advantage of the small fire-places, is, not so much the 

 warming the air, as the making a draught or current through it, as we 

 shall show hereafter. The temperature of this laboratory should be 

 carried to 75°: about two degrees lower than the stove room heat 

 which hatched the eggs. Experience teaches us that, as the silk- 

 worm grows older, and gets stronger, it requires less b^at. 



Such is the temperature that suits these insects shortly after they 

 are hatched. Should the season be peculiarly unfavorable, and the 

 vegetation of the mulberry tree checked, it might be necessary to 

 slacken the temperature, and thus gain a few days by gradually lower- 

 ing the heat to seventy-one degrees, and even to sixty-eight degrees; 

 but not beyond that. 



II. Of the removal of the new-hatched silkworm into the labora- 

 tory, or elsewhere. 



The silkworm should be removed, as soon as possible, into the 

 apartment in which they are to remain until their third moulting, un- 

 less it is intended they should be reared in the stove-room. If a dif- 

 ferent room is proposed for the rearing of these insects, until their third 

 moulting, it is because it is found both more convenient and more ad- 

 vantageous. 



When they are about to be removed from the stove-room, three cir- 

 cumstances must be noticed, relative to the manner of transporting 

 them. 



In the first place, whether the silkworms are to be reared in the 

 same house in which they have been hatched. 



Secondly, if part of them are to be reared in the house, and the rest 

 removed. 



And lastly, if all are to be removed. 



1. Let us suppose all the worms are to be reared in the same place. 



^ The edges should also be turned up about an inch and a half, 



