[ 175 ] 74 



may be known what is to be done for them day by day. A few gener 

 al remarks, ho\vever, must be previously made, on the great difference 

 in result, which real care produces.* 



The laboratories used, ore of various sizes: that which will now be 

 referred to, is calculated for the reception of the worms proceeding from 

 five ounces of eggs. 



It must be allowed that the advantage of the mode of rearing silk- 

 worms in question, might perhaps be trifling, if it wore only in the 

 product of the hundred and ten, or hundred and twenty pounds of co- 

 coons from each ounce of eggs, which others obtain, consuming the 

 same quantity of leaves, and differing only in the hatching of two 

 ounces of eggs. But, as before remarked, the great and principal aim 

 of the art of rearing silkworms, is to obtain from one given quantity of 

 mulberry leaves, the greatest possible number of cocoons of the finest 

 quality. It is not the trifling loss of an ounce of eggs which should 

 induce a change of system of habits, but the following adi'antages: for 

 it is a fact, that, 



1st. When, with one ounce of eggs one hundred and ten or one 

 hundred and twenty pounds of cocoons are obtained, about one thou- 

 sand six hundred and fifty pounds of the mulberry leaf will be used. 



2d. That when only fifty-five or sixtypounds of cocoons are produced 

 from one ounce of eggs, about one thousand and fifty pounds of mul- 

 berry leaves have been used. Under this supposition, it would appear 

 that two thousand one hundred pounds of leaves are requisite to pro- 

 duce one hundred and ten, or one hundred and twenty pounds of co- 

 coons. 



3d. That one hundred and ten, or one hundred and twenty pounds 

 of cocoons, obtained from one ounce of eggs, are worth a great deal 

 more than a similar quantity obtained from two ounces of eggs. It is 

 easy to prove these facts. 



If one ounce of eggs shall have produced, by the means stated, one 

 hundred and twenty pounds of cocoons, they will be fine; three hun- 

 dred and sixty, at most, will produce a pound and a-half; and eleven or 

 twelve ounces, at most, of these cocoons, will yield an ounce of exqui- 

 sitely fine silk. When only fifty or sixty pounds of cocoons come from 

 one ounce of eggs, it may generally be presumed that they arc of in- 

 ferior quality to tlie above, and it will require four hundred at least to 

 make one pound and a half; and above thirteen ounces of these cocoons, 

 instead of eleven or twelve ounces, to form one ounce of silk. More- 

 over, when the worms have not been properly managed, there is no 

 certainty as to the quantity of the cocoons that will be gathered; and it 

 happens, continually, that the same cultivator will, from the same 



* The ^eatest enemy of the silkwoiin is the red ar,t,the attacks of x^'hich insects must 

 be carefully s^uarded against. To tliis end, all nail holes in the walls of the apartment 

 should be filled with moi-tar; the sides of the breeding- frames ought not to touch the 

 walls, nor ought their posts to reacii to the ceihng. Streaks of thick molxsses must also 

 be made round the lower parts of the posts. If the worms be fed on tables, or move- 

 able frames, similar to those of the Rev. Mr.Swayne, the same precautions maybe used, 

 or the legs may stand in a plate or bowl of water. 



Ggctroach&s nnd mice must also be. carefully guarded against. 



