75 [ 175 3 



quantity of eggs, and the quality of the leaves, obtain at one time a 

 uumber of cocoons, at another time few, and somcitimcs none. 

 This chapter shall be divided into four paragraphs: 



1. Rearing of the hatched worms until the end of the first age. 



2. Rearing of the worms in the second age. 



3. Rearing of tlie worms in the third age. 



4. Rearing of the worms in the fourth age. 



1. REARING OF THE WORMS IN THE FIRST AG£. 



We left in the small laboratory the worms hatched from the eggs at 

 75° temperature, and distributed upon sheets of paper, in squares of 

 about ten inches. Let us now begin their training. Supposing it is 

 required to rear five ounces, which form a good sized laboratory, the 

 space and quantity of leaves must be proportioned to the stated number 

 of Silkworms. 



First duy^s training. — When the worms have accomplished their 

 first castinp^of skin, they should occupy a space of nearly thirty-six feet 

 eigj}t inches square; hence the sheets of paper containing the worms, 

 should be put upon wicker tables or trays, of these dimensions. 



The first day after the coming forth, and the distribution of the 

 silkworms, they should be given in four meals, about three pounds 

 three quarters of single soft leaves, chopped very small, dividing the 

 time, so as to allow six hours between each meal; giving the smallest 

 quantity for the first feeding, and gradually increasing the quantity at 

 each meal. 



It is very beneficial to chop the leaf very small during the first age, 

 and to scatter it lightly over the worms. The more the leaf is chop- 

 ped, the more fresh cut adges are there to which the young insects fas- 

 ten themselves. In this manner, a few ounces of leaves will present 

 so many edges and sides, that two hundred thousand insects may feed 

 in a very small space. In this state, they bite the leaf quickly, and 

 it is consumed before can it be withered.* 



A quantity of leaves, ten or twenty times more abundant, that is 

 not chopped small, would not be sufficient for this quantity of worms; 

 because they require to find at once, and in a small space, the means 

 of feeding easily. 



* It would seem to be unnecessary to chop the very young leaves, so repeatedly in- 

 .sisted on by Dandolo. When a whole young leaf is placed on worms recently hatched, 

 they eat through the middle of it, and ascend to the upper surface, on which they con- 

 tinue to feed, until the whole leaf is consumed. After some days, they pi-efer to eat 

 the edges of the leaves: injury might even ensue from the quantity of moisture, which 

 the young insects would imbibe from the bruised edges of the young and chopped 

 leaves: cultivators must make comparative experiments to determine the point. 

 When the leaves have attained some size, then the chopping of them is indispensablj' 

 requisite. For a small quantity, the semicircular double chopping knife reconunend- 

 ed by Dandolo, and figured in plate 2d, fig. 3d, answers well. Upon a large scale, a 

 straw cutting box may be used. In both cases, the knives should be kept very sharp, 

 to prevent the bruising of the leaves. It is important to remark, tiiat the lea\ es must 

 not be cut until the moment they are wanted; nor must any leaves be given which are 

 covered with a substance like manna. 



