[ 175 ] 76 



The worms must be fed regularly four times a day, and so managed 

 as never to give the whole quantity at once, as stated above; because, 

 after the distribution of each meal, it is better to observe if some food 

 should not be added in different spots. It is sometimes good to give 

 them a little food at intermediate times, as will be seen hereafter. 



The quantity of food fixed, wdiich will be again specified, is that 

 necessary for the whole day. In about an hour and a half, the silk- 

 worm devours its portion of the leaves, and then remains more or 

 less quiet. 



Whenever the food is given, care should be taken to spread and 

 widen the small squares by degrees. If any of die chopped leaf should 

 be scattered, it may be swept with a small broorn into its place again. 



Second day. — On this day, about six pounds will be needed, chop- 

 ped very small. This will suffice for the four regular meals, the first 

 of which should be the least, increasing them as they proceed, as waa 

 done in the meals of the first day. 



The worm now begins to change in appearance; it no longer looks 

 gp dingv, or so bristled; the head enlarges, and whitens considerably. 



Third day. — This day twelve pounds of soft leaves, chopped very 

 small, will be required for the four m.eals; the worms will now feed 

 with avidity, and nearly the two-thirds of the sheets of paper should 

 be engrossed by them. 

 \ To satisfy the increased hunger of the insects, they should be given 

 a pound and a half of leaves slightly scattered over them; should they 

 devour it quickly, in an hour they should have an intermediate feed- 

 ing, about half the quantity of the first meal, scattering the leaf very 

 sparingly. This day the head of the silkworm is much whiter, the 

 insects have perceptibly grown larger, and scarcely any hairiness can 

 be perceived on them with the naked eye. The skin is of a sort of 

 hazel color. When seen through a magnifying glass, their surfaces 

 look shining, and their heads are of a silvery bright appearance, like 

 mother-of-pearl, and rather transparent. 



Fourth day. — This da}^ six pounds twelve ounces of chopped leaves 



should be given, for the quantity should be diminished as the appetite 



decreases; the first meal should be of about two pounds four ounces^ 



and the other meals should decrease in proportion as the quantity of 



X leaves gJven before appears not to have been thoroughly eaten. 



The cultivator must regulate the intermediate meals ypon the appa- 

 rent appetite of the silkworms, taking the food for them from the 

 quantity of leaves allotted for the whole consumption of the day. 

 7'he space on the sheets of paper, must visibly get covered with the 

 worms. It is important, in this first age, to give the worms a plenty 

 of room, by gently separating and spreading them, to avoid, as much 

 as possible, their sleeping in heaps together. The constant care of 

 enlarging the squares by degrees, when the worms are fed, will gradu- 

 pilly lead them to stretch out as they grow, and prevent their getting 

 into heaps, which is very injurious to their constitution, health, and to 

 ihat equality of size which it is go desirahle to maiptain among them. 



