77 C 175 ] 



At the beginning of this day, many of the silk^vorms begin shaking 

 tlieir heads, which indicates that they feel overloaded by their skins. 

 Some of them eat little, but keep their heads reared up: with a mag- 

 nifying glass it may be seen that their heads are increased much, and 

 grown very shining. The whole body of the insect seems transpa- 

 rent, and tliose that are near their time of moulting, when seen against 

 the light, are of a yellow livid tinge: towards the close of this day, 

 the greatest number of the silkworms appear torpid, and eat no more. 

 As a general rule, it is proper here to apprize the cultivator, that, dur- 

 ing the time of moulting, the worms must not be disturbed, for the 

 process of changing their skins will thereby be interrupted. " The 

 hurdles should be cleaned before and after every ivioulting, until the 

 fourth age, once during that age, before and after the fourth or Itist 

 moulting, and every two days during the fifth age.* 



Fifth day. — This day one pound and a half of young leaves, chor)- 

 ped snail, will be about sufficient. They should be scatterri .7 

 lightly several times in the day on the sheets ofpap^r, where .5 

 appears still to be worms feeding. Should the worms have iir; jiT 

 feeding, it would be unnecessary to distribute any fur; her oir'.ntity. 

 What has been said as to the difJerent variations of quar.tity squi-ed 

 by the silkworms of this age, is applicable to all the other ages. Eco- 

 nomy and regularity in the distribution of the leaves cannot be too 

 much urged. 



Towards the end of this day the worms are torpid; a few begin to 

 revive. 



After the first moulting, the silkworm is of a dark ash color, shoTv- 

 ing a very distinct vermicular motion. The rings that compose its 

 body, stretch and shrink more freely than lieretofore. 



It must here be repeated, that it is of the utmost import that the food 

 should now be chopped very finely, first with a knife, and then with 

 a double-bladed hashing tool. 



When the weather admits of it, the leaves should be gathered several 

 hours before the meal is given; they last very well a day, and more, if 

 kept in a damp cool place, where there is no draught of air. It is aU 

 ways desirable the leaf should have lost its first sharpness, and not be 

 given to the worms till six or eight hours after it has been gathered. 



A general view of this paragraph will now be exhibited, and a few 

 observations added that appear to be useful. 



The first age of the silkworm, reared in the temperature indicated. 

 Is almost always accomplished in five days, exclusive of the f.wo days 

 employed in their coming forth, and being removed and distributed. 

 In this first stage, the silkworms proceeding from five ounces of eggs, 

 have consumed thirty pounds of picked leaves, chopped small; in add- 

 ing four pounds and a half, the refuse picked off the leaves, the weight 

 will make thirty-four and a half pounds of mulberry leaves, or about 

 seven pounds of leaves from the tree to each ounce of silkworms. 



'' Nysten, p 105. Rechercjics surlcs Mabdi'-s des "Versa Soie, p, 105 — Pai-is, 1808. 



