79 [ 175 3 



4th, and finally, l)y not having given the last hatched silkworms in- 

 termediate meals, to bring on their growth a little faster. It follows 

 from this want of attention, that when the silkworms should pass from 

 their first casting or moulting, to the second, some worms are torpid, 

 some are reviving and beginning to feed, and some have not yet fallen 

 into the torpor which is to precede their change; and thus, on one 

 wicker hurdle may we see silkworms of all sizes, which is very trou- 

 blesome, to say no more; there is, besides, a great chance of the small- 

 er worms perishing in their progress. All these lasses will be avoid- 

 ed by strictly following the rules given. 



First day of the second age. 

 (Sixth of the rearing of the silkworm.) 



For this day will be needed nine pounds of young tender shoots, and 

 nine pounds of mulberry leaves, well picked and chopped small. 



The space of seventy -three feet four inches square, of hurdles, re- 

 quired for the second age of the silkworms proceeding from five ounces 

 of eggs, should be duly prepared; and when nearly all the worms are 

 roused, and begin moving their heads, and rearing up as if they sought 

 something, those at the edge of the paper having already left the litter 

 on which they had lain, prepai'ations should be made to remove them, 

 that the sheets of paper may be cleansed. The worms should be re- 

 moved from those sheets of paper first, where they are perceived to be 

 most revived and stirring. Small twigs of the young shoots of the 

 mulberry tree, with six or eight leaves on them, should be put over 

 the silkworms; these boughs should be placed so that when spread out 

 there may be an inch or two between them. When one of the sheets 

 of paper is thus covered with silkworms, another is begun, and so on, 

 till all are completed. This must be done speedily. There should be 

 some boughs left, which will be wanted. These boughs will gradual- 

 ly be entirely and thickly covered with worms. The small jportable 

 trays should be ready, upon which the boughs covered with worms must 

 be put quickly, when taken off the sheets of paper. 



Instead of forming small squares, as was done for disposing of the 

 new hatched worms, long strips should be laid down the middle of 

 the wicker hurdles, prepared so that by widening'them on each side, 

 when arrived at the consummation of the second age, the whole space 

 of seventy-three feet four inches of the hurdle should be entirely co- 

 vered by the silkworms. 



The portable trays carry and place with ease the small boughs 

 loaded with silkworms, and, by inclining them obliquely upon th« 

 hurdle, slip ofl' the boughs gently into the strips allotted" for" tliem ; 

 being careful, lightly with the hands, to move those that may not be 

 properly placed, filling the vacant spots with them, so as to render 

 the distribution regular. 



This operation concluded, somo worms will be found to have re- 

 mained upon the litter ; with fresh boughs, these may be removed -as- 



