£ I7d j Hi ■ 



ii. THIRD AGE, 



JPirst day of the third age* 

 (■Tenth day of the rearing of the silkwonn.) 



In this first day, fifteen pounds of the small shoots will be necessary-, 

 and equally as much of the picked leaves, chopped rather less than 

 hitherto; and, at the close of the age, may be still more coarsely 

 chopped. 



The temperature of the apartment, during this third age, should be 

 from 71° to 73°. The worms that have accomplished the second age, 

 should not be removed from the wicker hurdles, until they are all 

 nearly roused. Part will rouse the ninth day; part the tenth. There 

 would be no harm if those first revived should wait twenty-four hours, 

 till the rest are all roused. 



It is very easy to know the worms that are revived in this age: 

 Ihey issue from their old skin with so difierent an aspect, that any 

 body may distinguish them without the aid of description. A never- 

 failing sign that the silkworm.s are roused, is an undulating motion they 

 make with their head, when horizontally blown upon. The impres- 

 sion of the air thus forr.ibly blown over them, is disagreeable and 

 painful to them, when they have newly cast their skins; but gentle 

 motion of the air through the laboratory is pleasant to them, and does 

 them good, provided the renewed air is not colder than their usual 

 atmosphere. 



They should be removed in the same order and manner as in their 

 former age. 



The space of 174 feet allotted to the third age, should be disposed 

 in a strip down the centre of the wicker hurdle, and of nearly half 

 the width of the hurdle, so as to leave rather more than a quarter's 

 Avidth down each side of the strip. When the space is well ascertained 

 which the silkworms are to occupy in their different ages, there is 

 nothing more useful, and more economical, than to remove, cleanse, 

 and place them in the manner described. Once placed upon their 

 wicker hurdles, they are no more to be touched until their moulting 

 is'accomplished. They feed well, without interfering with one an- 

 other, and without requiring to have the intervals on the sheets of pa- 

 per cleaned. Their litter does not become mouldy, unless there should 

 be a very unusual and continued dampness of weather. 



The fifteen pounds of young shoots afford the silkworm its first 

 meal, as in the preceding age. When they have eaten the leaves upon 

 the shoots, they should have a second meal of about seven pounds and 

 a half of the leaves — carefully filling with leaves the space between 

 the shoots, to equalize the distribution of the worms upon the strips. 

 It must be iwjceasingly repeated, to ensure the silkworms continuing 

 of an equal size, the cultivator must always watch those persons who 

 distribute the food, that it may be perfectly even, and all the worms 

 •^mibjed to partake of it. A waste of leaves is not only a real loss, 



