87 [ 175 J 



We must iorego these advantages when the worms lie too thick. 

 In that condition they cover the surface so closely, that the leaves on 

 which they lie are wasted, as they cannot possibly eat them; while, on 

 the contrary, when they have a plenty of room, they seek, in moving, 

 every atom of the leaf, and eat it up. Besides, when straitened, the 

 action of their breathing tubes is hindered, and confined by the pres- 

 sure, either superior or lateral, of one worm against the other; whilst, 

 when in full space, the action of their respiratory organs is free, which 

 materially contributes to their health. 



First day of the fourth age. 

 (Sixteenth of the rearing of the silkworm.) 



On tliis day 37^ pounds of the young shoots will be needed, and 60 

 pounds of picked leaves coarsely chopped with a large blade. 



When the moment of removing the worms from the hurdles comes, 

 one or two hurdles only at a time should be covered over with young 

 shoots. These shoots, loaded with worms, are afterwards put upon 

 portable trays and removed, as in the first moultings. Should there 

 not be a sufficiency of small boughs, branches of 15 or 20 leaves, 

 tied together by the stalks, will answer the purpose. The stiffer 

 these leaves the better they remove the worms, and with less in- 

 convenience are they carried. This removal must be performed by 

 two or three persons; one to fill the portable trays, or two to carry 

 them, and one who will gently remove the silkworms from these trays 

 upon the hurdles in the space allotted for them. In this manner it 

 can be executed with ease and promptitude The strips into which 

 are arranged the silkworms upon the hurdles, should occupy about half 

 the space of them. 



It has been mentioned that the worms that are to occupy 174 feet of 

 hurdles must be placed in the middle of a space of about 412 feet 6 

 inches square.* 



When all the silkworms that are revived have been successively 

 removed, there remain still some upon the 174 feet of hurdle, torpid, 

 that have not the strength to climb upon the shoots or branches of 

 leaves. 



The early roused worms being removed into the great laboratory, 

 if they have eaten all the leaves on the young shoots and leaves that 

 served to carry them, and they remain without food, they should then 

 be given thirty pounds of leaves chopped a little: with these the in- 

 tervals between the young shoots must be filled, and the strips formed 

 into regular order, by sweeping into their place any boughs or leaves 

 that are scattered irregularly. 



After this second meal, those worms that were heaped together will 

 be seen stretching out evenly. The other thirt}' pounds of leaves 



• It is impoitant here again to caution the cultivator against giving the worms 

 branches or twigp with the fmit on them. If tlie worms eat the fruit they will becoitif^ 

 ^ick, amlbesidfea the Rtfer is greatly increased by not picking the leaves clean. 



