[ 175 ] 92 



the others, in tlie warmest parts of the laboratoryj wiih iiiure space,- 

 that they may thrive faster, and be even with the early worms. The 

 worms should cover rather more than half the space allotted to them. 

 Of the six persons, required to perform this task, one or two of the mo^;t 

 handy and neat should be directed to lift and put the silkworms on 

 the portable trays; two should carry them, and one should remove and 

 place them on the wicker, while the others roll the papers and litter, 

 clean the hurdles, and carry out' the dirt. 



If it is judged necessar}'-, another person may be employed in distri- 

 buting shoots to the later silkworms, which are but just rousing, that 

 all things may proceed without bustle or confusion. 



Should it be deemed advisable to divide the operation of cleaning 

 and removing, it may be done by cleaning only half the wickers in 

 the morning, and the other half in the evening; in which case, the 

 worms whose changing \s deferred to the evening, must have one or 

 two meals given them; yet changing them'all at once, and it may be 

 done in four hourr, when the worm is steady, is deemed preferable. 



The ninety pounds of shoots and leaves on which the silkworms 

 were removed, furnish them with an abundant meal: the other ninety 

 pounds of sorted leaves should be divided into two meals/ Which should 

 be given them every six hours. In giving the first meal, straighten 

 the lines of the strips on the hurdles, by sweeping any straggling leaves 

 or worms into regular order. At the third meal the strips should be 

 widened a little. Should thdre b6>too many wdrms in some parts, 

 they should be taken to cover the barer parts of the wickers. 



The silkworms appear tolerably strong this first day. 



If the exterior temperature be mild, and little different from that of"^*^ 

 the laboratory, it might be left open while cleaning, to admit, on all 

 sides, a free current of air. Shavings must also be burned to make a 

 blaze; this is particularly n6(5essary, when the cold or dampness of 

 the weather precludes opening all the apertures of the laboratory while 

 cleaning. In cases of cold and high winds', the upper and lower ven- 

 tilators may be kept open, which will renew the air as much as the 

 blaze; and, in all cases, the thermometer and hygrometer must posl 

 lively regulate all proceeding by their indications. 



Second day of the fifth age. 



(Twenty-fourth of the rearing' of the silk worm.) 



For this day will be wanted two hundred and seventy pounds of 

 (eaves, sorted, divided into four feeds; the first, which should be the 

 least, of about fifty-two pounds, and the last, which is the most plen- 

 tiful, of ninety-seven pounds weight. 



In distributing the food, the strips should be widened gradually. 



At the close of this day the worms are much whiter and considera 

 yy developed^ 



