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Some of the worms are now three inches long, and are become 

 whiter; to the touch they present a soft velvety surface, and are strong 

 and healthy. By giving more food to the worms last removed from 

 the hurdles, and by allowing them more space, thf^-y will soon equal 

 the earliest in size. 



Seventh day of the fifth age. 

 (Twenty-ninth of the rearing' of the silkwoiin. ) 



The silkworms will require this day 900 pounds weight of wel) 

 sorted leaves. The first meal should be the largest, and those follow-^ 

 ing should diminish; should there be any intermediate meals wanted, 

 they must be given as before. 



Some worms will now be seen upwards of three inches long. The 

 extremity of the insect begins to grow shining and yellowish, whicli 

 shows they are approaching to maturity. 



Some of them begin to eat with less voracity. They this day at- 

 tain their largest size, and their greatest weight. On an average, six 

 silkworms now weigh an ounce. Thus their weight has increased five- 

 fold in seven days since the fourth moulting, at which time thirty- 

 three silkworms made an ounce. 



JEighth day of the fifth age. 

 (Thirtieth of the rearing' of the silkworm.) 



The silkworms this day must have 660 pounds of well sorted leaves. 

 The proportion of leaves must diminish, as the api>etite of the worms 

 decreases much. The food must, as usual, be divided into four messes; 

 give them the largest meals first, and gradually diminish. The first 

 meal of 210 pounds of leaves. 



That the maturity of the worms may be perfectly alike, some inter- 

 mediate food should be given according to necessity, to bring on those 

 worms that are backward. 



During the last days of the rearing of the silkworms, they should be 

 fed with the best sort of leaves, always culled from the oldest trees. 



The silkworms now advance towards maturity, which may be per- 

 ceived by their yellow color, which increases from ring to ring. Their 

 backs begin to shine, and the rings lose their dark green color. The 

 advance to maturity is also denoted in some of them, by the diminu- 

 tion of their bulk in the course of this day; and by their seeking*to 

 fix themselves to the edge of the hurdles to avoid the substances will} 

 which they are loaded. 



This day, and more or less speedily, according as the signs of ma- 

 turity increase, and that the litter becomes moist, the wickers should 

 be cleaned in the manner before described, being very careful to take 

 the worms gently with the leaves upon which they lie, that they may 

 "ot be brtnsed. I/ight fires, and fumigate with the bottle, to puriff 



