99 C 175 j 



occasion the loss of many of them by their tumbling off. The low 

 est shelf should project three inches on each side, beyond the one 

 next above it, and the same difference must be made in all the 

 other shelves progressively upwards, in order to receive the worms 

 which may fall from the shelf above. These projections should bp 

 covered with brush, to break their fall: for the same reason brush 

 should be placed on the bottoms and entrances of the cabins, to aflbrd 

 places for the worms to form cocoons, in case they should be stunned 

 by falling, and disabled from again mounting on the branches. 



Having thus placed upon each hurdle, and in their angles a sufiicient 

 number of spreading bundles, the first worms that are ready easily 

 find their way up. If, in the course of this day, (which requires the 

 very utmost care,) in watching the hurdles, some worms should be 

 perceived ready to rise, they must be taken up and put near the ends 

 of the bushes. There should be also some dry twigs of oak, or other 

 wood, put upon the wickers, and when the worms rise on tiiem, they 

 may be lifted and put close to the bushes, which will save the trouble 

 of constantly looking for the worms that are ready to rise. 



It must be observed, however, on this subject, that, during the first 

 three or four hours on which the silkworms give signs of rising, it is 

 not necessary to be in a hurry to make them climb up; for, by re- 

 maining some hours on the hurdles, they have time to cleanse them- 

 selves by evacuation upon the litter. 



Whatever may be the method followed in the course of this period, 

 it is always desirable that the little bundles of twigs should be well 

 placed, well arched, clean and light, and not thick; that, as before said, 

 the air may circulate freely, ancj that the worm.s may work with easf; 

 in them.^' 



Last feed to he given to the Silkworms. 



The 240 pounds of sorted leaves which are still in reserve, should 

 he. given by degrees, and according to their Avants. The little appe- 

 tite of the silkworms, and their wish tp rise upon the leaves, prove 

 that, even were they given more food at one time, it would only add to 

 the litter which would become dirty, because Ihis is the period at which 

 they evacuate most. From this it is better rather to stint them in 

 each distribution. 



The hours of feeding cannot be fixed in this last day; it cannot 

 even be known, whether there may not be required a small quantity of 

 leaves for the following day. 



ClccDiingof the hurdles: end of the preparations for the rising of 



the Silkwonns. 



As soon as the w^orms are prepared to rise, the hurdles should be 



* Instead of bushes, Messrs. Tcrhoven, of Philadelphia county, use fi'amos for the 

 -Torras to form their cocoons in. Pee pla^o 2d. fig-. 4, anji Xb-f^ rxplanation of theiji. 



