101 [ 175 ;] 



of cabins. The first row of inside bundles of twigs should bo placed 

 at six or eight inches distance from one another, to form the hedge; 

 Qther small bushes must be stuck in between them, and form a species 

 of vaulted roof under the higher hurdle; it should not be too thick; 

 the small bushes may be stuck into the lower hurdle without taking 

 off the paper. Across the middle of the hurdle, and between the 

 squares into which the silkworms have been laid, should be stuck four 

 twigs in a bunch, and spread out like a fan, to admit the air, and that 

 the silkworms may be able to rise and climb into every part of them 

 to make their cocoons. When the hedge is formed round three sides 

 of the wicker hurdles, and the groups or bunches of twigs are placed 

 in the centre of them, the worms should, with great care, be put 

 nearer the hedge, that they may climb with ease. The cabins should 

 be about two feet from one another, and will hold a great quantity of 

 silkworms. 



As soon as the hedge and bunches are nearly laden with worms, other 

 small twigs should be put between the hedge and bunches, and be- 

 tween those bunches and the outside edge of the wicker trays. Thus 

 are formed parallel hedges across the wicker trays, at two feet distance, 

 and as all the top branches wave and bend under the wicker trays 

 above, or the ceiling, the whole presents an appearance of small 

 avenues covered in at top, and shut in at the end of the hedge, and 

 are called " cabanes,'^ or huts. 



This arrangement of cabins will generally suffice to receive all 

 the silkworms of a wicker hurdle: should there, however, remain 

 some silkworms on the tray when the cabins are nearly laden, a 

 small branch may be put against them, and thus prevent their lying 

 too thick together on the hedges. If care has been taken to provide 

 long sweeping twigs, well curved at the top, and well spread out, that 

 the air may pass through them, the number mentioned will be found 

 quite sufficient to answer all purposes, and the silkworms will, with 

 ease, work well, not huddle together, and will not touch one another, 

 and not produce double instead of single cocoons. 



Two essential things should always be attended to. The first is, to 

 put those worms near the cabins which are perceived to be ready to 

 rise; and the second is, to give a few leaves to those worms that arc 

 still inclined to eat. One or two careful persons should be thus occu- 

 pied. 



As long as the worms feel a wish to eat, were it only one mouthful, 

 they will not think of their cocoon, and it will happen, that, after climb- 

 ing, and even evacuating themselves, they sometimes go down again 

 for more food; they will also sometimes stop wiien descending, and 

 remain with their heads downward — the wish to eat having ceased be- 

 fore they reached the bottom; they should then be turned, so that 

 their heads may be put upwards, as the down position is injurious to 

 them. 



These attentions which appear too frivolous, often contribute, how- 

 evec, to an abundant crop of the best cocoons, with few double ones. 



