[ 175 ] im 



If this should he found a fact, we may have a rule whereby to avoid 

 the orange-colored breed, which are not approved of, by choosing for 

 eo-o-s those female cocoons which are of a straw or white hue. The 

 female cocoons, as before noted, are generally larger than the males, 

 and not so much pointed as they are, and are without the ring or de- 

 pression in the middle, which commonly distinguishes the cocoons 

 containing the latter. 



Eio"ht or ten days after the deposition of the eggs, the jonquil color 

 peculiar to them, will change to a reddish gray, and afterwards into a 

 pale clay hue. They are of a lenticular form, and on both surfaces 

 there is a slight depression. 



3. Preservation of the eggs. 



Collect the eggs which have fallen on the cloth covering the shelves 

 of the tressel, and put them in a box, in layers not more than half the 

 breadth of the finger. The cloths raised from the tressel when quite 

 dry, are to be folded and placed in a dry room, the temperature of 

 which does not exceed GS"^, nor below the freezing point, 32°. If water 

 does not freeze in the room, in a dish, leave the cloths there until 



spring. 



Durinw the summer, the cloths must be examined, to remove in- 

 sects. To preserve the cloths always in fresh air, place tliem on a frame 

 of cord, (plate 1, fig. 6,) which should be attached to the ceiling, and 

 inspect them every month. 



There exists a notion that, every two or three years, the eggs should 

 be changed. It requires little to be said on this egregious error. To 

 suppose that the good cocoons of a cultivator, after a few years are no 

 longer fit to produce good seed, and yet that these cocoons can give 

 <Tood seed for the use of another, would be to admit a superstitious con- 

 tradiction, which reason, practice, and science, alike condemn. A 

 change of seed can alone be necessary, when, from great neglect for a 

 series of years of the worms, a diminutive race has been produced. 

 Worms, properly treated, will never degenerate. ''Good keep will 

 always produce good worms."* On the subject of the degeneracy of 

 silkworms in the United States, the most positive information can be 



given. 



Mr. Samuel Alexander, of Philadelphia, says: " From my own ob- 

 servation, I am convinced that silkworms, cultivated in Pennsylva- 

 nia instead of degenerating, improve; proof of which I possess, in 

 comparing the cocoon of four years since, with those of the last year. 

 I can say with truth, the worms hatched from tlie eggs I brought from 

 the South of Europe, have produced annually better silk.'^t The tes- 

 timony of Mr. Sharrod McCall, of Gadsden county, Florida, is still 

 more decisive. A sample of beautiful sewing silk, sent with his com- 



* Mr. Russel Falley, of Ohio: Letter in answer to the silk circular. 

 T Letter in reply to ditto. 



