[ 175 ] t^ 



the first feeding, and gj'adualiy increasing it at eacii meal beiween tii^ 

 moultings. 



In about an hour and a half, the silkworms devour their portion of 

 leaves, and then remain more or less quiet. Whenever food is given, 

 widen the space for them. Scattered food may be swept into its place. 



Experiments may be made, as to the comparative advantage of using 

 chopped or whole young leaves. Dandolo insists upon the necessity 

 of the former. If chopped, a sharp knife must be used, to prevent 

 the leaves from being bruised, and thereby causing the exudation of 

 water from them, which would prove injurious. On the fourth day, 

 the skin becomes of a hazel color, and looks shining; their heads 

 enlarge, and assume a silvery bright appearance. These are marks of 

 their approaching first change. Their food, on this day, therefore, 

 may be diminished, or when these appearances take place, but not be- 

 fore. Enlarge the spaces as the worms increase in size. The leaves 

 ought to be gathered a few hours before they are used, that they may 

 lose their sharpness. They keep very well in a cool cellar three 

 days. The leaves ought to be gathered over night, for the morning's 

 meal, to prevent the danger of collecting them in rainy weather. 

 The leaves must be pulled carefully, and not bruised. On the fourth 

 day, the appetites of the worms begin to decrease, preparatory to their 

 first moulting, and their food must be diminished in proportion as the 

 previous meal has not been completely eaten. If the precarious heat 

 of the weather has been depended on, the first change may not appear 

 until the sixth or seventh day. 



In the course of the fifth day, all the worms have been torpid. 

 During this period, they must, on no account, be disturbed. A few 

 begin to revive at the close of it; some leaves may be then given. 

 After the first moulting, the worms are of a dark ash color. 



Second %fige. 



As the worms arc fond of the young twigs, some of these should 

 be spread over them with the leaves attached, upon which the worms 

 will immediately fasten, and they may then be removed to a clean 

 paper; or lay a strip of chopped leaves near the worms, and they will 

 leave the old food. The litter is to be taken away; but, as some of 

 the worms often remain among the old leaves, they ought to be ex- 

 amined; to this end, the litter should be removed to another room, 

 spread out on a table, and a few twigs placed over it, on which the 

 worms, if any, will mount, when they may be added to the others. 

 This rule must be attended to after every moulting. The two first 

 meals of the first day, should be less plentiful than the two last, and 

 must consist of the most tender leaves. These must be continued for 

 food until after the third moulting. 



If, between the moultings, any worms should appear sick, and cease 

 to eat, they must be removed to another room, where the air is pure, 

 and a little warmer than that they have left, put on clean paper, and 

 some fresh leaves, chopped fine, given to them. They will soon re- 

 '^Dver, and then may be added to the other"? 



