On the Treatment of the Silk-JVorm. 91 



It must be observed, that, in no stage of the insect, 

 either when the eggs are placed to hatch, or after the 

 insect is produced, should a draught of air be suffered; 

 the temperature of the room should be kept as equal as 

 possible ; the sun not be allowed to reach either the tg'^ 

 or the insect ; animals of every kind should be care- 

 fully kept out of the room : rats and mice are particu- 

 larly destructive. 



These remarks, as well as those which follow, I have 

 collected from those who have, for years, been accus- 

 tomed to raise the silk, 



I am informed (I have had no opportunity to consult 

 the work), that Rosier, a French writer, ascertains the 

 heat in which the worms should be maintained, at 16 

 degrees of Reaumur's thermometer. In Tuscany, the 

 thermometer is marked at 19', Vermi di Seta, which I 

 am inclined to think the proper heat in which they should 

 be maintained. The use of the thermometer is becom- 

 ing common, and is of great utility. 



MODE OF TREATMENT, WHEN HATCHED. 



Having provided a sufficient quantity of mats, which 

 should be arranged at such distances from each other, 

 as to leave convenient room to watch and cleanse the 

 insect, and give them sufficient air, the moment the 

 eggs are perceived to be hatching, the smallest and ten- 

 derest leaves of the mulberry must be distributed very 

 lightly over them. The insect just produced immedi- 

 ately fixes itself to the leaf, and begins to eat. The 



