CROPS. 495 



There are several serious diseases to which the worms are 

 subject, and some of a fatal character. They are supposed in 

 general to owe their origin to neglect, to insufficient or irregular 

 feeding, to want of ventilation, to neglect of cleanliness, or to 

 too much crowding. The disease called the muscardine is of all 

 others the most dreaded, as it is contagious and generally fatal. 

 The causes of it have not yet been ascertained, and no effectual 

 remedy has been discovered. If it is not caused by neglect, yet 

 the only hope of preventing it is by the most attentive and 

 exemplary care. Where it has once prevailed, it is liable to 

 reappear and in such places it is advised, as the only certain 

 preventive, to suspend for a time the raising of the worms. It 

 shows itself at all ages of the worms. A large premium has 

 been offered by the Agricultural Society of France for the dis 

 covery of an effectual remedy or preventive ; but as yet without 

 success. The worms are often injuriously affected by thunder 

 storms or a highly electrical atmosphere ; but no human skill 

 affords any protection against this. 



Many experiments have been made to get two crops of worms 

 and silk in a season ; but by the most experienced feeders such 

 attempts are entirely disapproved. I shall not attempt any cal 

 culation of expenses or profits, these must so vary in different 

 places from the difference in the cost of labor and of land. 

 First, it may be said of the silk culture, that the principal labor 

 which it requires occurs at a season when other agricultural 

 operations are not of a pressing character, and the season is one 

 of comparative leisure. In the next place, the farm buildings, 

 which may be occupied, where the climate admits of it, as a 

 magnanerie, are likely to be vacant, preparatory to receiving the 

 crops. Next, the trees being once planted and matured, and the 

 magnanerie established, they require but little care to preserve 

 them in condition, and a large portion of the expense is incurred. 

 In the last place, the work is of a character to give healthful, 

 useful, and interesting employment to the younger and female 

 parts of the family, whose expenses are sure to go on, but whose 

 Labor, for want of some such occupation, might otherwise be 

 lost. The article, when produced, is imperishable, and at present 

 may be considered as sure of a market. 



I have only noted the outlines of the subject. I must not go 

 more into detail ; but the whole process is simple and intelligi- 



