258 • Instructions on the cultivation of the 



e^gb are hatched. This taking place at intervals of days, 

 and even weeks, it will he very useful to appn priate 

 several boxes to dispose of the vvorins, observing to place 

 in the same box, all those which are hatched in the space 

 of three succeeding days. It is necessary to assort thus the 

 worms of the same age, to facilitate the treatment which 

 they require, as they increase in size. As soon as the 

 leaves covered v^ ith worms, are placed in their boxes, it 

 is necessary to spread before them other leaves cut very- 

 fine, and three times a day to furnish them with fresh 

 nourishment. The quantity must be regulated by the 

 number of the worms, and by the degree of appetite which 

 they shew. Any excess in this point is hurtful : too 

 little prevents their growth, and too great abundance 

 only causes a number of the worms to be lost in the 

 remnants of half eaten leaves, which, forming a thick 

 litter under them, prevents them from coming out. 

 During the first four days, the quantity of nourishment 

 furnished them increasing, on the fifth, it will be proper 

 to be a little more liberal, as at this period, the insect, 

 which feels the time of its first moulting approach, at 

 first eats a great deal, and after a little time, seems to 

 tire of food, and at last ceases to nourish itself, and to 

 pass into that state of torpor, which I shall call moulting. 

 During its continuance, which is only for a day, the in- 

 sect remains motionless, and it is only after having 

 changed its skin, that it resumes its former activity. 

 When it is seen that most of the worms had revived 

 from their state of torpor, they must be furnished at first 

 with leaves cut, and scattered about on account of their 

 visible growth, and as it is important to keep them clean, 

 in removing the litter and dirt, it will be proper to give 

 them entire leaves, and even little branches of the mul- 

 berry. They naturally give the preference to these small 

 cuttings, and by facilitating the means of displacing them,^ 



