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Journal of the progress of the Silk Worms, 1824. 



May 4th. The weather being good, and promising to 

 continue fair and favourable to the full development of 

 the mulberry leaves, the rags and papers on which the 

 nits laid last year remained, (closely preserved in tin 

 boxes,) were laid out in the frames of the nursery. They 

 weighed seven ounces, rags and papers included. The 

 day before, Mr. Samuel Alexander gave me some few 

 bilk worms of his own raising in town, which having been 

 fed on lettuce leaves, had a poor look. I substituted 

 mulberry leaves, and the change for the better was soon 

 visible. Judging from the size and colour, I am led to 

 believe these little animals have undergone the first 

 change of their skin this morning seventh of May. 



May 10th. In the early part of the day, the worms 

 began to hatch. It would seem, that the dawning of 

 the day, is the propitious hour for the birth of these 

 worms. The young brood have been placed in sepa- 

 rate dra\\ ers, with a ticket marking the epoch. I shall 

 follow the same system, in order to be strict in keeping- 

 separate the worms according to their nativity. 



May 12th. The weather continues fair. At 7 o'clock, 

 found a copious quantity of nits hatched. 



May 13th. Few worms have come out; in the after- 

 noon of yesterday no collection of them was made. A 

 very copious quantity came forth this morning, and has 

 been gathered. The weather, fine and mild during the 

 day, changed at sunset to windy and cold. 



May 14th. A frosty night with high wind has checked 

 the hatching of further nits. 



