266 Journal of the progress of Silk TVorms. 



appeared evident at the time of clearing the frames from 

 the litter, that the chickens, sharper-eyed than any human 

 being, were attentively watching at the doors of the nur- 

 sery, and picking worms out of the litter thrown out. 

 Many worms creeping up the bushes, finding no suitable 

 place, crawled on the top of cocoons already made, and 

 wasted their silk on them. Others resting on frames 

 spread it on the flat pasteboard, &c. 



In a w ord, I may boast of a pretty good crop of silk- 

 wool or plush. This arises principally from a cause, 

 which on account of the mixture of worms of every age 

 was unavoidable, viz. the fear that the early spun co- 

 coons should not be pierced by the butterfly, which made 

 it incumbent to pick them from the bushes. This ope- 

 ration of course caused many of those lately begun on the 

 top of the old ones to be injured. 



Crop of Cocoons* 



July 1st. The parcel collected yesterday, after having 

 been exposed to the fumigation of brimstone, weighed 

 thirty -one pounds. Average weight 306 cocoons to 

 a pound. Mr. Hutchins informed me that his stock 

 obtained from 1500 worms, weighed thirty pounds. I 

 weighed out this day, second of July, 33,160 green co- 

 coons as a second parcel of my crop. From this weight 

 however, is to be deducted the one of 800, which by a 

 mistake of the servant, were added to those dried in the 

 sun which had been counted. Twelve pounds of third 

 crop were picked the third of July. 



N. B. ^For want of assistance the second picking of 



* Mr Busti's method of fumigating the cocoons with brim- 

 stone is not a safe one ; his experience proves it, but the cause 

 he seems to be unacquainted with. The most safe and effec- 



