222 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



operation. After a little experience you will be able 

 to tell by the film hanging from the caterpillar's 

 mouth that the worm is what is technically known as 

 " ripe; " but until that proficiency is developed you 

 will more safely wait until the spinning has actually 

 begun. Then prepare the solution in which to 

 pickle the ripe worms. The proportions are : a suf- 

 ficient quantity of vinegar (depending upon the num- 

 ber of worms ready) into which put enough salt to 

 make a saturate solution, diluted with the same quan- 

 tity of water. The salt should be put in the vinegar 

 and thoroughly stirred until all the salt possible has 

 been dissolved. Pour off the vinegar, leaving the 

 undissolved salt, and then add the equal quantity of 

 water. I have thought that vinegar in which the 

 " mother " had formed was best for the purpose. 

 You need not prepare more than a cupful ordinarily, 

 as the caterpillars will ripen only a few at a time; 

 and many of them may be pickled in one solution be- 

 fore it is used up. The purpose of the pickling 

 process is to toughen the silk-sacs sufficiently to per- 

 mit of their being pulled out. Into the solution, 

 prepared as above, put whatever worms may be 

 ready to spin, first tearing them across the back at 

 about a quarter or a third of the distance from the 

 head; but do not entirely remove or separate the 

 torn portion of the worm. 



While the pickling process is proceeding let me 

 say that some have drawn gut without putting the 



