224 THE N IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



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out one end of a sac; and if it is strong and firm I 

 continue the drawing process. If there is a sug- 

 gestion of weakness I continue the pickling process 

 fifteen or twenty minutes longer. I am convinced 

 by experience that the precise moment for pulling 

 out the sacs is a highly important consideration. If 

 the pickling has been too short, the gut, while ap- 

 parently strong and of good quality, seems to be 

 lacking in the proper consistency; on the other hand, 

 if the pickling is carried too far, the resulting strand 

 is lumpy, and the lumpy parts while looking strong 

 are really the weakest. 



I do not feel that I can describe the exact point 

 for drawing at which results are likely to be the best, 

 though I could easily show to another the silk-sac 

 when it had the proper consistency to assure them. 

 But I will attempt a description, as even a poor one 

 may be of some help though experience and observa- 

 tion are the best instructors. At its best condition 

 for securing results, the sac on being removed from 

 the body of the worm has a peculiar whitish appear- 

 ance, not soft or mushy and yet not hard like a string 

 of glue. The strand when pulled out suggests in 

 appearance a tendon or " cord," such as is found in 

 meat before cooking it it has a peculiar, " glairy " 

 look. This color becomes somewhat opalescent on 

 drying and later may turn even dark brown. 



Having satisfied yourself that the sac is properly 

 pickled, work quickly, since there are, as stated, two 



