51 



together with a little broom or wing, all the dirt, which 

 you remove entirely : you then remove the worms next 

 adjoining to the clean place thus prepared and put them 

 into it ; in this manner you proceed with the rest.* 



During the third age the full grown leaves of the 

 largest trees may be given though it would be well to 

 reserve the largest and toughest leaves till the last age, 

 when they are the most voracious. During the third 

 age, the litter should be removed at least three or four 

 times ; worms that die or appear to be diseased should 

 be immediately removed. 



The same treatment will be required during the fourth 

 and fifth ages as in the preceding. As they advance in 

 age the greater will be the proportion of food required and 

 the oftener the litter must be removed ; by these means 

 the process is sooner brought to a conclusion, and the 

 worms always kept in high health and appetite. During 

 the four or five days previous to their rising, the worms 

 consume an incredible quantity of leaves, eating with 

 great voracity, and at this time the labor of tending them 

 is most fatiguing. You will know when the worms are ripe 

 or ready to rise and form their cocoons by observing them 

 with attention when you give fresh leaves. Those that 

 are ripe, instead of eating, avoid the fresh leaves, and 

 run over them as fast as they can wander about, and try 

 to climb ; they will look transparent, of the color of a 

 green gage plum, and somewhat diminished in size. 



* If the worms are laid on a newspaper, it is easy to take out the 

 newspaper, lay it on a tahle, and transport the worms, who gener- 

 ally adhere to the leaves and branches, to another newspaper, 

 which is put on the shelf after sweeping it. The litter on the other 

 one may then be thrown away. 



