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than afterwards. But as this is "sometimes impossible 

 and often inconvenient, various methods have been de- 

 vised to stifle the chrysales in the cocoons. This may be 

 done by placing them in an oven, moderately heated, or 

 in the steam of boiling water ; even the sun is sufficient 

 for this purpose in southern latitudes, by acting upon 

 them several days. I have used the first method with 

 success. The oven being moderately heated, the co- 

 coons were spread out, in oblong baskets eight inches 

 deep, in box covers, pans, &-c, and permitted to remain 

 in the oven half an hour. In being cured they lose about 

 twentyfive per cent in weight. Mr Smith of Baltimore, 

 says, he has found the following method preferable to any 

 other, and that the object is perfected without danger of 

 injuring the silk. I put the cocoons, says he, into a tight 

 tin vessel with a cover, closely fitted, and put this vessel 

 into another a little larger, containing such quantity of 

 water as will nearly fill it, when the other is put into it. 



Fire is then applied, and the water kept boiling, half 

 an hour or more, according to the size of the vessel, and 

 until the cocoons in the inner vessel shall have become as 

 hot as the boiling water. The cocoons are then spread 

 out in a dry room, that the moisture may evaporate. 

 After this operation, the cocoons are ready for the reel 

 or for sale.* 



* This might do, perhaps, for a small quantity of cocoons, but I 

 think, for a large one, it would cost too much, and give too much 

 trouble. 



