90 ON REARING 



days a black and yellow smoke. One day before the 

 hatching of the silk worms, the door must be opened to 

 dissipate the smoke, then carefully shut. From that mo- 

 ment the wood and the dry cow dung are completely on 

 fire, to the bottom of the hole. 



When the silk worms are young, they like the heat and 

 fear the smoke, consequently a bright fire must not be made; 

 moreover, a smart fire sometimes burns with force, and 

 sometimes suddenly goes out ; it cannot constantly spread 

 an equal and uniform heat. But when the fire we recom- 

 mend is once well lighted, it does not produce any smoke, 

 and it can be preserved for one or two months without 

 being extinguished, or diminished. A mild heat is expe- 

 rienced without its being perceived that there is fire in the 

 apartment But if small branches be burnt, they will pro- 

 duce a smoke that will be spread throughout. It is neces- 

 sary to construct on the edges of the hole, a small square 

 wall of bricks, about two feet high, so that the heat may 

 ascend and penetrate to the middle of the apartment, and 

 spread there in an equal manner. This wall will serve 

 to prevent those persons who move round the silk room at 

 night, from falling unawares into the hole. The house 

 being constructed of dry and proper materials to receive the 

 heat, the partition walls will soon become warm. The 

 smoke proceeding from the pulverized cow dung, suffocates 

 all the insects which might injure the silk worms. 



Cow dung diffuses a wholesome smell in the apartment 

 of the silk worms. 



OBSERVATION OF THE TRANSLATOR. 



The surface of the hole ought to be covered with square 



' i 



