114 ON REARING 



(literally : as soon as the silk worms see the light they eat.) 

 After a plentiful meal they grow and become large. 



THE BOOK ON SILK WORMS. 



The next day, after the hatching of the silk worms, mul- 

 berry leaves, or leaves of tcke, dried in a well-aired place, 

 must be given to them. When they are about the twentieth 

 of an inch long, they will eat five times during the day and 

 night. 



The ninth day they refuse food during one day and night. 

 This repose is called the first moulting. 



Seven days after, they again moult, as the first time. 

 When they have eaten some leaves and attained the length 

 of the tenth of an inch, they will feed six times during the 

 day and night. 



Seven days after they moult as before. 



Five days after they leave off eating. This abstinence 

 lasts for two days, (the sixth and seventh days ;) it is call- 

 ed ta-mien, or the great moulting. Then the silk worms 

 eat but half the leaf. They will feed eight times during 

 the day and night. 



Three days thereafter they have a great appetite ; then 

 they will eat the whole leaf. They will feed ten times du- 

 ring the day and night. Before three days have elapsed, 

 they begin to work at their cocoons. 



When the silk worms begin to feed, after each moulting, 

 leaves must be spread lightly over them. If the leaves are 

 thrown in upon them, sensations will be produced destruc- 

 tive to their appetite. 



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