124 ON REARING 



From the first moment they begin to turn yellow, they 

 require a good heat ; when they are once torpid, a mode- 

 rate heat ought to be allowed them ; when they are all re- 

 covered they require a mild heat. 



When the silk worms are removed after their third moult- 

 ing, and they are all revived, three repasts must be given 

 them during one day and night. The first repast ought to 

 be very light ; the second lighter than the first, the third the 

 same as the first. If these three repasts be not adminis- 

 tered with much caution, the silk worms will feed slowly 

 until the period of their maturity. The second day, the 

 quantity of leaves must be increased by degrees. The 

 windows can be thrown entirely open, and the dormer 

 windows above the frames may be likewise opened. 



From the first moment they begin to turn yellow, they 

 require a mild heat ; when they are completely torpid a 

 lukewarm heat is required ; when they are all revived they 

 require coolness. After each repast a basket of leaves must 

 be taken, and the tour of the shelves made. If an empty 

 place is perceived (upon a hurdle) it must be covered with 

 leaves strewn with rice flour. After the seventh or eighth 

 feeding, (from ten to two o'clock,) cut leaves must be spread 

 upon the hurdles ; they must be moistened equally with 

 freshwater; then, after a lapse of some time, sifted rice 

 flour must be spread, being careful to distribute it in an 

 uniform manner. For each basket of leaves a ching, (a 

 kind of measure,) of fresh water and four ounces of flour 

 must be used. If the flour cannot be had, a basket of new 

 leaves only must be used ; it will furnish a repast for the 

 silk worms of a frame. 



[Extract from Nong-tching-lsioucn-chou. The powder 

 of leaves, which are spread on fresh leaves, fills the body of 





