SILK WORMS. 127 



Their food must be gradually increased. Three days there- 

 after they gradually become white ; then they gain appetite. 

 Leaves, not cut so small, must be given them. When they 

 are blue, it is the period of their great appetite. Leaves 

 must then be given them more abundantly, and not cut so 

 small. When they again become white, they feed slowly ; 

 their food must be diminished a little. When they are turn- 

 ing yellow they have but a delicate appetite ; their food must 

 be again diminished. When they are completely yellow, 

 they entirely cease eating ; that is called their moulting. 

 When they are recovered, they change from yellow to white, 

 from white to blue, from blue to a second white color ; at 

 last from white to yellow ; this is their second moulting. At 

 each moulting they experience the same changes of color. 

 They must be observed with care, in order to diminish or 

 to increase their food, of which the quantity ought to vary r 

 according to the different situations in which they are found. 

 The leaves which are given them, ought to be neither 

 w r et with dew, nor dried in the wind or sun, nor impreg- 

 nated with disagreeable smells, for as soon as they have 

 fed upon them, they will contract diseases. If care be taken 

 to preserve, in advance, a sufficiency of leaves for three days, 

 there will be nothing to fear from long rains : the silk worms 

 will never have to eat damp leaves, and at the same time, 

 they will not suffer from hunger. When leaves are again 

 gathered, the heat arising from the accumulation in sacks, 

 must be completely dissipated before giving them to the silk 

 worms. The space of one day and night is, for the silk 

 worms, like unto a year with its four seasons. The morn- 

 ing and evening are the Spring and Autumn ; the middle of 

 the day resembles the Summer ; and the middle of the night 

 Winter. In these four periods of the day the weather is 

 never the same. When a good fire is preserved in the silk 



