SILK WORMS. 129 



NONG-TCHING-TSIOUEN-CHOU. 



The silk worms are of a warm constitution. It is better 

 to make use of a fire during the whole time of the raising. 

 The following is a method of warming the nursery : 

 A long stove, placed upon a hand-barrow, must be made 

 use of, so that it may be carried by two men. When the 

 leaves are spread on the silk worms, wait until they have 

 climbed upon the leaves, and then bring in the stove, which 

 must be carefully lighted outside of the apartment. The 

 fire should consist of hot coals ; it must be covered over 

 with a bed of straw ashes, to prevent a red and brilliant 

 flame. When the silk worms have finished eating, the stove 

 must be carried back. Afterwards, when other food is given 

 to the silk worms, the same stove must be brought in each 

 time. Then the silk worms will escape the diseases which 

 heat causes ; but if the stove be introduced when the silk 

 worms are hungry, they soon become warm. If the stove 

 be introduced soon after having given them food, that is to 

 say : when they are under the leaves, not having had time 

 to ascend them, they will soon be incommoded by the fer- 

 mentation of their dung, and they will, besides, be overload- 

 ed by the leaves spread upon them. 



SAME WORK. 



When the air of the silk room is warm, if it. be suddenly 

 made cold, the silk worms will lose their appetite, and feed 

 no longer. Then a chafing-dish, filled with clods of dry 

 cow dung, well ignited, and free from smoke, and by the 

 aid of an iron fork must be moved about repeatedly above 

 the frames. That operation dissipates the cold, which be- 

 numbs the silk worms, and they soon feed with an appetite. 

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