

132 ON REARING 



That frame must be removed as soon as they have eaten, 



after the second moulting. 



SAME WORK. 



There are some silk worms which turn white and die ; 

 it arises from their having been injured by damp exhala- 

 tions, within a short time after their hatching. When the 

 sky is clear and serene, take three or four frames and carry 

 them quickly into the apartment of the silk worms, after 

 having exposed them for some time to the rays of the sun. 

 Then as one frame is removed and replaced by another, so 

 continue to change them, until all the frames of the silk 

 worms are sufficiently warmed by the heat of the sun. 



The country people, vulgarly say : " when the dung of 

 the silk worms is dry and scattered, it is a sign that they 

 are in good health." When the dung appears in damp 

 heaps, and of a shining white, it announces that the silk 

 worms are sick ; the frames must then be quickly changed. 

 But if at the time, when it is proper to change them, a damp 

 rain or a cold wind comes on, it will not do to remove 

 them ; the straw of rushes, chopped to the size of a bean, 

 must be taken, and one or two bushels distributed on each 

 frame ; it must be spread in an equal manner upon the silk 

 worms. Then a layer of fresh leaves must be placed over 

 them. Soon after the silk worms ascend to eat the mulberry 

 leaves. The bed of rush straw separates the silk worms 

 from the dung, and relieves them from that inconvenience. 

 As soon as the sky has become serene, they must be re- 

 moved to other frames ; if a person has no rush straw, the 

 rice straw will supply its place. 



