136 ON REARING 



worms, (which have but three moultings.) Only after the 

 third, they must be distributed upon fifteen frames. When 

 they have fed abundantly, they must be spread upon twenty 

 frames ; and after the great moulting, (the fourth moulting) 

 they must be distributed upon thirty frames. 



NONG-SANG-THONG-KIOUE. 



Upon each stage three frames are placed ; the first is 

 destined to receive the dust of the apartment, and that 

 below, to intercept the dampness of the ground. A bed of 

 chopped rice straw must be spread upon the middle frame, 

 in order that it may receive the silk worms which are 

 removed. This rice straw must be broken, and softened in 

 an equal manner, upon the middle frame ; then a sheet of 

 paper must be spread above, of which the extremities are 

 pasted to the edge of the frame. Upon that sheet of paper, 

 the silk worms must be placed. 



NONG-TCHING-TSIOUEN-CHOU. 



Hoang-sing-tseng says: When it is desirable to remove 

 the silk worms, rice straw, crushed in a mill, must be spread, 

 in advance, upon other frames. It renders them healthy and 

 active, and preserves them from diseases. Some persons 

 change them by the aid of a net, which they strew with 

 mulberry leaves. See Plate, 2. 



