144 ON REARING 



ed, and covered with dry Spring grass, and the cocoon room 

 is there established. All around this shed shelves of planks 

 must be placed, where small dry branches must be spread ; 

 then the silk worms must be spread there, placing them at 

 proper distances. The shelves must be surrounded with 

 mats of rush, to protect the silk worms. Adopting that 

 method, no disease occurs in the cocoon room. The plan 

 appears excellent. 



NONG-TCHING-TSIOUEN-CHOU. 



The cocoon rooms provided with stalks of dry plants are 

 much better than those that are now used. It is for this 

 reason this method is not followed. The cocoon rooms, 

 placed outside, are only used in the northern countries, and 

 in the South the raising of silk worms happens at the period 

 of the rains called Mei-yu^ (in April,) consequently it will 

 be very difficult to employ this kind of cocoon rooms ; 

 therefore (in the South) every body is obliged to establish 

 the cocoon rooms in the interior of the house. The cocoon 

 rooms ought to be warmed with chafing-dishes placed 

 below, some feet apart. 



SEQ.UEL TO THE ROUND COCOON ROOMS. 



In the construction of the cocoon room, stubble, dry 

 branches, straw mats, &c., are made use of. When a per- 

 son wishes to construct a round cocoon room, the centre 

 must first be established ; divide the circumference into five 

 parts, the middle whereof should be of pine boards. Plant 

 five poles, and tie them together at the top, afterwards they 



