SILK WORMS. 145 



must be surrounded with rush mats: that is called the heart ; 

 namely : the centre of the cocoon room. Then dry branches 

 must be laid all around, against the mats, where the silk 

 worms are to ascend. When the silk w r orms are placed in 

 the cocoon room, the lower part must be surrounded with 

 rush mats, and covered, high up, with straw, in the form of 

 a cone, or so as to imitate the top of a tent. 



These are called touan-tso, or round cocoon rooms. 



19 



