SUPPLEMENT. 163 



feedings. If they are assiduously taken care of, a large 

 quantity of silk will be obtained. 



OF THINGS THE SILK WORMS TEAR. 



The author gives nearly the same advice as has been 

 read before, page 121. 



He adds the following observations : 



The silk worms particularly fear the southwest wind. 

 When it blows with force, if care be not taken to shut the 

 windows and blinds, the silk worms from all the frames will 

 sometimes be lost. Whenever a disagreeable odour is smelt 

 in the silk room, leaves of withered mulberry trees must be 

 burnt to dispel it. 



OF MULBERRY LEAVES. 



All soils are favorable for the cultivation of mulberry 

 trees. In the districts of Kia and Hou, mulberry trees are 

 reproduced by layers. By the aid of bamboo stakes, the 

 lateral branches of mulberry trees are brought by degrees 

 to the ground. In the Winter months, they are covered 

 with earth. In the following Spring, when the roots are 

 formed, the layers must be separated from the parent 

 branches, and planted elsewhere. The sap of the tree flows 

 into and concentrates in the leaves, and the mulberry tree 

 no longer bears blossoms or fruit. 



When leaves are wanted, they must be gathered by cut- 

 ting them with a pair of scissors. As soon as the mulberry 

 tree has obtained the height of seven or eight feet, the top 

 must be lopped off, and the leaves then grow with greater 



