SUPPLEMENT. 169 



easily rot by washing. As to the garments woven of the 

 silk that the districts of Kia and Hou produce, they can 

 bear a hundred washings without the substance of the silk 

 losing any of its strength and quality. The following is 

 the manner of constructing the cocoon rooms: 



The frames must be woven of split bamboo reeds, and 

 placed upon a stage, supported on each side by wooden 

 pillars at the height of six feet. At the bottom of this 

 frame, chafing-dishes, filled with charcoal, must be placed 

 at the distance of four or five feet apart. When the silk 

 worms are put on the frame, only a little fire is required to 

 induce them to work. As the silk worms like the heat, 

 they immediately go to work, and are no longer seen to 

 climb or move about. When the cocoon is commenced, 

 and forms a light net work, half a pound of lighted coal 

 must be added to each chafing-dish. As the silk worms 

 throw their silk, it dries, and immediately hardens; hence 

 it comes, that for a long time it retains its strength. It is 

 not good to cover the cocoon room with a plank roof: a 

 cool air must circulate in the upper part, whilst the lower 

 must be warmed by fire in chafing-dishes. Whenever the 

 upper part of the cocoon room is warmed, the butterflies 

 cannot lay good eggs. When eggs are desired the cocoon 

 room must be warmed in the lower part, as the plate 

 indicates. 



The small elevations (cones) which are placed on the 

 frames, are made with rice or wheat straw, cut the same 

 length, and twisted with the hand; afterwards they must 

 be fixed on the frame. A great deal of strength is required 

 in the hands to twist the straw of these cones. As the frame 

 of this cocoon room is composed of bamboo reeds, woven 

 together, and sufficiently scattered between them, a bed of 

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