DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 



PLATE 1. Tsan-lien, leaves of paper on which the female butterflies have 

 laid their eggs. Page 103. 



PLATE 2. Tsan-wang, nets to change the silk worms. It is commonly 

 used in the South, for silk worms of all ages. In the 

 North it is only used when they are small. See page 136, 

 line 18. 



PLATE 3. Sang-long, net-work baskets, to transport the leaves. They 



are particularly used in the South. 



Ibid. Figure 4. Sang-kia, instrument for cutting the leaves. The 



two pieces in the form of the letter V, ought to be two or 



three feet in height. The left hand furnishes the leaves, 



and they must be cut by lowering the blade with the right 



Sniu/i hand. This instrument is only used in the North of China, 



'lo -ui: where the greatest quantity of silk worms are reared ; this 



proceeding is very expeditious. 



Another kind of instrument is also used, called thsie-tao. It 

 has two handles like tanners' knives ; it ought to be about 

 two feet and a half long. Use is made of it when there 

 is. a large quantity of silk worms. 



In the South, when the silk worms are small, the leaves are 

 cut with a small table knife, the blade of which is thin and 

 well sharpened (a dull blade would cause a waste of sap 

 from the leaves). As the silk worms grow larger, stronger 

 knives are used. 



* The original Chinese work is accompanied with forty plates. All the figures 

 have been omitted which were already known, and only those preserved that pre- 

 ented a character of novelty. 



