SILK. 245 



foliage of these is more solid and nutritious than the multi- 

 caulis, and on rich or wet ground, they are far preferable to 

 any other. The multicaulis, though very succulent and 

 watery in moist land, and therefore liable to induce disease 

 in the worms, is still a prolific and healthful food for them 

 where grown on dry or upland soils. Many others of the 

 mulberry family are more or less suited to the object ; and 

 even some of the indigenous, uncultivated varieties of this 

 country, have been found to answer a very good purpose fox 

 feeding, where other sources of supply had failed. 



Manner of planting the Mulberry. The usual system 

 now adopted, is not to raise the trees in orchards to their 

 full size as formerly practiced, but to sow or plant thickly, 

 in drills or hills, and cut the sprouts and young branches as 

 they shoot out. This gives an immediate return for the 

 planting ; and it enables the person engaged in this enterprise, 

 to commence his operations, without the long delay conse- 

 quent upon the remote maturity of the trees. 



Variety of worms. The peanut is usually esteemed the 

 best variety, being more hardy and productive, and yielding 

 generally a finer quality of silk. There are several 

 others, as the white, the sulphur, &c., which possess much 

 merit. 



Rearing and management. The eggs must be kept in 

 a cool, dry place, till ready to be hatched, the temperature 

 not exceeding about 50 Far. When the mulberry leaves 

 begin to make their appearance in the spring, the eggs may 

 be exposed to a temperature of about 65, then gradually 

 raised to 75. At this last degree of heat, from seven to ten 

 days will be sufficient to hatch the eggs. 



Immediately commence feeding with fresh, but not wet 

 leaves ; and supply them as wanted, till the worm has at- 

 tained maturity and is ready to wind the cocoon. During 

 the period of moulting, which occurs four times in the life 

 of the worm, their customary food should be withheld from 

 them. Some wilt the leaves partially before feeding, which 

 is well enough as a preventive to an excess of water in 

 their food. 



The temperature of the room occupied by the worms, 

 should be kept at about 75. A slight variation from this 

 is not objectionable ; but where it varies materially, artifi- 

 cial means must be resorted to for maintaining a nearly uni- 

 form temperature. Cleanliness in feeding and removing 

 the excrements and dead worms is important ; and there 



