1^2 Mr. Delahigarre on Silk Worms. 



As to the age and the quality of the leaves fit to be .given 

 to the young worms, many writers entertain different opinions : 

 but on that fubjefl: we mufl ftick to nature, and advife you 

 to give the tendereft pofTible, whether thofe of grafted or 

 ungrafted, young or old trees. You may depend only on 

 this experienced facl, that the filk worms cannot live upon 

 any other fort of leaf but that of mulberry : though they may 

 cat by way of paftime fome other leaves, hke thofe of lettice, 

 rofe-oak, or elm, they could live as long without any food at 

 all, and if they are deprived for feveral days of mulberry 

 leaves, they mud die. 



(14th Que.) How many times a day ought the worms to 

 be fed in the beginning ? 



(Ans.) The moll general cuflom is, to feed the worms 

 twice a day till they get in their firft moulting, but we have 

 found it better to feed them three times, obferving not to give 

 but few leaves at once, and take care that the firft leaves fhould 

 be eaten before you give the other. By that way, you keep 

 the worms in a more uniform ftate of heat and cleannefs, as 

 by the change of leaves no unwholefome dampnefs, nor any 

 noxious vapours have time to rife from their food. 



How many days they continue to eat from the moment 

 they come out to that of the firft moulting, is not to be 

 determined precifely : it depends in a great meafure on the 

 degree of heat, and the quality of the leaves ; for 



