Mr Ddahigarre on Silk Worms, 189 



nsverthelefs be by no means difcouragcd, fmce they will find 

 a fufficient reward in feeding them even upon one fort of leaf, 

 till time fliould have made fuch improvements, as cannot be 

 expected now that we are juft beginning this branch of riiral 

 induftry. '* 



r2i{LC)uE.) You recommended in the 14th query, not to 

 gather leaves but when dry ; what then is to be done in rainy 



weather ? 



(Ans.) It is well known that wet leaves are very hurtful to 

 the worms, and fuppofmg that the rain fliould lafl more than 

 twenty four hours, (which is very feldom the cafe in the 

 months of May and June) it would be neceffary to dry leaves 

 as well as poflible upon fome flieets previoufly warmed for that 

 purpofe. As it requires a confiderable time to dry the leaves, 

 it is advifable in cafe of a long and conftant rain, to diminifli 

 the ufual quantity of food, till the firfl clear moment will aliov/ 

 the gathering of dry leaves again. 



(22dQuE.) Could not the filk worm feed upon leaves of 

 fome other tree ? 



(Ans.) We can fay in pofitive terms, that tho' many curious 

 trials and attempts have been made to this effe^b, nothing has 

 been found to ferve as a fubllitute for mulberry leaves. 



A fa£l well known, is worth our attention refpefting the 

 leaves of mulberry ; they are as much the peculiar food of the 

 filk-worm, as thofe of other plants and trees are unfit for him j 



