FARMER'S ASSISTANT. Hi 



described. When a sufficient number have come out, take 

 a piece of parchment filed to the inside, cut it lull ot hole* 

 like a sieve, lay u over them, and on it spread some lender 

 young mulberry leaves, and the worms will thtn come up 

 through the holes to teed on them When a sufficient 

 number have thus come up, uke up the parchnieni, by 

 strings fixed to it for the purpose, and place trie leaves and 

 worms in a larger box or shelf, lined with white paper. 

 Fill only about cT third of the bottom ot this box, or enclosed 

 shelf, with leaves; because as the worms grow larger they 

 require more room. Here you feed the worms till after 

 their first moulting. 



In the mean time, the parchment is to be laid on with 

 leaves, as before, to take out other supplies ot worms; and 

 if these be taken out on another day they are to be put in 

 another box or shelt; as those hatched on different days are 

 to be kept in different boxes. At the end oi two or three 

 days, all the good eggs will be hatched, and the rest may 

 be thrown away. After they are hatched, they must be 

 Kept in about the same temperature of heat for ten or 

 twelve days. They are to, be fed twice or three times a day 

 with tender leaves, till the time ol the fir^t moulting ; and 

 let those leaves previously ted be eaten, before ireah ones 

 are given. 



In about six or seven days they generally arrive to their 

 first moulting, if properly ktpt in regard to warmth, clean- 

 liness, Sec. It they should be as loug as a fortnight, b^lorc 

 moulting, they will not do well. 



In their mouidngs, they lie in a torpid state, in which 

 they leave their old coats and acquire new ones. They 

 moult tour times, before they begin to spin. While hi this 

 &tate, they should be kept rather warmer than usual, and 

 should not be disturbed. Previous to each ot these times 

 they look dull and weak, they lose their appetite, the skin 

 becomes bright, and they seek tor a place to lie by them- 

 selves. They he motionless for about two days. They will 

 not all moult on the same duys; but in tnree or lour days 

 the business will be over, whicn may be discovered by the 

 color ot the skin, and by their activity ; and then it is time 

 to change their litter and clean the sivelt. In order to get 

 them out, spread over them some fresh leaves, upon which 

 they will crawl, so as to enable you to lift them up. Put 

 one-halt ot these into one shelf ot the same size, and the 

 other half into another; and this enlargement ot tneir room 

 must be repeated after every moulting, as they are con- 

 stantly growing larger. 



After the first moulting, some of the worms will be red* 

 ish, some ash-colored, and some of a blackish hue. The 

 redish ones may be thrown away, as they will not come to 



