342 FARMER'S ASSISTANT, 



any thing. More worms perish in the third moulting than 

 In any other. 



The mulberry leaves must be picked when perfectly dry; 

 and as this cannot be done every day, a store of them is to 

 be kept on hand, laid in a cool dry room, and stired up 

 now and then, to prevent their heating and wilting. The 

 number of meals, after the first moulting, is to be governed 

 by the appetite of the worms; and, it this be not good, it is 

 most probable that they want more htat. Do not deal out 

 the leaves faster than they are eaten. 



In seven, eight, or nine days, they will moult a second 

 time; and so on, tor the two following times. The larger 

 they grow, the less heat they want. Alter the third moult- 

 ing, open the windows each day, to give them tresh air. 

 The shelves are to be cleaned after each moulting; and 

 where the intervals between the moultings are unusually 

 long, let them be cleaned twice. When too much crowded, 

 take some out on leaves, as before directed, and place them 

 elsewhere. They cannot bear to be touched by hand, un- 

 less veiy gently. 



The white-mulberry leaves are best for feeding the 

 worms; and the tender young leaves ol young trees are to 

 be prefered at first ; but in their more advanced stages they 

 \vant older leaves ; and these may be of older, or grafted, 

 trees. Oilier kinds of mulberry, however, will answer. If 

 the leaves cannot be had dry, let them be dried before they 

 are used, as wet leaves are hurtful. 



When they are past the last moulting they eat greedily, 

 and want more food than before. At the end of seven or 

 eight days they begin their cocoons. During all this time 

 let them daily have fresh air, and let their shelves be 

 cleaned. 



When you find them creeping about without eating, as if 

 in search of something, with their bodies of a bright straw- 

 color, it is then time to prepare bushes, fixed on tables, for 

 them to climb on and fix their cocoons. The bushes are to 

 be dry and clear of leaves, and set in rows with their tops 

 leaning together. Under these lay some mulberry leaves, 

 for the further feeding of those which may not be quite 

 ready for spining, and do not let the worms be crowded too 

 much on the tables. To put them on the tables, you apply 

 your finger, to which they readily attach ; then put them on 

 a smooth varnished plate, to which they cannot adhere, and 

 empty them carefully on the table. Those that incline to 

 feed longer will do so, and those that do not will ascend 

 the boughs. The spining is completed in three or four 

 days; but, as they do not all commence at the same time, 

 pick off the cocoons in about twelve days after they have 

 begun to spin. 



