140 f THE SILK WORM. 



through which all aliment is taken into the stomach 

 or roots. They should never be drawn up forcibly 

 from the earth, as this detaches the ends of the roots 

 and the fibres ; but they should be dug with a small 

 blunt hoe and with the fingers. 



When out of the earth, the next process is to place 

 the roots in boxes, and pack dirt around them, so that 

 no spaces are left. Place the boxes in the cellar, and 

 examine them once or twice in the winter, and moist- 

 en the roots if dry. 



OF THE SILK WORM. 



The silk-worm belongs to a great family of insects, 

 genus phalena ; sub genus bombyx ; species, won', 

 from Morus the Mulberry. It was first found in the 

 woods of China, which consist principally of the 

 Mulberry, and the intelligence reaching the ears of 

 Her Royal Highness, Shi-ling-Sbi, queen of China 

 and sister to the moon, she ordered some of the won- 

 derful worms to be brought into the palace, where she 

 reared them with her own hands, and studied their 

 nature, habits, and diseases. The Royal maids, see- 

 ing their mistress so pleasantly and amusingly enga- 

 ged, soon followed her example, and the worm from a 

 tiny insect, grew by the aid of cultivation, to the 

 length of three or more inches. 



