154 THE SILK WORM. 



will die from disease. Damp or wilted leaves, want 

 of pure air and space, and want of cleanliness, are 

 the great causes of disease in the silk- worm. All 

 means should be used to prevent insects and mice, 

 ants, cockroaches, &c. from ascending to the shelves, 

 as they will destroy many during one night. Lemon 

 juice on the shelves is said to prevent the approach of 

 ants. 



Sufficient room must in all cases be allowed the 

 worms, as much of their growth and product depends 

 upon it. In the first age, they will require compara- 

 tively but little ; but as they advance in age and size, . 

 they will necessarily require more room. Mr. Cobb 

 has laid down the space which is required in every 

 age of the worm. He says, " It is calculated the 

 worms proceeding from an ounce of eggs (40,000) 

 should have space as follows : 



sq. feet, inches. 

 In the first age, 7 4 



In the second age, 14 8 

 In the third age, 34 10 

 In the fourth age, 82 6 



In the fifth age, 183 4" 



No certain rule, however, can be be laid down, 

 and the culturist can alone come at the matter by ex- 

 perience. 



The quantity of food eaten by a given number of 

 worms is astonishing and almost incredible; and 

 equally so the quantity of silk which they produce. 



