O F S I L K. 177 



In gathering the balls yoa fliould make 

 four different foi tments of them, for which 

 purpofe place four different ballcets, in 

 one of thefe place gently thofe which are 

 defigned for breed ; in another put all 

 thofe which are double, having two worms 

 in them ; in the third put the firmed and 

 hardeil of thofe which are to be reeled ; 

 and in the fourth thofe that are of a loofer 

 texture. Thofe which are very thin, un- 

 finifhed or imperfe6l, may make a fifth 

 fort. 



Let your choice of thofe which are for 

 breed, be always from thofe fhelves or ar- 

 bours where they fpun earliefb. Choofe 

 from thefe the largeft, the firmefl, and the 

 deepeft coloured balls, that your breed 

 may be ffrong and healthy. For if you 

 make ufe of fmall, or foft and imperfe6l 

 balls, which are the produce, generally of 

 fmali and weak worms, your future broods 

 will degenerate, both in fize and vigour, 

 and give you vaflly more trouble, and lefs 

 profit than ffrong and healthy ones. 



In choofing thefe balls you muff, as well 

 as you can judge, take an equal number of 

 males and females : the balls which con- 

 tain the males are generally more taper 

 N and 



