190 THE CULTURE 



grub which is in them. Therefore if the 

 place where you fed the filk worms was Ha- 

 ble to be infefted wdth rats or mice, befide 

 laying traps for them, you fhould guard 

 the feet of the flands, by ftringing fome 

 fliarp thiftle-burrs on a thread, and wrap- 

 ping it two or three times round each of 

 the feet, clofe to the lowermoft fhelf, 

 which fhould be at leaft fourteen inches 

 from the floor 5 this will fecure both the 

 worms and the filkballs from being preyed 

 upon. The thi files are moil fit for this 

 purpofe when their flower begins to decay, 

 before they begin to open and £bed their 

 down and feeds. 



Having thus fecured your filkballs ready 

 to be winded off at your leifure, you will 

 not be hurried in that bufmefs, for the 

 balls might now be kept for fome weeks ; 

 they will however wind oiF eafier by not 

 being kept too long, vv^hich is apt to harden 

 the gum which binds the threads together, 

 and if they are kept till the grub v/ithers, 

 they cannot be reeled, not having weight 

 fuflicient to keep them down in the hot 

 water, befides they will foon fmell very 

 olfenfiveiy. 



Having 



