232 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 4 



deal of dampness in the apartments of silk worms, 

 the necessary measures must be tal<en for the air 

 to circulate freely in every part of the nursery. 



CONSTRUCTION OF THE OVEN. 



In the middle of the house, a hole must be dug, 

 of which the size and depth must be proportion- 

 ed to the dimensions of the nursery. The ordina- 

 ry size of this hole ouf^ht to be four feet square. 

 On the four sides, a square brick wall, cemented 

 with mortar, must be raised two feet in height. 

 Cow dung must be taken well dried and reduced 

 to powder, and ihe bottom of the hole must be 

 covered with a bed of this powder, three or four 

 inches thick. Above, a layer of small pieces of 

 dry wood must be spread, at least five inches in 

 diameter, which has been cut in the last month of 

 the year. Mulberry, acacia, elm, or any kind of 

 hard and solid wood may be used. Upon these 

 pieces of wood spread a second bed of dry and 

 pulverized cow dung. In the empty places, be- 

 tween each piece of wood, the pulverized cow 

 dung must be well beaten down so as not to leave 

 the smallest space; for if an empty space be left, 

 the fire will produce flame, which may injure the 

 house, and besides, this fire would not last for any 

 lengih of time. When the hole is completely 

 filled, and the pulverized cow dung, that covers the 

 pieces of wood and fills the spaces between, is well 

 pressed down, a bed of the same matter must be 

 spread on. Seven or eight days before the hatch- 

 ing of the silk worms, live coals must be put on 

 the dry cow dung and covered over with hot ashes. 

 The dry cow dung takes fire, and emits lor six 

 or seven days a black and yellow smoke. One 

 day before the hatching of the silk worms, the 

 •door must be opened to dissipate the smoke, then 

 carefully shut. From that moment the wood 

 and the dry cow dung are completely on fire, to 

 the bottom of the hole. 



When the silk worms are young, they like the 

 heat and fear the smoke, consequently a bright 

 fire must not be made; moreover, a smart fire 

 sometimes burns with force, and sometimes sud- 

 denly goes out; it cannot constantly spread an 

 equal and uniform heat. But when the fire we 

 recommend is once well lighted, it docs not pro- 

 duce any smoke, and it can be preserved for one 

 or two months without being extinguished or di- 

 minished. A mild heat is experienced without 

 its being perceived that there is fire in the apart- 

 ment. But if small branches be burnt, they will 

 produce a smoke that will be spread throughout. 

 It is necessary to construct, on the edges of the 

 hole, a small square wall of bricks, about two 

 leet high, so that the heat may ascend and pene- 

 trate to the middle of the apartment, and spread 

 there in an equal manner. This wall will serve 

 to prevent those persons who move round the 

 silk room at night, from falling unawares into the 

 hole. The house being constructed ofdrv and 

 proper materials to receive the heat, the partition 

 walls will soon become warm. The smoke pro- 

 ceeding from the pulverized cow dung, suffocates 

 all the insects which might injure the silk worms. 

 Cow dung diffuses a wholesome smell in the 

 apartment of the silk worms. 



Observation of the Translator. — The surface of 

 the hole ought to be covered ivith square tiles, 

 pierced with holes, to facilitate the escape of the 

 heat. I 



The old paper employed to cover the win- 

 dows, must be replaced by white and perfectly 

 clean paper. For fear the heat will escape, care 

 must be taken not to raise the window shutters, 

 orth.e straw mats fi-om the windows, or the doors, 

 during the time the old paper is being pulled off, 

 and new pasted on. At the top of each window, 

 place four large window blinds, orscreans, of firm 

 texture. They must be arranged in such a man- 

 ner as to roll up or unroll when wanted. — (Sse- 

 nons;-pi-yong. 



Nong-sang-thong-kioue. — When a nursery is 

 wanted, for the silk worms, a house must be con- 

 structed, exposed to the south. Above all, a 

 smooth and agreeably situated place must be cho- 

 sen. The best exposure is that exactly to the 

 south; that of the south-west i« not so good, that 

 of the east still less so. 



If the house is old, it must be swept with a 

 great deal of care, and plastered a longtime before 

 it will be wanted. If it is done a short time be- 

 fore the hatching of the silk worms, the partition 

 walls will preserve a dampness which will be fa- 

 tal to them. Some persons cover the house with 

 tiles, others with thatch. Timber and wood work 

 must be plastered within and without to prevent 

 the danger of fire. In the nursery, pillars must 

 be placed, fltrnished with cross pieces, to receive 

 the fi-ames. The windows must have a large 

 openinnr, to admit sufficient light to distinguish 

 the sleeping and the awaking of the silk worms. 

 Above the shelf, small dormer windows should 

 be opened, to increase the light of the morning 

 and evening, when required. 



Even with the ground, pipe?, or air conductors, 

 communicating with the outside, must be placed 

 at regular distances, and arranged so that they 

 can be opened and shut easily. They will serve 

 to dissipate dampness, or to expel dangerous ef- 

 fluvia. 



Same lonrk. — When persons wish to raise silk 

 worms, they must at first open a room, situated to 

 Ihe east, to feed the newly hatched silk worms. 

 They must be taken from this room before and 

 after their second moulting. The window 

 turned to the west, must be shut with care, be- 

 cause the rays of the setting sun are particularly 

 injurious to the silk worms. The southwest wind 

 is very dangerous for the silk worms. A row of 

 trees, four to five feet distant, must be planted on 

 the outside so as to shelter them. 



[The author here employs many words to indi- 

 cate the place of the idols, and practices of devo- 

 tion, which must be followed for the success of 

 the nursery.] 



Same work. — When persons wish to feed the 

 newly hatched silk worms, they must as first open 

 a room with an eastern aspect. At the four an- 

 gles, concave niches must be constructed, (small 

 stoves) arranged like the three stars of the con- 

 stellation of the heart, that is to say, in triangu- 

 larly, in order to distribute the heat, in a uniform 

 manner. The author adds, that the smallness of 

 the room allows it to be easily warmed. 



Nong-sang-thsioucn-chou. — When the silk 

 worms are about hatching, they require an ex- 

 treme heat: at that lime the air is still cold. Af- 

 ter the third sleep (or the third moulting,) the 

 silk worms require coolness. At that period the 

 air is warm. Besides the wind, rain, dull, and clear 



