238 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 4 



Ho-pi-sse-loui. — When the silk worms lay 

 down and remain motionless, that repose is called 

 moulting. Durintr liie time of mouitinf]: they do 

 not eat, either the mulberry leaves, or leaves of 

 the tree, tche. At the end of one day and night, 

 thev shed their sldns. 



There are some silk worms which have three 

 moultings. and others four. 



Uoang-sing-tseng, saya : — From the hatching 

 of the silk worms to their third moulting, cut leaves 

 ought to be constantly given them. When the 

 ardent silk worms are led, that is to say, Autumn 

 silk worms, thpy must be carefully watched. As 

 soon as they have eaten their leaves, give them 

 more, fijr liiey will lall sick, if they breathe the 

 heat of the silk room lasting. 



Nong-sang-isi-yao. — Towards the end of Au- 

 tumn, before the mulberry leaves turn yellow, a 

 large quantity must be gathered. They must be 

 dried and broken up in such a manner so as to be 

 reduced almost to powder. They must be pre- 

 served in a place warmed by a fire that produces 

 no smoke. They will answer the next year to 

 leed the spring silk worms, after each of their 

 moultings. 



Same ivork. — The eighth day of the last month, 

 (January,) small green peas, called lo-teou, (doli- 

 chos,) must be soaked in fresh water. Thev 

 must be spread on frames, not very thick, and 

 dried in the sun. Wash some clean rice in pure 

 water and dry it also. These green peas and 

 rice must be preserved in a shaded place. Flour 

 made from them, will serve to feed the silk worms 

 after their last moulting. It must be spread equal- 

 ly on the leaves given to them for food. 



Same Work. — Manner of feeding the newly- 

 hatched silk worms. — The leaves of the mulberry 

 must be frequently cut in very fine shreds, and 

 lightly spread over them with a sieve. The food 

 ought to be distributed without interruption. In 

 the space of one hour, (two of our hours) four 

 meals must be given them, which makes forty- 

 eight repasts in the space of one day and night. 



Same loork. — Food must be given to the silk 

 worms without fail during the day and night. If 

 their repasts are multiplied, it will necessarily re 

 suit, that I hey wdl soon arrive at maturity ; but if 

 their meals are rare, and not numerous, they will 

 attain their growth slowly. 



When the silk worms attain maturity in twen- 

 ty-five days, one li'ame or hurdle will llirnish 

 twenty-five ounces ol silk. If in twenty-eight 

 days, only twenty ounces can be obtained. If the 

 time be one month, or forty days, one hurdle will 

 furnish but ten oimces of silk. 



Those persons who feed silk worms ought to 

 endeavor not to sleep. Laziness has serious in- 

 conveniences. 



Every time the silk worms are fed, all the hur- 

 dles must be visited with the greatest attention. 

 It is essential for the leaves to be distributed in an 

 equal manner. If the weather be dark and rainy, 

 if the exterior air be cold, before feeding the silk 

 worms, dry branches of mulberry trees must be 

 taken, or rather a handful of rice straw, stripped 

 of all its leaves, fire must be put to it, and the 

 flame put around and above the hurdles in order 

 to dissipate the cold and damp which benumbs the 

 silk worms. Alter that operation they must be 



fed. In that manner they do not contract any 

 disease. The time of their general moulting must 

 be observed, and then the tiieding must he sus- 

 pended. Afterwards nothing is given them to 

 eat, until they are all recovered from their torpid 

 state, it' food is given them, when they are but 

 eight or nine-tenths of them recovered, they will 

 not arrive, all together, at maturity ; besides, 

 great numbers of them will be lost. 



From the second to the great moulting, (the 

 third moulting.) when the worms assume a glossy 

 yellow color, and when they are disposed to 

 moult, the nourishment must be suspended, and 

 they be transported to other frames. Afterwards, 

 when they are all recovered, they must be slowly 

 fed, that is to say : they must have their repast's 

 given them at long intervals, and leaves must be 

 spread on them in very light layers. If the leaves 

 were distributed too abundantly, they would eat 

 without appetite and become sick. Now, as it is 

 the food which gives strength and life to the silk 

 worms, the greatest attention must be paid to see 

 that it be suitable and possesses all the proper 

 qualities. The silk worms like not leaves saturat- 

 ed with rain or dew ; if they eat of them, the 

 greatest number immediately fall sick. 



Same work. — When the silk worms recover 

 from their great moulting, (their third moulting,) 

 the heat of" the rooms must be diminished when it 

 incommodes them. At that time frequent meals 

 must be given them. If a south wind blow, the 

 window blinds must be let down, and the straw 

 mats of the doors closed. At that moment they 

 must be transported to other hurdles. When the 

 silk worms are spread on the hurdles, the distance 

 of one finger must be left between each one. Then 

 the small green peas, which were reserved from 

 the month of January, must be taken, and soaked 

 in a small quantity of water, until they germinate : 

 afterwards they must be dried in the sun, and re- 

 duced to powder. 



The clean rice, Avhich was also laid by in the 

 month of January, can be employed for the same 

 use, after having been boiled by sieam, and re- 

 duced to flour. At the fourth feeding, that flour 

 must be spread in a uniform manner, upon mul- 

 berry leaves. It will refresh the silk worms, and 

 dissipate the internal heat they feel at that period 

 of their age, and which is a mortal poison to them. 

 The silk they afterwards produce, is more abun- 

 dant, easier to reel, and, besides, it is stronger and 

 more brilliant. 



If there be but a small quan*ity of fresh leaves, 

 the leaves which were cropped the preceding au- 

 tumn must be taken, pounded again and reduced 

 to powder. The new leaves must be lightly 

 moistened, and the powdered leaves spread on in 

 a uniform manner. Thus a want of leaves may 

 be supplied. The leaves of the plant called ou-kiu, 

 (cicorium intubus?) can also be used as a substi- 

 tute for that flour. 



Nong-sse-pi-yong. — Same subject. — Earl)' in 

 the morning, the roots of ihe mulberry trees must 

 be watered, and the leaves gathered soon after. 

 If they are watered early in the morning, the 

 leaves will be very juicy ; if they are gathered 

 soon after having been watered, they will not 

 wither. 



They must be cut in fine shreds with a well 

 sharpened knife, and spread in light layers, with a 



