240 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 4 



the quantity of leaves must be gradually in- 

 creased. The windows can be half opened. 

 From the first moment they begin 1o turn yellow, 

 they must be kept very warm. When they are 

 entirely torpid they require a great deal of heat; 

 when they are perfectly recovered, they only want 

 a moderate heat. 



When the silk worms are removed, after their 

 second moulting, and are all recovered, light re- 

 pasts ought to be given them at first. Four re- 

 pasts in one day and night will be enough. The 

 next day the quantity of leaves meiy be aug- 

 mented by degrees. Some persons open the win- 

 dows. 



From the first moment they begin to turn yel- 

 low, they require a good heal; when they are 

 once torpid, a moderate heat ought to be allowed 

 them; when they are all recovered they require 

 a mild heat. 



When the silk worms are removed after their 

 third moultmg, and they are all revived, three re- 

 pasts must be given them during one day and 

 night. The first repast ought to be very light; 

 the second lighter than the first, the third the same 

 as the first. If these three repasts be not adminis- 

 tered with much caution, the silk worms will feed 

 slowly until the period of their maturity. The 

 second day, the quantity of leaves must be in- 

 creased by degrees. The windows can be thrown 

 entirely open, and the dormer windows above the 

 frames may be likewise opened. 



From the first moment they begin to turn yel- 

 low, they require a mild heat; when they are 

 completely torpid a lukewarm heat is required; 

 when they are all revived they require coolness. 

 After each repast a basket of leaves must be ta- 

 ken, and the tour of the shelves made. If an 

 empty place is perceived (upon a hurdle) it must 

 be covered with leaves strewn with rice flour. 

 After the seventh or eighth feeding, (fi-om ten to 

 two o'clock,) cut leaves must bespread upon the 

 hurdles; they must be moistened equally with 

 fresh water ; then, after a lapse of some time, 

 sifted rice flour must be spread, being careful to 

 distribute it in a uniform manner. For each bas- 

 ket of leaves a cliivg, (a kind of measure.) of 

 fresh water and lour ounces of flour must be used. 

 If the flour cannot be had, a basket of new leaves 

 only must be used; it will furnish a repast for the 

 silk worms of a frame. 



[Extract from Nong-tching-tsiouen-chou. The 

 powder of leaves, which are spread on fresh 

 leaves, fills the body of the silk worms, (that is to 

 say: is very nourishing,) and disposes them to 

 make a firm and thick cocoon, the silk of which is 

 remarkably strong.] 



When the leaves are cut up, moisten them with 

 fresh water: then sift the powdered leaves, and 

 spread them in a uniform manner. 



After the great moulting of the silk worms 

 (the third moulting,) from three to five meals of 

 that kind must be given them at certain intervals. 

 When the silk worms approach their maturiiv, 

 they require light and frequent repasts and mo- 

 derate heat. 



Same work. — If among the silk worms there 

 be any that are backward, that is to say, which 

 do not appear disposed to moult at the same lime 

 with the others, frequent supplies of food ought to 

 be given them, in order to accelerate and cause 

 their mouUing. at the tame time ivith the rest of 



the hurdle. When the silkworms do not m.oult 



all at once, it proceeds from a species of disease, 

 which dates from their hatching. This method 

 must be followed to remedy it : If among the silk 

 worms wliich are completely yellow, some change 

 their white color, and begin to turn yellow, much 

 time is not required to beeome completely so- 

 By the aid of very frequent feeding they will soon 

 overtake the others; in fact, muhijilying the feed- 

 ing hastens the period of their moulting. 



But when the greatest number are completely 

 yellow, many blue and white ones are found, they 

 are itu- Irom becoming entirely yellow, and fre- 

 quent repasts given them will be useless trouble; 

 it is impossible for the latter to arrive at the moult- 

 ing at the same time with the first. 



The change of color in the silk worms is the 

 least change that as experienced. When they 

 moult they cease eating, and shed their skin ; 

 then they experience a great change. But the 

 greatest of" these changes, is their metamorphosis 

 from the chrysalis into butterflies, or moths. 

 When a silk worm is completely yellow, its 

 mouth is shut, it no longer eats but sleeps, or is 

 torpid; it then resembles a man afflicted with some 

 dreadful disease; the blood spreads throughout, 

 its body experiences great modifications. If it 

 remains a day and night without eating, its moult- 

 ing produces a happy relief 



h] then, there be many blue and white silk 

 worms, and their feeding be too nmch hurried, 

 their health will be disordered, and a precocious 

 moulting will not produce relief When those 

 which were blue or white turn yellow, and are 

 disposed to moult, all the others have accomplish- 

 ed their moulting, and are recovered. 



When the silk worms begin to recover from 

 their moultmg, they want but little food; they 

 resemble a convalescent patient, to whom only 

 slight nourishment is given to repair, gradually, 

 their strength. If while the backward ones 

 moult, the nourishment of the earliest be suspend- 

 ed, they will languish with hunger and weakness, 

 yet yo a are compelled to wait ; and besides, one 

 will be obliged to give them food when the back- 

 ward ones are recovering. A great number will 

 contract diseases, and very litile silk will be gath- 

 ered from them. For that reason the author of 

 Tsan-klng, or the Book on Silk Worms, says, 

 with much reason, that " the irregular moulting 

 of the silk worms always causes a diminution of" 

 silk." 



Same %oork. — When the silk worms are just 

 hatched their color is black. Their food must be 

 gradually increased. Three days thereafter they 

 gradually become white; then they gain appetite. 

 Leaves, not cut so small, must be given them. 

 When tliey are blue, it is the period of their great 

 appetite. Leaves must then be given them more 

 abundantly, and not cut so small. When they 

 again become white, they teed slowly; their food 

 must be diminished a little. When they are 

 turning yellow they have but a delicate appetite; 

 tjieir food must be again diminished. When they 

 are completely yellow, they entirely cease eating ; 

 that is called their moulting. When they are 

 recovered, they change from yellow to white, 

 from white to blue, ii'om blue to a second white 

 color; at last from white to yellow; this is their 

 second moulting. At each moulting they experi- 

 ence the same changes of color. They must be 



