1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



243 



tumbled about, or let fall. This defect of care and 

 precaution causes their diseases, and often de- 

 stroys them; tiierefore, they should he toiirhod 

 with a hirht !iand, and distributed upon the liames 

 at an equal distance from one another. 



Sans;-tsai}-tchi-choue. — The sillc worms of four 

 mouhinsTs are of a different species; they are rais- 

 ed in the same manner as the S|)rini2; silk worms, 

 (which have but three moullmgs.) Only after the 

 tiiird, they must be distributed upon (iliecn Iramos. 

 When they have fed abundantly, thtjy must be 

 spread upon twenty frames ; and after the great 

 moultinij, (the fourth moulting) they must be dis- 

 tributed upon thirty tt-ames. 



^nng-snng-ikong-kioue.- — Upon each stagre 

 three li-"ames are placed ; the first is destined to re- 

 ceive the dust of the apartment, and that below, 

 to intercept the dampness of the ground. A bed 

 of chopped rice straw must be spread upon the 

 middle frame, in order that it may receive the silk 

 worms which are removed. This rice straw must 

 be broken, and softened in an c(|ual manner, upon 

 the middle frame ; then a sheet of paper must be 

 spread above, of which the extremities are pasted 

 to the edge of the frame. Upon that sheet of pa- 

 per the silk worms must be placed. 



N'ong-iching-tsioucn-chou. — Hoang-sing-tseng 

 says: When it is desirable to remove the silk 

 worms, rice si raw, crushed in a mill, must be 

 s|)rea(l, in advance, upon other frames. It ren- 

 ders them healthy and active, and preserves them 

 from diseases. Some persons change them by the 

 aid of a net, which they strew with nmlberry 

 leaves. 



ENTRANCK OF THE SII-K WORHIS IN THE 

 COCOON ROOM. 



Nong-chnii. — The fioor of the cocoon room mnsi 

 be boarded with planks of the fir tree, six feel 

 long, and three li;et wide. A frame pierced with 

 large holes, must be constructed of the thin bam- 

 boo from which arrows are made. In these hole's 

 some reeds must be inserted ; then long and large 

 bamboo branches, stripped of their leaves must be 

 crossed above. The cocoon room nujst be cover- 

 ed with a frame work of woven reeds. 



The silk worms will then have a place, whore 

 they can establish themselves in salety without 

 fear of falling. When the interior of ilic cocoon 

 room is well arranged, when it afibrds the neces- 

 sary depth and proper security, and the fi'ame 

 presents no interval, the silk worms' nnist be suc- 

 cessively spread over it. At first, the frame must 

 be a little inclined, untd the worms are emptied 

 of excremental matter, afterwards they nmst be 

 moderately warmed with a small brasier, or pan 

 ol'live coals. When ihey have begun to enclose 

 themselves in their cocoon, (that is to say, when 

 their cocoon will have formed a light n^t work,) 

 the heat must t^e increased by degrees. They 

 must not stop in the middle of their work ; if the 

 temperature be a little too cold, they walk upon 

 their silk and cease to spin. When it comes to 

 be reeled it will frequently break. In general, 

 one will be obliged to have the cocoons boiled. 

 and silk stuH'made of it, because it is impossible 

 to reel it liom one end to the other. 



Thsi-min-yao-chou. — When the silk wormst 

 have arrived at the age ol" maturity, if it happens 

 to rain, it will injure the cocoons; it will be better 

 also to establish tlic cocoon rooms in tlie interior 

 ol'ihe nursery. 



Observation. — The round and oblong cocoons' 

 rooms must be placed outside. 



A parcel of small dry branches must be laid upon 

 the frames, and the silk worms spread on them. 

 When that operation is peribrmed, they must be 

 again covered over with a bed of dry branches. 

 One stage, or story, can support ten large frames. 



yfnoiher method. — In place of small dry branch- 

 es, the stalks ol' plants may be used, on which the 

 silk worms must be spread. The frames must 

 be suspended, between wooden pillars, with cords, 

 or hooked sticks. Several may be arranged one 

 above another. When the frames are suspended, 

 they must be moderately warmed by means of 

 chafing-dishes placed below. As soon as the 

 silk worms fi^el the heat, they work industriously ; 

 but if they are affected by the cold they will work 

 slowly. The fi-amcs must often be visited. As 

 soon as they are warm enough, the chafing-dishes 

 must be removed. If a cool air circulates above 

 in tJie cocoon room, (while the lower part is 

 warm,) the silk will not be spoiled by the damp- 

 ness produced by the silk worms ; the silk worms 

 that die, will immediately fall, and the cocoons of 

 the other v.-orms will not be injured by coming in 

 contact with them, the dung will not adhere to 

 the cocoons, nor |)roduce any blemish. If the silk 

 be impregnated with dampness, it will be difficult 

 to prepare it !or the die ; if the cocoon he soiled, 

 the silk will easily break ; if the cocoon be delec- 

 tive, it will be good for nothing. 



The cocoon rooms furnished with stalks of dry 

 plants, are as advantageous as those we have just 

 described. 



Same loork. — There are some countries where 

 the place lor cocoons is outside, (in the open air;) 

 but if in the evening the air becomes cold, no silk 

 worm can form its cocoon. When the cocoon 

 rooms are warmed, the silk will be fitter to receive 

 the die; besides it acquires lustre and whiteness. 



fVou-pen-siii-chnii. — The ground on which the 

 cocoon rooms are established, ought to be high 

 and level. It mu!=t be well aired in the interior. 

 Small branches, or dry stalks of plants, must be 

 spread there in an equal manner; afterwards, the 

 silk worms must be distributed there, leaving a 

 proper distance between them ; if they are too 

 near, tliey will create too much heat; if they are 

 crowded, they spin with difficulty ; and, moreover, 

 their silk will be difficult to reel. The cocoon 

 rooms must not be established in places exposed 

 to the north-east, nor where domestic animals are 

 raised ; neither under trees, above a hole, nor 

 near places covered with manure or stagnant wa- 

 ters. 



JVojig-s'se-pi-ymi g. — The following is the manner 

 of establishing the cocoon room : A dry and warm 

 place must be chosen, in order that neither the 

 cold nor dampness can penetrate into the interior 

 of the cocoon room. When the worms approach 

 their maturity, a fire must be lighted upon the 

 ground where the cocoon room is to be located, 



