466 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 8 



little variation as possible from the different grades re- 



tlie superiority of the simple and natural, over the ar- 



quired at dilferent times ; and to give food in certain tificial method, 

 quantities, according to the age and condition of the In this very general opinion, held in this country, 

 silk-worms To be able to command the former ob- by both writers and practical culturists, we cannot, as 

 ject it is necessary to raise the heat of the labora- vet, concur. Our practical experience in rearing silk- 

 tory above the average degree of the external air ; and ; worms, it is true, has been limited to a very small rx- 

 to re<rulate it, by means of fires in stoves or chimneys i periment ; and, therefore, it would be presumptuous 

 to rafse the heat, and by ventilators, to lower it ; and either to condemn or approve, without reservation, 

 by thermometers to measure and direct the temperature any practices of which it is admitted we are practi- 

 according to fixed rules, which have been established cally ignorant. But reasoning from all the known facta 

 by careful scientific investigation, and long practical and circumstances, and in the absence of any certain 



experience. All this array of means, even though it 

 may finally conduce to economizing of labor, and to in- 

 crease the net profits, in a regular and established bu- 

 siness, is alarming to new beginners, or experimenters, 

 who are unprovided with any such means for a fully 

 and properly established business ; and they have, 

 without exception, readily yielded their assent, and 

 conformed their practice, (so far as there has been any 

 practice,) to the very opposite opinions and directions 

 of those who have written in the United States. These 

 writers concur in the opinion, that the precise rules, 

 and artificial and regulated temperature, of the Euro- 

 pean method, are altogether unnecessary; that the 

 raising of silk-worms is a very simple operation, and 

 may be done successfully without any particular fix- 

 tures, system, or rules, if merely enough of proper 

 food is supplied, and the worms are kept clean enough, 

 and not too much crowded during their growth. Whe- 

 ther it is that these instructions are so reasonable as to 

 carry conviction with them, or that they are more 

 suitable to the natural indolence of men, and their dis- 

 position to avoid labor and expense as much as possi- 

 ble in every new undertaking, the result has been, 

 that all who have commenced to raise silk-worms in 

 this country, have adopted, upon the advice of Ame- 

 rican writers, this more natural method, as it may be 

 termed, in contradistinction to the highly artificial 

 ■method of European authorities —scientific investiga- 

 tors, as well as successful practical culturists. 



In the reported results of the experimenters and 

 older culturists in this country, so far as they can be 

 gathered from the very limited and imperfect publish- 

 ed statements, the returns are said to be satisfactory, 

 and the prospects of futute success end profit very flat- 

 tering. But it also often appears, from indirect testi- 

 mony stated at first, or from making further inquiry, 

 that there were also some heavy deductions from pro- 

 fit suffered in one or more of such occurrences as the 

 worms suffering from excess of heat, cold, or damp 

 weather— of their supplies of food being irregular, and 

 sometimes deficient, sometimes in excess — of irregu- 

 lar progress in their growth, and the whole time being 

 more or less protracted ; and from all of such causes, 

 there having resulted great increase of labor and ex- 

 pense in the management, diseases produced and great 

 mortality of worms, and the crop of cocoons, in quan- 

 tity and quality, being very far below a proper return. 

 If, notwithstanding all these losses, a fair net profit is 

 made, (compared to other branches of agriculture,) or 

 even a fair promise of future profit is in prospect, 

 when the worst first errors shall have been avoided, 

 it is deemed by the culturists as sufficient evidence of 



and accurately reported cases of success in rearing 

 worms on a large scale upon the more natural method, 

 we hold to the opinion, that the method of regular and 

 artificial temperature is not only productive of the 

 greatest gross products from a certain quantity of eggs 

 and of food, but is also the safest and the cheapest. 

 And yet, while presuming thus to object to opinions so 

 generally, if not universally, received in this country, 

 we feel some distrust of our course, not only upon the 

 admitted ground of want of practical experience, but, 

 still more, because of the contrary opinion of the few 

 individuals in this country, whose opinions on this 

 subject deserve much respect. Among the highest, 

 we would place the author of the ' Treatise on Silk 

 Culture,' which was commenced in the last number 

 of this journal, and of which the continuation will be 

 furnished by the author as soon as his engagements 

 may permit. But though willing to pay the utmost 

 respect to opposite views from such sources, and ready 

 to yield to good reasons and proofs, whenever they are 

 brought forward, until so convinced, we shall still 

 maintain the superiority of the method of artificially 

 regulated temperature, and weighed and regulated al- 

 lowances of food. The reasons for this preference will 

 be concisely stated. 



It is affirmed by scientific, intelligent, and also prac- 

 tical silk culturists of Europe, that certain degrees of 

 temperature are most proper for silk-worms in each of 

 their various stages and conditions of life ; and that 

 sudden and frequent changes of temperature, even 

 though but of a few degrees, (or much less than oc- 

 cur in the natural temperature of every 24 hours,) is 

 hurtful to their appetite, health, and future product. 

 It is also affirmed, (and that will scarcely be denied 

 by any practical culturist, or even new experimenter,) 

 that equality of temperature, and of other treatment, 

 is necessary to produce equality and uniformity in the 

 successive changes of condition (or "ages") of tha 

 worms, and of the duration of their lives ; and the in- 

 ference is inevitable, that, if such uniformity and re- 

 gularity is totally wanting, the trouble of manage- 

 ment will be greatly increased, even if no other evil 

 were to be feared. It is also a settled matter among 

 the highest authorities in Europe, that in every age 

 and successive change of condition of the worms pro- 

 duced from a certain w-eight of eggs, a certain quan- 

 tity of food is required, and that they would suffer by 

 any material diminution ; and any excess would cause 

 a waste of leaves, be additional trouble in clearing 

 away the litter, and annoyance and injury to the 

 worms by the previous accumulation. Hence must 



