476 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 8 



leaves, to make them overtake the growth of the 

 earliest ones. From the operation oC ihce causes 

 of inequality, some worms are in the torpid state, 

 while some others are eating, after having awak- 

 ened, and the slowest still eat because they have 

 not arrived at the torpid state. Also, it is as com- 

 mon to see, upon the same sheet of paper, worms 

 of four different sizes, as it is for the last-comers 

 to perish. It is upon going out of the moulting, 

 that they experience the greatest need of air, and 

 of mild heat, equally distributed, to hasten the 

 consistence and energy of their organs, and espe- 

 cially of their muzzles, which, now stripped of 

 their first scaly covering, are again hardening by 

 contact with the surrounding air. 



In the^rs^ day of the second age, and the sixth 

 from the birth of the worm, there should be pro- 

 vided nine or ten pounds of small twigs of mul- 

 berry, as tender as possible, and as many fresh 

 leaves, cut small, after being cleaned and picked 

 over.* Also, all the preparations should be made 

 for changing or removing the worms, in order to 

 clean the first sheets of paper upon which they 

 were kept. When they are perceived to be gene- 

 rally awakened, that they agitate their heads, or 

 hold them elevated, as if searching for some'hins, 

 and when some of them have wandered from the 

 litter, the removal should be commenced with 

 those which show most motion. For this purpose, 

 the small mulberry branches, with their leaves, 

 are laid over the papers of worms, with spaces, 

 [one or two inches wide,] left between. Very 

 Boon these boughs are covered with w'orms; (hen, 

 by means of small moveable boards, very smooth 

 and even, the little branches of mulberry may be 

 changed with the worms on them ; and, instead 

 of keeping them as before, in squares, there are 

 placed bands, (or moveable dividing strips of 

 wood,) across the shelf, and are disposed in such 

 manner, that there is nothing to do but to enlarge 

 the two sides of the compartment, [by moving 

 outward the bands, or sliding strips,] whenever 

 there is need of more room ; for, at first, the 

 worms ought not to occupy but the half of the 

 space in each small compartment, which is intend- 

 ed for them afterwards. 



By means of the little tables, or boards of trans- 

 port, which are rested with the long side upon the 

 hurdles or shelves, and inclining them, the little 

 branches on them, with their burden of vvorms, 

 are geintly slided of! upon the shelves, where they 

 must be arranged in proper order by the hands. 

 Whenever there are seen a iew more revived 

 worms, left still uponthe old litter, more of the 

 little branches are put there, to gather up and to 

 remove the worms, as the precedmg, to the leaves 

 disposed for them — which must be counted as 

 one distribution ; for, in a very short time, there 

 will be nothing of them remaining. The contact 



* It is obviously an important savinjj of trouble to 

 pick over the leaves carefullj% before chopping them, 

 and to remove all dead leaves, and other parts, or fo- 

 reign matters, which are unfit for food. For even if 

 none of these matters are otherwise hurtful to the 

 worms, their presence will prevent the quantity of 

 food given by weight being accurately estimated, and 

 moreover will serve greatly to increase the mass of 

 litter and filth, and will cause more labor to separate it 

 from the worms, when removed at last, than would be 

 required to avoid distributing them with the clean 

 leaves at first.— Tr. 



of warm air ia then sufficient to develope their 

 jaws, enfeebled by the moulting; and far from be- 

 ing inclined to remain upon the litter, where they 

 were, they are seen grouped upon the little 

 branches which have served for their removal, 

 and adhering so closely as to remain heaped to- 

 gether. For the purpose of changing the place 

 of silk-worms, at all times, this is the best method 

 to follow. 



One or two hours after the "worms have been 

 removed and placed upon the shelves, there should 

 be distributed to them three pounds of leaves, cut 

 small, as before. In the cases where the worms, 

 though crowded upon the stripped branches, may 

 leave vacant intervals between them, there 

 should be placed on these intervals other leaves, 

 so as to make them extend themselves, and oc- 

 cupy the whole space designed for them, after 

 this first repast. The two others, for this day, are 

 to be given at intervals of six hours from one 

 another. 



The removal of the worms to the other shelves, 

 being finished, the first sheets of paper which 

 they occupied must be rolled up, to be carried out 

 of the laboratory. For what remains on them is 

 only excremental matter, and the cast skins, 

 mingled with the remains of the leaves fed on 

 since the birth of the worms. Out of thirty 

 pounds of leaves given, it maybe counted on that 

 twenty-two and a half will have been completely 

 digested. 



In the second day, there should be given thirty 

 pounds of cut leaves, to be divided into four por- 

 tions, and given at intervals of six hours. The 

 two last distributions should be rather larger than 

 the first. The enclosing strips should be enlarged, 

 and moved to the compartments this evening, so 

 as to permit two-thirds of the whole space to be 

 completely occupied. The worm is now of a clear 

 white color ; its head is a little larger. They are 

 dispersed, as has been said, by taking them upon 

 little branches, to bear them to the places where 

 there are too few. It is very important that they 

 should be equally spread over the surliace. 



In the third day, the two first meals should be 

 more abundant. There should be used for this 

 day thirty-three pounds of leaves, cut small, tak- 

 ing care to proportion them accordincrto the wants 

 of the worms. For, towards the end of this day, 

 not only does their appetite lessen, bui again they 

 hold the head high, they cease to eat, and fall into 

 a marked state of torpor. Their spaces are again 

 enlarged, so that they now have four-fifths of the 

 whole. 



In the fourth day, there should be distributed to 

 the worms only nine pounds of leaves, picked, 

 cleaned and cut, observing always, to divide them 

 equally and lightly. When once completely tor- 

 pid, it is not until the next day, and after the ter- 

 mination of their second casting off their skins, that 

 they will awaken. Then their second aire will be 

 entirely completed. In calculating their consump- 

 tion of ninety pounds of cut leaves and little 

 branches, with what remains of the litter, it is 

 seen that it required twenty-one pounds to feed 

 each ounce of worms, considered separately. Dur- 

 ing this second period, the worms are become of a 

 clear gray color •, the hairs are so shortened as to 

 be seen with difficulty; the muzzle, which had 

 been black, has whitened, and, immediately after 

 the moulting, is soft, soon to retake its first form 



