1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



477 



and first color. It hardens even accordintr as ii 

 makes progress, and according to the need of hav- 

 ing food a little more solid. Upon the back 

 are seen two curved lines, opposite to each other. 

 The worm has grown in length two lines, and al- 

 ready it lias need of a much greater quantity of 

 air to respire at its ease, [ts respiration, greatly 

 increased, exacts a more frequent renewal of the 

 air, either by opening the windows when the outer 

 air is mild, or by opening the door, or the smaller 

 opening made in the door, and until the thermome- 

 ter shall have sunk two degrees. 



III. Third age. 

 For the first day, the preparation for feeding 

 ehouid consist of 15 pounds of clean-picked and 

 fresh leaves, less cut than the preceding, to which 

 should be added as much in weight of small 

 branches. The worms of fiv-e ounces of ecps 

 will now occupy 174 feet of the shelves, which 

 should, as before, be covered with paper. They 



From this time the consumption of the worms 

 is very great. To give them the leaves easily, 

 there should i)e provided square baskets, shallow 

 and wide, with handles, by which they can be 

 suspended on hooks, any where, and may be emp- 

 tied, us\u<r both the hands together, of the leaves 

 which they contain, to be distributed at will, 

 whether at the height of the individual, or upon 

 the more elevated shelves, by aid oflittle stools, or 

 very light ladders. When the worms shall have 

 eaten three or four of these meals, it will be per- 

 ceived that their size is sensibly increased, that 

 their color is brighter, and at the same time that 

 the muzzle is lencthened. 



On the second day, there must be provided 90 

 pounds of picked and cut leaves, of which the two 

 first meals will be smaller than the two last, be- 

 cause that by the evening the appetite of the 

 worms is increased. The space occupied by them 

 also should still be enlarged gradually. 



On the third day, there must be distributed to 



will be kept in a temperature ranging from 71 to | (he worms seven pounds of cut leaves more than 

 73 degrees. They must not be changed to new I the quantity of the previous day; observing to 

 places until it is seen that they have almost all aive the crreatest shares at the tv^'o first meals 



come out of their torpid state, (which usually 

 takes place in 24, or 30 hours at most,) Iiy a 

 movement of turning which they make with the 

 head. Agitating the air cannot hurt them, though, 

 when breathed upon, thev seem to experience a 

 disagreeable sensation. To remove them, after 

 this moultinjr, there should be used the same pro- 

 cedure and precaution as before. If the spaces 

 which silk-worms should occupy, in theirdiflerent 

 ages, are correctly calculated, there will be nothing 

 more easy than to lift them, to clean them, and to 



The distribution of food for the evening ought to 

 be less, because the worms are then losing their 

 appetite. They have now grown much in size, 

 are becomintj white and transparent, their heads 

 are lengthened, and the circumvolutions which 

 they make with it, precede the moment when 

 they are goins to become torpid again. 



On the fourth day, the food will be only 52 

 pounds of leaves, because the appetite of the 

 worms is much less. The (jreater number are al- 

 ready torpid. The shaie for the first meal should 



dispose them anew upon hurdles or frames, where \ be the larijest, and for the last, much less. The 



they are left until they have completed their 

 moulting, at a sufficient distance from each other. 

 They eat now with the greatest fiicilit}^ Their 

 litter cannot injure them in any manner. Their 

 first repast will consist of the 15 pounds of little 

 branches with all the leaves growing on them, 

 which, when eaten, will be replaced by 7 or 8 

 pounds ofother leaves, equally distributedbv means 

 of the broom. The most essential point, then, for 

 him who is charged with the care of silk-worms, is 

 to distribute them equally upon the shelves, or the 

 hurdles, as well as to watch over the just distrilm- 

 tion of the leaves with which he feeds them ; for 

 to furnish too great a quantity would be an abso- 

 lute loss, and the excess would serve but to aug- 

 ment the litter, which would lead to its certain 

 fermentation, and might be the occasional cause 

 of many diseases. 



This day will be terminated by a distribution of 

 7 pounds of leaves. Or if they should not be 

 wanting, they should be kept to add to the supply 

 for the next day. 



It may take an hour, or two at mos*, to chance 

 the worms which are to cover 174 feet of shelves 

 or frames. Always as soon as possible after re- 

 moving the worms, the litter should be rolled up 

 with the paper, and carried out. Before setting 

 rid of the litter, search should be made in it whe- 

 ther there may not remain there some torpid 

 worms, which the contact of the open air will re- 

 animate much sooner than that of the laboratory ; 



leaves should not be spread but in the places 

 where they are needed, and the want of them ig 

 perceived. In case there are found on the same 

 shelf some which still require food, there need be 

 no fear to give it to them, that they may more 

 quickly reach the state of the others. Excellent 

 effects are obtained from these intermediate meals^ 



For the fifth day, the distribution of cut leaves 

 should be only 27 "pounds in all, and shared only 

 to the places where it is seen that food is wanted. 

 Since the day before, there may be seen through- 

 out some of the foam or slaver of silk, which 'he 

 worms have rejected. They are seen now to seek 

 to go to their sleep, in free air, in the dry places, 

 and holding the head continually raised ; and those 

 which are compelled to remain on the litter, elevate 

 their heads above it, maintaining the same position. 

 At the instant when they are passing into their 

 state of momentary torpor, they evacuate all that 

 they have within their bodies ; the intestinal canal 

 is then distended by a lymphatic fluid, yellowish 

 and transparent ; the outer skin becomes wrinkled 

 and dry before being cast off. During all the time 

 of the moulting it is necessary to agitate and re- 

 new the air of the laboratory, taking care to keep 

 the temperature at the previous degree of elevation. 



On the sixth day, the greater number of worms 

 are disposed to revive from their torpor. Their 

 third age is now completed. They have parsed 

 throutrh it in the space of six days, consuming 300 

 pounds of leaves and small branches ; which is 



and after having placed them upon some little i nearly 69 pounds to the ounce of egfrs. Their 

 branches, they should be brought back to the muzzle is lengthened, and juttintr out; from 

 others. As to these last roused, they should be kept black, which it was before, it has become of a 

 on separate shelves, in the warmest parts of the reddish-gray; the head, the body, have sensibly 

 laboratory, and allowed plenty of room. ' increased in size ; the body is covered with wrin- 



