482 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



[No. 8 



The netting is now woven in the north for the pur- 

 pose, and only requires to be tacked to the frame, 

 well stretched. Formerly it was necessary to 

 make the netting ourselves, which was done by 

 perforating the sides and ends of the frame with 

 a broad awl five-eighths of an inch apart, and 

 inserting good skein twine first, length-wise, until 

 it was filled, then crosswise, Aveaving it by pass- 

 ing it over and under the other twine alternately, 

 and drawing it quite tight. The twine will be 

 about five-eighths of an inch apart each way. It 

 is of some importance, that the twine should be 

 tanned, by immersion in a tanner's vat, for a few. 

 hours, dried, and then thoroughly washed, to re- 

 move any remains of the tan that may be on it. 

 This ought also to be done with the prepared net- 

 ting, if that be obtained. The utility of the tan- 

 ning is obvious : it prevents rotting, to which the 

 twine is liable, from the dampness of the filth. 

 The netting should also be put on the frames in 

 dry weather, because the twine is then at its 

 greatest expansion ; and if put on in that state, is 

 not so liable to stretch and lag, when loaded with 

 worms and food. Another frame of the same 

 size, is to be covered with paper or muslin, to be 

 placed immediately under the net frames, in the 

 stands. These latter are used for the purpose of 

 catching the ordure and filth that falls through the 

 netting of the hurdles. They may be placed two 

 or three inches below the hurdles. 



The STANDS, for the support of the hurdles, 

 are simply upright posts, made of three or four 

 inch joist, nrmly fixed to the floor below, and to 

 the ceiling above, two feet apart one way, and 

 just far enough the other to permit the free pas- 

 sage of the hurdles sideways between them. 

 Pieces of wood are to be nailed to each two 

 posts to support the hurdles, at about twelve inches 

 apart. I had mine only nine inches apart ; but I 

 think they are better at twelve inches. Another 

 piece is to be put upon the posts two or three 

 inches below the others, to support the paper 

 shelves. On this plan, it will be perceived, that 

 the hurdles have the appearance of a set of 

 shelves. The whole room is to be thus occupied 

 with the hurdles, leaving alleys between each 

 ranffe for the free passage of the attendants. 



The fixtures in the hatching-room, are simply 

 one or more ordinary tables, sutTicient to accom- 

 modate the eggs to be hatched, a thermometer, 

 and a good stove. 



Hatching. — About the first of May, the esrs's, 

 which have, of course, been kept in the cellar since 

 the time they were laid last season, are to be put 

 in the hatching-room ; the papers on which they 

 are, are to to be spread out on the tables. If the 

 temperature be not as high as 70°, it must be 

 raised to that point before the eggs are taken to 

 the room ; if it be higher, imiurally, it is of no 

 consequence. Every day the temperature should 

 be increased one or two degrees until the ecgs 

 are hatched ; unless, as just observed, the tem- 

 perature be above 70° naturally, in which case all 

 that will be necessary is to prevent a depression at 

 night, and changes of the weather. It will not 

 be necessary, at any time, to raise the heat hio-her 

 than 80*^. 'Generally, in about five days the 

 worms will begin to hatch. The first day, but 

 few will come out, and these need not be regarded ; 

 but on the second day, considerable numbers will 

 hatch, and they should be taken and placed on the 



hurdles, and the hurdles containing each day's 

 hatching should be marked with the date of the 

 hatchmg. Where there are lour laboratories, as 

 recommended in a previous page, each day's 

 hatchings should be conveyed to separate rooms. 

 On the third, fourth and fifth days of the hatch- 

 ing, the same routine must be observed. On the 

 latter day, all the eggs will be found to have 

 hatched, except a few scattering ones, which, like 

 those of the first day, need not be regarded, as 

 they will be too few in number to be worth any 

 trouble; and if mixed with the others, will only 

 cause confusion by their irregularity in moult- 

 ing, &c. 



For removing the young worms from the hatch- 

 ing-tables to the hurdles, I have found the best 

 method to be, to lay whole mulberry leaves on the 

 table, covering the eggs and worms, completely. 

 The young worms will soon collect upon the 

 leaves, when they are readily conveyed to a small 

 portable hurdle, by taking hold of the stem of the 

 leaf, borne to the laboratory and laid upon the 

 hurdles. Many thousands may be accommodat- 

 ed on each hurdle for vhe first week ; and as the 

 worms grow, and become crowded, they must be 

 distributed to other hurdles. All these minute af- 

 fairs will suggest themselves to the intelligent 

 operator, as they become necessary. The morn- 

 ing is the time for removing 'hem, as they gene- 

 rally hatch !rom day-light to 7 or 8 o'clock. 



As soon as the young worms are placed upon 

 the hurdles, a supply of" food must be given them. 

 The leaves may be torn into small piece?, and 

 scattered over the surface of the hurdle, covermg 

 the young worms with them. They will speedily 

 commence eating. The leaves on which they 

 were borne from the hatehing-room will, how- 

 ever, be sufficient for several hours. The worms 

 arc now to be regularly fed three times a day, with 

 fresh leaves, torn into small pieces, the size ol" a 

 dolla'-, or thereabouts, for the first week ; after 

 which, they are as well laid on whole. Care 

 should be observed, not to lay on more leaves 

 than will be consumed, as considerable waste 

 would thus occur ; and, also, not to allow the 

 worms to remain one moment without food ; it 

 were far better economy, indeed, to waste leaves 

 by ffiving too much, than to stint the worms, at 

 any stage of their existence. For the first two 

 weeks, no other care is necessary than attention to 

 their being properly fed three times a day, as 

 above remarked ; keepinsc the room at a moderate 

 temperature, by artificial heat, when cold, and by 

 ventilation, when hot and sidtry. The French 

 divide the time of 'he worms' existence into p"e- 

 riods, which are distinguished by their moulting, 

 or shedding their skin. These periods are called 

 ajics, and very particular directions are given for 

 observance at each of these periods or ages. I, 

 however, have never found any particular neces- 

 sity for much variation in treatment. Cleanliness, 

 moderate temperature, and a ful! supply of food, 

 at all times, are all I ever found either necessary or 

 useful a,t any time. The periods of moulting are 

 generally about the seventh, thirteenth, nineteenth 

 and twenty-fourth days from the hatching ; but 

 these periods are materially influenced by the care 

 and attention bestowed, and the state of the wea- 

 ther. Some worms will be ready to spin on the 

 25th day, Avhiie others will delay their spinning 

 even to 40 and 50 days, according as they are 



