214 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



It is this latter weight (poids de marc) that is 

 used throughout. Then, if all the worms were 

 raised, (which he supposes to be in an ounce, and 

 as we thinl< incorrectly,) there would be 208 worms 

 to the square foot, (and one-sixth of the worms 

 being on the floor); or if half that quantity only 

 be reared, there would still be 104 worms to the 

 square foot ; a number nearly double of what is 

 deemed safe by culturists in this country. 



Next, it is to be observed that the passages be- 

 tween the rows of shelves are Miy 2 feet wide, or 

 less than half the proportional vridth usually deem- 

 ed requisite, the shelves being as wide as five feet. 

 It is true that the tiers of shelves are farther apart 

 than usual in the United States, (being 2 feet one 

 above the other,) but considering that the floor 

 serves for the lowest tier, this distance of the 

 shelves lessens the evil of crowding but little. 



We are far from advising such contraction of 

 space as recommended in this treatise. But pro- 

 ceeding as the recommendation does from a writer 

 distinguished for his intelligence and his long con- 

 tinued devotion to this subject, and having much 

 practical experience, it may be fairly inferred that 

 if narrow passages between the wider shelves 

 were so very dangerous as supposed in this coun- 

 try, Deslongchamps would at least have been 

 able to suspect the existence of the evil. It should 

 however be remarked that the small size of his 

 building, compared to those planned in this coun- 

 try, and the consequent near supply and Iree en- 

 trance of the outer air, through the windows, must 

 be better for ventilation, than pa:=3agee of triple 

 the width of his in an apartment of 100 leet by 

 30, or more. We (ear much for the results of 

 rearing worms in the large sized buildings which 

 are preferred by the most zealous beginners in this 

 country. 



M. Deslongchamps was the first person in Eu- 

 rope (though not in America) who recommended 

 several successive crops of silk-worms in the same 

 season, by retarding the hatching of the eggs for 

 the latter crops. His first views on this practice 

 were translated tor and published in the Farmers' 

 Register, at p. 381, vol. iv. This subject he has 

 doubtless investigated and urged with all the ardor 

 ol one claiming a new and important discovery, 

 and aiming to maintain its value by conclusive 

 experiments, in opposition to the opinions of all 

 the scientific as well as the merely practical cultu- 

 rists. It is therefore the more interesting to hear 

 the latest opinions of this writer. The system of 

 successive and retarded broods is universally ac- 

 knowledged as safe in this country; and it is as 

 much and as successfully advanced in practice as 



which serves to make them adhere so closely to the 

 cloth whereon they are laid. — Er. F. R. 



any other part of this infant industry. But the 

 proper and safe manner of preserving the retarded 

 eggs, in ice-houses, is not settled, and there are 

 few who would trust to the entire exclusion of 

 outer air from the eggs, as proposed by thia 

 writer. Yet, if he is correct in this opinion, it is 

 of great importance that it should be known and 

 acted on. For by closely stopping up the eggs in 

 glass or other air-light vessels, they would be se- 

 cured from dampness, and might be kept buried in 

 ice, for any length of time, with little trouble, and 

 sale from all sources of injury or loss. Our au- 

 thor says — 



" We may preserve the eggs, and put back the 

 time of their hatching, by placing them in cellars 

 or quarries, of which the temperature is low, and 

 varies but little. From numerous experiments in 

 trials of multiplied rearings, to which we havp 

 been devoted, we have demonstrated that, in ice- 

 houses, the eggs may be preserved at least all the 

 summer, and during a lime the limit of which we 

 have not yet been able to determine. In every 

 case, in order to guard the eggs from the influence 

 of moisture, it is essential that the cloihs to which 

 they adhere should be placed in glass or earthen 

 jars, of which the mouihs should be sealed so as 

 (o be perl(3cily air-tight." 



Of the choice of eggs, in general, and the causes 

 of injury from their bad quality, the author thus 

 speaks : 



"To have productive rearings of silk-worms, 

 the first thing necessary is to procure good eggs. 

 Those produced by each culturist should be consi- 

 dered by him as the best, because that he is sure 

 of their quality and coniliiion, and that sometimes 

 he would be deceived in that respect in buying 

 from other persons. However, wiien unprovided, 

 it is proper, in procuring eggs, to obtain (hem from 

 (he region most advantageously known in regard 

 to the silks they furnish to commerce." 



The last words are but another mode of expres- 

 sion for the region where silk-worms thrive best, 

 and are most healthy and productive. This re- 

 commendation is very important to this country 

 especially, where so many new beginners will be 

 obliged to provide their first stock by purchase, 

 and from unknown or doubtliil sources. 



There is a ridiculous opinion generally existing 

 and operating in Europe, which this author as well 

 as his enlightened predecessors have condemned 

 — that is, that in every location it is necessary to 

 change the eggs of silk-worms, from time to time, 

 for others raised elsewhore. On this head, Deslong- 

 champs says — 



" This prejudice could only have originated in 

 districts where suitable care is not given to the 

 worms ; for it is under such circumstances only 

 that the eggs can degenerate. They may also be 

 improved [from a degenerate condition] up to a 

 certain point, by good care. Thus, in 1824, some 

 silk-worms fed on leaves of the red mulberry [nw- 

 nis rubra, the indigenous mulberry of America,] 



