largest trees may be given though it would be well to 

 reserve the largest and toughest leaves till the last age, 

 when they are the most voracious. During the third 

 age, the litter should be removed at least three or four 

 times ; worms that die or appear to be diseased should 

 be immediately removed. 



The same treatment will be required during the fourth 

 and fifth ages as in the preceding. As they advance in 

 age the greater will be the proportion of food required and 

 the oftener the litter must be removed ; by these means 

 the process is sooner brought to a conclusion, and the 

 worms always kept in high health and appetite. During 

 the four or five days previous to their rising, the worms 

 consume an incredible quantity of leaves, eating with 

 great voracity, and at this time the labor of tending them 

 is most fatiguing. You will know when the worms are ripe 

 or ready to rise and form their cocoons by observing them 

 with attention when you give fresh leaves. Those that 

 are ripe, instead of eating, avoid the fresh leaves, and run 

 over them as fast as they can wander about, and try to 

 climb ; they will look transparent, of the color of a green 

 gage plum, and somewhat diminished in size. 



In the fifth age the worms should have new leaves as 

 often as the old ones are consumed, until they are observ- 

 ed to creep on the leaves without eating. At night they 

 should have a double portion. 



PREPARATIONS FOR THE COCOONS. 



Previous to the rising of the worms, some little arches 

 or cabins should have been prepared of brushwood or 

 broom corn, by setting their branches with their top 



