33 



spread, pressing; against the bottom of the upper shelf to 

 hold them in their position. The worms will readily find 

 and climb these little trees and spin their, cocoons in 

 them ; the worms will be three or four days spinning 

 their cocoons,* and they will all generally be finished in 

 eight days. The brush may. then be taken down, the 

 cocoons taken off, cleared ofthe loose tow and prepared 

 for reeling. I have found that the branches of the oak, 

 with the leaves on. answered the purpose for these arches 

 very well, as the leaves are strong and do not crumble 

 in taking off the silk. They should be cut some days 

 before hand, and be dry when used. Some prefer to 

 have the brushwood, entirely stripped of its leaves. Mr 

 Smith, of Baltimore, uses and recommends the broom 

 corn. 



SEED COCOONS. 



Those cocoons that are intended for seed may be 

 stripped of their tow and strung upon a thread care be- 

 ing taken not to pierce entirely through the cocoons and 



* Dr Pascalis of New York, a gentleman of great literary reputation 

 and high scientific attainments, has by the use of Electricity been'en- 

 abled to hasten the progress of silk insects ; and worms reared by 

 him, to which this powerful agent was applied, have spun their 

 cocoons in 27 days from the time Ihey were hatched. I have 

 never made any experiments in this way myself, but doubt not 

 that this, as well as many other improvements will be introduced. 

 The same gentleman has also recommended in his valuable work, 

 the Silk Culturist, (No. 2, page 105) artificial mounting slides, 

 upon which the worms may mount and spin their cocoons. Those 

 who have curiosity to see these improvements, will find a drawing 

 of them in the work referred to. 



* See the Cocoon, Fig. 7, Plate 1, 



