36 



It is possible that there may be diseases of the silk 

 worms peculiar to the climate. Experience will enlight- 

 en us on the subject. I have heard that ladies in one of 

 our Southern States have lost all their worms this year, 

 from the plague getting in among them. It is certain that 

 there are epidemic disorders by which whole nurseries 

 of silk worms are sometimes destroyed. But these are 

 of rare occurrence in our country; and it is hoped that 

 they may be prevented by careful attention to the rules 

 prescribed. 



CURING THE COCOONS. 



Were it possible to wind off all the cocoons before the 

 insect naturally pierces them, it would be best to do it, 

 because the silk at that time winds off with greater ease 

 than afterwards. But as this is sometimes impossible, 

 and often inconvenient, various methods have been de- 

 vised to stifle the ehrysales in the cocoons. This may 

 be done by placing them in an oven, moderately heated, 

 or in the steam of boiling water ; even the sun is sufficient 

 for this purpose in southern latitudes, by acting upon 

 them several days. I have used the first method with 

 success. The oven being moderately heated, the co- 

 coons were spread out, in oblong baskets eight inches 

 deep, in box covers, pans, &LC, and permitted to remain 

 in the oven half an hour. In being cured they lose about 

 twentyfive per cent in weight. Mr Smith of Baltimore 

 says, he has found the following method preferable to 

 any other, and that the object is perfected without dan- 

 ger of injuring the silk. I put the cocoons, says he, 

 into a tight tin vessel with a cover, closely fitted, and put 

 this vessel into another a little larger, containing such 

 quantity of water as will nearly fill it, when the other is 

 put into it. 



