THE SILKWORM. 



797 



the other is used in those places where the 

 animal has been artificially propagated, and 

 still continues a stranger. In the warm cli- 

 mates, the silkworm proceeds from an egg, 

 which has been glued by the parent moth 

 upon proper parts of the mulberry-tree, and 

 which remains in that situation during the 

 winter. The manner in which . they are 

 situated and fixed to the tree, keeps them 

 unaffected by the influence of the weather; 

 so that those frosts which are severe enough 

 to kill the tree, have no power to injure the 

 silkworm. 



The insect never proceeds from the egg 

 till nature has provided it a sufficient supply; 

 and till the budding leaves are furnished, in 

 sufficient abundance, for its support. When 

 the leaves are put forth, the worms seem to 

 feel the genial summons, and, bursting from 

 their little eggs, crawl upon the leaves, where 

 they feed wilh a most voracious appetite. 

 Thus they become larger by degrees ; and 

 after some months' feeding, they lay, upon 

 every leaf, small bundles or cones of silk, 

 which appear like so many golden apples, 

 painted on a fine green ground. Such is the 

 method of breeding them in the East; and 

 without doubt it is best for the worms, and 

 least troublesome for the feeder of them. 

 But it is otherwise in our colder European 

 climates ; the frequent changes of the wea- 

 ther, and the heavy dews of our evenings, 

 render the keeping them all night exposed, 

 subject to so many inconveniences, as to ad- 

 mit of no remedy. It is true, that, by the as- 

 sistance of nets, they may be preserved from 

 the insults of birds ; but the severe cold wea- 

 ther, which often succeeds the first heats of 

 summer, as well as the rain and high winds, 

 will destroy them all: and, therefore, to breed 

 them in Europe, they must be sheltered and 

 protected from every external injury. 



For this purpose, a room is chosen, with a 

 south aspect; and the windows are so well 

 glazed, as not to admit the least air: the 

 walls are well built, and the planks of the 

 floor exceedingly close, so as to admit neither 

 birds nor mice, nor even so much as an insect. 

 In the middle there should be four pillars 

 erected, or four wooden posts, so placed as 

 to form a pretty large squire. Between 

 these are different stories made with osier 



hurdles; and under each hurdle there should 

 be a floor, with an upright border all round. 

 These hurdles and floors must hang upon 

 pulleys, so as to be placed or taken down at 

 pleasure. 



When the worms are hatched, some tender 

 mulberry leaves are provided, and placed in 

 the cloth or paper-box in which the eggs 

 were laid, and which are large enough to 

 hold a great number. When they have ac- 

 quired some strength, they must be distri- 

 buted on beds of mulberry leaves, in the dif- 

 ferent stories of the square in the middle of 

 the room, round which a person may freely 

 pass on every side. They will fix themselves 

 to the leaves, and afterwards to the sticks of 

 the hurdles, when the leaves are devoured. 

 They have then a thread, by which they can 

 suspend themselves on occasion, to prevent 

 any shock by a fall ; but this is by no means 

 to be considered as the silk which they spin 

 afterwards in such abundance. Care must 

 be taken that fresh leaves be brought every 

 morning, which must be strewed very gently 

 and equally over them ; upon which the silk- 

 worms will forsake the remainder of the old 

 leaves, which must be carefully taken away, 

 and every thing kept very clean; for nothing 

 hurts these insects so much as moisture and 

 uncleanliness. For this reason their leaves 

 must be gathered when the weather is dry, 

 and kept in a dry place, if it be necessary to 

 lay in a store. As these animals have but a 

 short time to live, they make use of every 

 moment, and almost continually are spinning, 

 except at those intervals when they change 

 their skins. If mulberry leaves be difficult 

 to be obtained, the leaves of lettuce, or holy- 

 oak will sustain them ; but they do not thrive 

 so well upon their new diet; and their silk 

 will neither be so copious, nor of so good a 

 quality. 



Though the judicious choice and careful 

 management of their diet is absolutely neces- 

 sary, yet there is another precaution of equal 

 importance; which is, to give them air, and 

 open their chamber windows, at such times 

 as the sun shines warmest. The place also 

 must be kept as clean as possible; not 

 only the several floors that are laid to re- 

 ceive their ordure, but the whole apart 

 ments in general. These things well ob- 



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