294 THE NURSERY. [MARCH 



as directed on page 275. The cultivating of both kinds I think the 

 more necessary, from the different opinions entertained of their utility 

 for this purpose, and the universal admission of either kind answer- 

 ing the end. 



The next is to procure the eggs, about the beginning of May, or 

 when the mulberry begins to expand its leaves, to lay them on paper 

 or flannels placed on shelves, in warm exposures, where they may 

 have the heat of the sun to hatch them. In Sicily, boarded or frame 

 houses are commonly erected for this purpose in the fields, among the 

 mulberry-trees, with a number of shelves rising one above another, 

 and a large table in the middle of the room, on which, when they are 

 hatched, to lay over them the young twigs bearing the leaves intended 

 for their food, which must be removed and renewed as often as neces- 

 sary; keeping them always clean from dead leaves, and their own 

 dirt. A man and boy will attend all the worms that come from six 

 ounces of eggs, and those, one year with another, will spin twenty 

 pounds weight of silk. 



The method of clearing off their dirt is this; spread a net over the 

 worms, on which lay fresh food; they will all crawl through the 

 meshes to feed on the leaves, when they may be taken up without 

 the least injury, and their shelves cleaned effectually : after which 

 lay fresh twigs with leaves on the shelves ; over these lay the nets 

 and they will return to their former places, when the nets may be 

 laid by till wanted again for a similar purpose. In some countries 

 the worms are suffered to feed and work upon the trees, but their 

 being subject, under such circumstances, to the ravages of birds, un- 

 favorable changes of weather, &c., they are generally kept in houses 

 or sheds erected for that purpose. 



In Turkey, the worms are fed in long barns, made, both walls 

 and roofs, of reed or cane; when they are fed, and afterwards spin 

 their clues upon these reeds. In Italy and Spain, they are kept to 

 feed in the same rooms wherein the people live and do their other 

 household affairs, feeding them on shelves and tables without more 

 curiosity. 



It is observed, that the worms are commonly sick three or four 

 times during their feeding, generally about ten days after they are 

 hatched, and at weekly periods afterwards. Their best treatment, 

 during these times, is to give them but little food while sick. The 

 whole time of their feeding is about seven weeks ; and as they gt 

 strength and grow bigger, it need hardly be said that you must give 

 them more and oftener. The leaves should not be given to the 

 worms whilst wet with the dew or rain. 



When they have fed their due time they begin to look clear, and 

 a little of the yellowish cast, and to prepare for work ; at every time, 

 but at this more particularly, they should have plenty of air. Then 

 small branches, divested of their leaves, are laid over them and in 

 their way, upon which they mount and attach themselves, and in 

 a few days each will cover itself all over with silk so as to be seen 

 no more, till suffered to work its way out for the business of propa- 

 gation. 



In about two weeks they commonly finish their balls, and soon 



