MARCH] THE NURSERY. 295 



after cut their way out, and couple for procreation; the balls so per- 

 forated are then good for nothing; but it is necessary to suffer a suffi- 

 cient number to come out in this way, to produce a sufficiency of eggs 

 for the next season's brood. The others, when they have done work- 

 ing, and before they begin to cut through, should be all put into an 

 oven just sufficiently hot to kill the worms. 



The method of winding the silk off the balls, is first to find their 

 ends, which is not difficult, and then put about a dozen or fifteen 

 of them into a basin of hot water, wherein is dissolved a little gum 

 tragacanihy commonly called gum dragon; and thus they will be 

 easily wound. Sometimes the balls are gummy, in which case they 

 should be thrown into a hot clean lye of wood ashes, and after that 

 into scalding pure water, which will cause them to wind freely. 



When the animal is protruded from the egg, it is a small blackish 

 worm, very active, and naturally crawls about in search of food; at 

 this period it should be fed with the youngest and most tender leaves; 

 in eight or ten days it will increase in size to about a quarter of an 

 inch in length. It is then attacked with its first sickness, which is 

 a kind of lethargic sleep, for about two or three days' continuance ; 

 during which time it changes its skin, preserving the same bulk. It 

 undergoes similar sickness and changes three or four times, at in- 

 tervals of about eight days, before it arrives at its full size ; which 

 is from an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half in length ; and 

 the intervals between these changes, and consequently the periods of 

 its arrival at maturity for work, are said to vary in different climates, 

 which is very probable. 



After it has formed its cocoon or ball of silk, and undergone its 

 change in the heart of it, it comes forth a heavy, dull-looking moth, 

 with wings, but these it seldom uses for flying ; it only flutters and 

 crawls slowly about in quest of its mate ; soon after copulation the 

 female lays its eggs, and both die without tasting food in this stage 

 of their existence. 



When in the worm or caterpillar state, they are of a blackish, or 

 a milk or pearl color ; the former are esteemed the best. The body 

 is divided into seven rings, to each of which are joined two very short 

 feet. It has a small point like a thorn exactly over the anus. There 

 are a considerable variety of breeds, some of which possess qualities 

 much superior to others. This is a particular of much importance 

 to be adverted to at the time of beginning to breed ; for it will make 

 a great difference in the profit to the undertaker. The eggs, when 

 obtained, should be kept in a cool, dry place, neither exposed to heat 

 nor to excessive frosts, till wanted for hatching the ensuing season. 



The Morus nigra, or black mulberry, is more esteemed for its fruit 

 than the white, and when cultivated for such, layers or cuttings from 

 good fruit-bearing trees ought to be preferred to raising them by 

 seed ; for monoecious trees, until arrived at a good age, bear male 

 flowers chiefly and very little fruit. The cuttings, if taken off in 

 March, rightly chosen, and skilfully managed, will do very well; 

 though, in general, they do not take as freely in this way as many 

 other trees ; however, if placed under bell-glasses, they will strike 

 with great certainty ; but where there is no such conveniency, the 



