THE NURSERY. 275' 



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 

 propagation. 



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

 sifter cut their way out, and couple for procreation ; the balls so 

 perforated are then good for nothing ; but it is necessary to suffer 

 a sufficient 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 working, 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 bason of hot water, wherein is dissolved a little Gum 

 Tragacanth, 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 lie 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 black- 

 ish 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 encrease in size to about a quai> 

 ter 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 con- 

 tinuance ; during which time it changes its skin, preserving the 

 same bulk. It undergoes similar sickness and changes three or 

 four times, at intervals of about eight days, before it arrives at its 

 full size ; which, is from an inch and quarter to an inch and 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 dif- 

 ferent 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 conies 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 colour, 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 under- 

 taker. 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. 



