22 SILK GROWER'S GUIDE. 



the conductor, or by loud and spontaneous bursts, the 

 warring elements have fully discharged the arsenal of 

 their fiery wrath, and the equilibrium is restored. 



SECTION III. 



VARIETIES OF SILK-WORMS. 



1. Besides the kind of silk-worm already described, 

 there is a kind, one of the most beautiful I have ever 

 seen ; these are of a pure white, and their cocoons are 

 also very beautiful, and of a snowy whiteness. Pos- 

 sibly this may be the identical China silk-worm, which 

 produces silk of a superior quality, and which, accord- 

 ing to one account, was brought to France about thirty 

 years ago. 



2. There is a variety of silk-worm which was intro- 

 duced from China into France about 50 years ago, but 

 which has not been much cultivated until the last 30 

 years. These are much prized by Count Dandolo, who 

 has raised many of this kind, and prefers them to all 

 others. They cast their skins but thrice, and produce 

 silk of a white color. He recommends to make choice 

 constantly only of the very finest and whitest cocoons 

 to prevent a degeneracy. 



3. There is a variety of silk-worm from Italy, which, 

 when fully grown, is but three-fifths of the ordinary 

 weight and size, and the quantity of food consumed is 

 in the same proportion. The cocoons are also of pro- 

 portionably diminished size. These are by some pre- 

 ferred, as the silk which they afford is very fine and 

 beautiful, and in greater proportion than other cocoons, 

 according to their weight. Each cocoon of this species 

 affords over 2 1-10 grains of silk, and measures on the 

 average but a fraction short of 400 yards. It requires 



