SPACE REQUIRED FOR SILK-WORMS. 63 



too close, and a too confined atmosphere, and an inat- 

 tention to cleanliness. The silk-worms should in no 

 age be confined so close as to come in contact. An error 

 in these points may prove fatal, and may cause a total 

 destruction by inducing malignant diseases. 



With regard to the space which is necessary on 

 the hurdles, for five ounces, or two hundred thousand 

 silk-worms when full grown, the best authors are much 

 at variance. Comte de Hazzi, the professed disciple of 

 Count Dandolo and M. Bonafoux, and especially of the 

 latter, for the statements of both are nearly in agree- 

 ment, has stated that the amount of space necessary at 

 each successive age is as follows, in square feet : First 

 age, 50 feet: Second age, 100 feet: Third age, 230 

 feet: Fourth age, 550 feet: Fifth age, 1200 feet, or 

 133 square yards. I shall allow more space, for reasoas 

 which I shall shortly state. 



Yet the house, as a specimen, of M. Bonafoux, calcu- 

 lated for one hundred and sixty thousand silk-worms on 

 forty hurdles, in stages or stories ten deep, and actually 

 containing eighty thousand, was but twenty feet square, 

 twenty feet in height. For feeding this whole number, 

 forty hurdles were provided ; each being three feet wide 

 and fifteen feet .long, and containing on their extreme 

 width, and length, two hundred square yards of surface. 

 These must of necessity be piled on horizontal courses 

 or stories, ten deep. But then this house, so small, 

 stood alone, by the side of a brook, with five windows, 

 and twenty ventilators opening through the four walls 

 on every side, and in the roof; with a chimney and a 

 broad hearth, for blazing and sudden flame fires. These 

 openings in the roof are very important, as well as the 

 space above. 



The'utmost extent therefore, which in this house is al- 

 lowed, is at the rate of 250 square yards, or 2250 feet 

 for two hundred thousand silk-worms, or in that propor- 

 tion. 



By another account, Count Dandolo has stated that 



