HABITATIONS, HURDLES, &C. 69 



distance of half an inch or an inch above a shelf or 

 other hurdle containing silk-worms, the insects will in- 

 stantly and altogether ascend. Thus are the insects 

 preserved from the annoyance of their litter, which is 

 thus easily removed, and a free current and circulation 

 of air is preserved. The hurdles for the silk-worms in 

 the first age are formed of no other material than paper ; 

 those of the second age may be fed on paper, on boards, 

 or on netting of a finer description than above stated. 



Before the silk-worms are prepared to spin, the net- 

 ting should be elevated four inches above the board, 

 otherwise some of the most forward worms may begin 

 to form their cocoons in the space between. These 

 slides may be of stiff oiled paper, sustained by. laths, or 

 they may be of thin boards. 



This mode of feeding the silk-worms was first intro- 

 duced particularly to notice by the Rev. Mr. Swayne 

 of England. His plan, however, differed a little from 

 that which I have described ; the hurdle for the silk- 

 worms of the first age being of paper ; those for the 

 second and third age were of catgut with threads one 

 tenth of an inch asunder. 



The plan of feeding has been tried by many, both in 

 Europe and in America with the most perfect success. 

 When the silk-worms are sufficiently large to be no 

 longer in danger of falling through the netting, the 

 paper slides may be removed at times, and this will 

 allow a free circulation of air upwards or downwards 

 through the netting. 



In America, the plan has been recommended by Mr. 

 Smith, and has been tried by others, and promises to 

 be eminently useful, by ensuring a more perfect de- 

 gree of health to the insect, and an important economy 

 and saving of full half the labor in this department. 



