REMARKS ON FEEDING, &CC. 75 



cut leaves, passing over them and causing waste. They 

 prefer twigs or small branches, as the leaves keep longer 

 in this state, or until consumed, and are more consonant 

 to the natural habits of the worms. It has also been no- 

 ticed that the worms avoid the cut edges, and attack the 

 leaf in any other part in preference. A dozen leaves 

 torn in pieces at each feeding, will support a great many 

 worms during the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th days, and but a 

 very few leaves will suffice during the first ten days. 

 Constant attention will soon enable the intelligent at- 

 tendant to discover the quantity of food necessary, and 

 to avoid on the one hand stinting them in the needful 

 quantity, or on the other hand a needless waste by over 

 supplies of food. 



The young leaves, being replete with moisture, are the 

 only suitable food for the young silk-worms, as their 

 bodies transpire largely : and as the mature leaves con- 

 tain a greater proportion of solid and nutritive food, so 

 they are the only suitable food for the silk-worms of a 

 more advanced age. 



Leaves of a crude and watery consistence, like wet 

 leaves, occasion disease leaves which contain the most 

 nourishment, being alone the most suitable. The best 

 leaves are produced in dry seasons and on dry soils, and 

 on the trees of a more advanced growth. 



In the early or first ages of.the silk-worm, the amount 

 of food consumed is very small ; but the amount is very 

 great in the last age, as their dimensions and bulk are 

 wonderfully increased. 



If the longitudinal dimensions of the insect be com- 

 pared during the different ages, and their length at 

 hatching being unity, or 1, then at the end of their first 

 age, their length will be 4 ; at the end of the second 

 age, 6 ; at the end of the third age, 12 ; at the end of 

 the 4th age, 20 ; at the end of the fifth age, 40. 



I have shown in the history of the silk-worm, at p. 18 

 and 19, that the duration of the insect is prolonged by 

 cold ; on the contrary, the vital functions of the silk- 



