MODERN SYSTEM, &C. 335 



site the principal door is a small house in two apart- 

 ments, one of which is for the attendants, and the other 

 for preserving the implements, and also used as a hot 

 house for hatching the eggs. 



There are various implements and furniture which I 

 shall not describe. A Hygrometer for ascertaining the 

 moisture ; but a saucer with some half pounded salt 

 will shew the amount of moisture. Excess of moisture 

 is rectified by the stoves, or by flame fires. The Ther- 

 mometer regulates the heat within, which in the begin- 

 ning is 75 but is lowered gradually to 63 in the last 

 days, though the weather is constantly growing warmer. 

 Also a Fumitory, or large bottle containing seven 

 ounces of sea salt, three ounces pulverized manganese, 

 and two ounces of water ; a large spoonful of oil of 

 vitriol being added causes an effervescence, which neu- 

 tralizes the bad smell, or miasma. 



The silkworm, according to the diary, passed through 

 the five stages in forty days. I have elsewhere given 

 an abstract from one of M. Bonafoux's diaries. The 

 80,000 silkworms consumed 2887 pounds 6 ounces of 

 leaves, besides a certain quantity of foliage, given in 

 intermediate meals, not herein included. In the last 

 stages, the leaves were given whole. The space occu- 

 pied in the last stage, is stated in the diary at 607 

 square feet, but in the recapitulation, it is put down at 

 3 by 345 feet, which would be something more, or equal 

 to the space in the clear of twenty-three hurdles. Total 

 weight of cocoons, 304 pounds 8 ounces, or 16 to the 

 ounce: all firm, well nourished, sizeable, of a fine straw 

 color. One pound of cocoons has required nine pounds 

 of chopped mulberry leaves. 



Let it be again remarked, that this house stands alone, 

 exposed on all its sides to the four winds, and with the 

 ample space above, it might well contain double the 

 number usually allotted in the same area, in buildings 

 covering a wide space, or in situations confined and 

 secluded. 



