376 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 6- 



ed of a portion of the worms, if they are too 

 thickly crowded. 



In order to have a proper distribution, divide 

 each sheet of paper into four parts; and in this 

 manner the worms produced from one ounce may 

 be easily distributed on four sheets, which they 

 should occupy till the first change. The remain- 

 der ol" the worms are distributed in the same man- 

 ner; then a fnw tender leaves finely cut are given 

 them, distributed so that by degrees the entire su- 

 perficies of the sheet may be covered with worms. 



All the worms are generally hatched in two, or 

 perhaps three days; whence the first will be little 

 larger than the second; and as it is of much im- 

 portance to have them of the same size, it is ne- 

 cessary, at first, to give them (the first) less food, 

 and to !<eep them in a place where the) shall have 

 less heat. 



If the worms are carried from the chamber 

 where they are hatched to another, no other pre- 

 caution is necessary than to prevent their taking 

 cold; but if they are carried to another house, it is 

 necessary that every sheet of paper should con- 

 tain all the worms of an ounce of eggs. The 

 sheet being divided into four parts, the worms are 

 easily distributed on four sheets; and if they are 

 too thick in one part, it is easy to equalize them. 



In transporting them, let them be well protected 

 and covered, that nothing may touch them. 



On the nourishment of the worms. 



The leaves of the mulberry are the only food of 

 the silkworm. These should not be given to the 

 worms as soon as plucked, but should first be kept 

 in a cool airy place five or six hours; neither should 

 they be too dry and hard, particularly at first; they 

 should never be given when wet; and if it has 

 rained, they should be dried, either by placing 

 them on a clean pavement of tiles, turning them, 

 or let the water run off by placing them on a sheet 

 folded in form of a bag. If necessary, they may be 

 preserved two or three days, keeping them in a cool 

 place and not much heaped together, stirring or 

 moving them from time to time. 



It is necessary to clip the leaves, taking away 

 that which the worm does not eat, and the more 

 carefully the smaller the worm. It is of less im- 

 portance to do this after the fourth change. It is 

 necessary to cut the leaves for the worms, that 

 they may eat them the more easily. 



Generally the leaves should be distributed to 

 the worms four times a da}', that is, every six 

 hours. In this way they have time to digest, and 

 always eat with appetite all the leaves you give 

 them; and in this way the bed or residuum of the 

 leaves is less, which, together with the excrement, 

 corrupts the air, especially in the last changes. If, 

 however, it is seen that they have a good appetite, 

 or, for example, if they should eat in one hour all 

 the leaves of one feed, then, at the expiration of 

 three hours, an intermediate feed may be given 

 them, consisting of half the usual quantity. As 

 the appetite corresponds with the state of their 

 health, and they eat less when near a change, or 

 a little after they awake, attention should be paid 

 to this in giving them leaves. 



The changes have been spoken of. They 

 change their skin, which does not grow in propor- 

 tion to their body. It rplifs, and another suc- 

 ceeds. Thi* change produces on the worms a 



kind of sickness, which first renders them weak, 

 then drowsy, (and then it is said they sleep,) and 

 they are weak when they awake. The greatest 

 care should then be taken of them, especially to 

 maintain the necessary degree of heat. The 

 changes take place lour times while the}' are on 

 the grating, and twice in the cocoon. 



Of the changes of the worm. 



We will now proceeed to point out what should 

 daily be done in the management of worms du- 

 ring the first four stages, or ages. 



First age. 



When the worms are carried to the place where 

 they are to be fed until the first change, the tem- 

 perature of the room should be 75 degrees. The 

 leaves of large size may be given to them in pro- 

 portion to their growth. The food, divided into 

 four feeds, should consist of — 



First day — 2 lbs. of leaves very finely cut. 



Second day — 4 lbs. 



Third day — 8 lbs. If their appetite is great, 

 give them an intermediate feed. 



Fourth day — A\ lbs.: because, the change, ap- 

 proaching, they eat less; ihe last feed less than 

 the first. 



Fifth day — 1 lb.: to be distributed when it is 

 wanted, as the greater part of the worms sleep. 



Second age. 



The temperature of the room should be from 

 72| to 75 degrees. As at this age the worms pro- 

 duced from five ounces of eggs should occupy forty 

 yards of grating, these should be prepared. 



The worms awake successively, but leaves 

 should not be given them until all are awake, in 

 order to keep them equal; nor will the first sutler, 

 even though they should have been twenty or 

 thirty hours awake without eating. It is necessa- 

 ry to prepare six pounds of branches, and the 

 same quantity of leaves, finely cut. If it is ob- 

 served that many of them endeavor to leave their 

 respective sheets, they should be removed, com- 

 mencing where they are thickest. 



Sixth day — Spreading o-ently the branches over 

 the worms, let one branch be about a finger's 

 length from another, and thus cover the entire pa- 

 per. Put the branches which are covered with 

 most worms on the tables, or baskets, for moving 

 them. Place them on the new grating, 40 sheets 

 of which, growing by degrees, they will, at the 

 expiration of this change, completely occupy. If, 

 after the removal, worms should still be found on 

 the frame bed, let them be collected in the same 

 manner. These directions will serve for all the 

 removals at each subsequent change. The leaves 

 of the branches will serve them for their first feed. 

 After an hour or two, give them two pounds of 

 leaves, distributing them in the interstices between 

 the branches, that the worms may spread. They 

 should not however be too much scattered; but 

 should be collected with a brush. During the re- 

 mainder of the day let the remaining feeds be 

 given ihem. 



The leaves of the first bed are collected and 

 earned out of the room to be cleaned and dried. 



Seventh dcy — Twenty pounds of leaves are ne- 



