1835.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



377 



cessary for the four feeds, given every six hours. 

 The first being Jess, and the two last consisting of 

 a larger qnantity, continue to enlarge and regulate 

 the divisions of the grating. 



Third age. 



Eighth day — Twenty-two pounds of leaves 

 should be supplied. The two first feeds should 

 be abundant; the last scanty, as tiie worms begin 

 to become drowsy. 



Ninth day — Six pounds of leaves are sufficient, 

 to be scattered lightly, as required, as many will 

 now be asleep. 



Tenth day — Ten pounds of branches, and a like 

 quantity of leaves, are sufficient; and it is neces- 

 sary to prepare ninety-five square yards of gra- 

 ting. The thermometer should be from 70 to 72| 

 degrees. When the worms are awake, by means 

 of branches and drawers they should be carried to 

 the new gratings. When they have eaten the 

 leaves of the branches, give them for their se- 

 cond feed five pounds of leaves; and for the last, 

 the remaining five pounds. The leaves of the 

 old bed should be carried out of the room, and 

 the worms which have awaked late collected and 

 placed near the stove, and fed with more leaves, 

 to equal them to the others. 



Eleventh day— They will consume this day six- 

 ty pounds of leaves. The last feed should be 

 more abundant than the first, as the appetite of 

 the worms is on the increase. 



Twelfth day — They require sixty-five pounds of 

 leaves, and the first feed should be more abundant 

 than the last; as the change is approaching their 

 appetite diminishes. 



Thirteenth day— Thirty-five pounds of leaves 

 are sufficient, many worms being already drowsy; 

 and the leaves should be given to those only 

 which continue to eat. 



Fourteenth day — Eighteen pounds of leaves are 

 sufficient to be distributed as wanted. The worms 

 are preparing for the third change, and require 

 every attention, that the temperature of the room 

 be not changed; not to make the ventilation too 

 great, or change the air by opening the ventilators; 

 and if the weather be moist, or oppressive, it is 

 necessary to light a blazing fire of straw, chips, 

 &c. 



Fifteenth day — Almost all the worms are asleep, 

 and leaves should be given only to the few not yet 

 drowsy; and shouid some be already awake, they 

 should be made to fast, to make them equal to the 

 others: no fear of their suffering for it. If the 

 worms have hitherto been left in the chamber 

 where they were hatched, it is now time to re- 

 move them to the room where the cocoon is to be 

 formed. It is necessary to prepare for the fourth 

 change, which now requires two hundred and 

 twenty-five yards of grating. The thermometer 

 should be from 68 to 72-|- degrees. But if, on ac- 

 count of the heat of the room, it should be higher, 

 it will not be injurious, provided the air be not 

 stagnant or close, which is prevented by opening 

 the ventilator and door, if necessary; lighting a 

 fire in the chimney or ventilating stove. 



Fourth age. 

 Sixteenth day — When all or nearly all the 

 Vol. Ill — IS 



worms are awake, there should be ready 25 

 branches and 40 pounds of leaves, cut large. The 

 removal is made in the customary way to'thenew 

 gratings. As soon as the worms have eaten the 

 leaves from the branches, two good feeds are given 

 them, dividing unequally the 40 pounds of leaves, 

 the second portion being the larger. They then 

 distribute themselves on the grating. The woims 

 which awake last are put on a separate grating. 



Seventeenth day — 110 pounds of leaves are re- 

 quired to be given them; a scanty feed the two 

 first times, and the last more abundant. 



Eighteenth day — 150 pounds of leaves are re- 

 quired. The two last feeds to be more abundant, 

 as the appetite is on the increase. 



Nineteenth day — They will consume 170 pounds 

 of leaves; and as the time of change again ap- 

 proaches, the first two feeds should be more abun • 

 dant. 



7'wentieth day — They require 85 pounds of 

 leaves in smaller portions, as the greater part of 

 the worms are asleep. 



Tiocnty-first day — 20 pounds suffice, to be dis- 

 tributed as wanted: almost all being drowsy. 



Twenty-second day — They complete the fourth 

 change, and awake. In the course of this age 

 it is frequently necessary to change the air, espe- 

 cially if there is a noisome and suffocating smell, 

 and if the hygrometer indicates moisture. If it is 

 not cold or windy, the windows may also be open- 

 ed. The degree of heat should not, however, be 

 diminished. Use may be made of the apparatus 

 for purifying the air. 



Fifth age. 



The care of the worms in the fifth age, that is, 

 after the fourth change, is the most important and 

 most difficult; because they are, much more than 

 in the preceding stages, subject to disease from 

 the following causes. 1st, the moisture arising, 

 as well from the worms themselves as from the 

 leaves. 2d, the moisture of the atmosphere, and 

 particularly when stagnant or confined. 3d, the 

 unwholesome exhalation from the excrement of 

 the worms and the putrefaction of the leaves. 4th, 

 keeping the worms too crowded on the gratings, 

 by which their respiration is impeded or rendered 

 more difficult. It is important to know these 

 causes of evil, in order to prevent it before it takes 

 place. 



The moisture is ascertained by the hygrometer. 

 It is remedied by opening the ventilators and 

 burning in the chimney chips of wood and dry 

 straw; and if the external air is neither cold nor 

 moist (which may be ascertained by placing the 

 thermometer and hygrometer in the open air,) by 

 opening the doors and windows, the hygrometer 

 will show when the moisture is dissipated; the 

 unwholesome exhalations are known by the 

 stench. It is the vulgar opinion that this may be 

 remedied by burning odoriferous substances, or 

 by evaporation of vinegar; which, however cor- 

 rupt, still move the air. These bad odors, which 

 are mixed with the atmospheric air, are destroyed 

 by effluvia of the gas produced by the bottles as 

 previously described. These should be carried 

 around, that the vapor may be spread in all parts 

 of the room. The operatic n to be repeated when 

 necessary. We have a'readv sf ok in of the ne- 

 cessity of giving the worms the k a 'es free from 



