326 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 6 



wet, and of the mode of drying them; let us now 

 proceed to the daily instructions. 



In this fifth stage the worms produced from five 

 ounces of seed will consume ahout 3360 pounds of 

 leaves, and will occupy, gradually extending them- 

 selves, 500 square yards of grating. 



Twenty-third day — For this day are required 60 

 pounds of branches and 30 pounds of leaves. The 

 worms are removed by means of the branches 

 and the drawers or tables to the new gratings. 

 The leaves are divided into two feeds, and in the 

 distribution the cultivator is to be governed by the 

 appetite of the worms. If any of the worms 

 awake late, they are to be collected and put in a 

 warm place with more food. 



Twenty-fourth day — 180 pounds of leaves are 

 necessary, divided into four feeds. For the first, 

 25 pounds are sufficient, to be increased so that 

 the last may be 65 pounds. 



Twenty-fifth day — 280 pounds should be pre- 

 pared. For the first ieed 65 pounds, and for the 

 last 80 pounds. The worms now would eat more, 

 but it is necessary to leave them time to digest the 

 leaves that have been given them. 



Twenty-sixth day — 360 pounds are requisite; 80 

 pounds in the first feed, to be successively in- 

 creased. 



Twenty-seventh day — 540 pounds are wanted. 

 The first feed 100 pounds, the fourth feed 140 

 pounds. But if, in one hour, they eat all the 

 leaves of one feed, give them an intermediate one. 

 Their wants, more than any thing else, should re- 

 gulate the quantity. 



During this and the following day, it is neces- 

 sary to change the beds. Not. having new gra- 

 tings, the branches loaded with worms are placed 

 on the tables, so as to free a part from the grating, 

 from which they are taken in the customary 

 mode, the sheets ot paper with the bed. New 

 papers are substituted, on which are placed the 

 leaves with the worms, care being taken not to 

 bruise thern. In tins way, by degrees, all the 

 grates are cleaned, employing the time and num- 

 ber of persons necessary. 



Twenty-eighth day — The worms now eat ra- 

 venously, so that they require 650 pounds of 

 leaves, to be given them in lour or five feeds, and, 

 il required, give them intermediate feeds. 



Twenty-ninth day — They require 600 pounds 

 of leaves, and the first repast should be more 

 abundant than the others, as the- appetite in some 

 begins to diminish. Intermediate leeds to be gi- 

 ven when necessary. 



Thirtieth day — The appetite is less, and 440 

 pounds are sufficient, divided into lour repasts, the 

 first of which will be the most abundant, and the 

 last the most scanly. For the last feeds the 

 leaves of the old plants should be preserved. This 

 day the second cleansing of the gratings takes 

 place in the manner previously directed. On this 

 occasion, the flame to change the air will be ne- 

 cessary, as well as to go round the room with the 

 vapor-producing bottels for purifying the air. At- 

 tention must also be given to the hygrometer and 

 thermometer, to temper the moisture and the cool- 

 ness of the atmosphere. 



Thirty-first day — Only 330 pounds are required, 

 to be distributed as wanted, as many of the worms 

 eat no more, or eat little. Continue to clean the 

 gratings, as it is very necessary for the worms to 

 respire a pure and wholesome air, therefore the 



ventilator should be kept open, and the vapor 

 should be used. 



TJurty-secortdday — The worms give signs of 

 complete maturity. 



These signs are: 1st, when they mount upon 

 the leaves given them and do not eat; 2d, when 

 they keep erect the upper part of tbe body, 

 which, seen against the light, appears transpa- 

 rent and of a yellowish white; 3d, when they go 

 toward the sides and mount them, showing a dis- 

 position to go elsewhere; 4th, when the wings of 

 the bodies contract, and they have changed the 

 greenish color of their bodies into a golden yel- 

 low; 5th, when the skin of their neck is much 

 shrunk; 6th, when the body becomes more soft, 

 like paste; 7th, when taken in the hand and seen 

 against the. light, they have, as it were, a greenish •» 

 yellow transparency, or the color of a yellowish 

 white grape perfectly ripe. 



Seeing in worms these signs, it is necessary to 

 prepare the brushwood. In the mean time it is 

 necessary to nourish those which still eat. 



Of the brushwood, and the mode of placing the 

 worms upon it. 



The manner of preparing the brush, upon 

 which the sill; worms form their cocoons, is suffi- 

 ciently known. It should be made so that the 

 worm may easily climb upon it, and place itself 

 between three or four slight twigs, to which it 

 may attach its threads, so that they should not be 

 too thick, nor too wide apart. Il they be too 

 thick, they prevent the necessary ventilation, and 

 often produce double cocoons, in which two 

 worms are enclosed, and which arc of less value 

 than the others. Let the brush be placed on the 

 gratings, and not upon the papers, so these may 

 be changed when necessary to clean. Let this be 

 done as before mentioned. When many worms 

 are seen to mount, it is proper to place the brush 

 near the mature worms; but there is no harm if 

 there should be some delay, as in the mean time 

 they discharge the excrement. At this time it is 

 well to admit the external air, provided there be 

 no wind, and the thermometer not lower than 68 

 degrees. The worms should not accumulate on 

 one part of the brush; which is prevented by lay- 

 ing other branches near where they collect. If 

 some of the weak, dull worms remain on the gra- 

 tings, and some from weakness fall from the 

 brushwood, they should be gently taken up and 

 put upon the table and carried to another cham- 

 ber, where the temperature is about 72^ degrees, 

 and slightly ventilated. Those which will not eat 

 more should be carried to the brush upon a branch 

 horizontally placed, if there is danger of their fall- 

 ing through weakness. When all the worms are 

 upon the brush, let all the gratings be cleaned, the 

 papers removed, and the chamber well cleaned, 

 for which purpose all the means pointed out 

 should be used, to have the air warm, pure, and 

 well ventilated, but no wind should be allowed to 

 enter, which would be (ktal to the worms at work. 



It is also important that the air be not too warm 

 and dry, as the worms will not produce so fine 

 silk. The worms managed in this way com- 

 plete the cocoon on the seventh day from that in 

 which they commenced mounting the brush; but 

 it will be well to wait till the eighth or ninth be- 

 fore collecting them. Strip the brush regularly, 



