162 QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



Heretofore, we gathered dry leaves in time, or even wiped them 

 dry ; but it was so tedious, we resolved merely to shake the water 

 off, and our worms grew apparently more rapid than they ever had 

 before. As a fact to prove this, they began to wind the twenty- 

 fifth or twenty-sixth day." An experienced hand mentions that, 

 particularly at the time of moulting, it is very necessary to avoid 

 disturbing them by noises or sudden starts — such as throwing their 

 food on them, or loud talking and laughing, &c. — as it injures 

 them. A similar universal testimony is given in favor of early 

 feeding. The one crop system is likewise very generally approved, 

 though a number of crops are successfully raised in the warmer 

 climates. By the use of Gill's feeding and ventilating cradle, 

 and the tent system, it is said the expense is lessened one-half, 

 while the amount produced is double. As to the kind of wood to 

 be used for the winding, one person remarks that, after a variety 

 of experiments, he found the bass wood the best of the whole j \ 

 " the leaves are large and do not curl much ; and, by setting them 

 up close, the worms will crawl in between the leaves, and deposit 

 their cocoons frequently four or five on a leaf, so that it is very , 

 easy gathering them. The floss comes off very clean ; and, there 

 being plenty of room, there are very few double ones." Another 

 recommends paper, folded in a fan-like shape, suspended over the 

 worms — the wide-spread part within their reach. Small bundles 

 of straw of about the size of the wrist, crumpled and bent so as 

 to stand out, spread out dow/iu'arrf^, tied within the feeding frames^ 

 near the lower end, are said to be excellent for the purpose. 



5. In regard to the method of preparing silk for the manufac- 

 turer, the following considerations are deemed of importance : A 

 silk-dyer says : " Most people clean the silk with soft soap — de 

 stroying the native gloss in freeing it of its gum, owing to the 

 vegetable alkali the soap contains. Many dyers use nothing but 

 the best of white soap. About twenty-five pounds of good white 

 soap dissolved in sufficient clean soft water, is used for one huri' 

 dred pounds of silk ; put the silk loosely in thin bags, boil gently 

 two and a half hours, cool and wash it well in a running stream 

 and beat occasionally to free it from all impurity." The Piedmont 

 reel seems to be considered the best of any of the reels in use, and 

 great consequence is attached to a uniformity of reeling. Otc 

 who had great experience on these subjects remarks : " "While on 

 the subject of reeling, perhaps I shall be excusable for mentioning 

 what, to me, proves a source of deep regret. I mean the inexperi 

 ence of those in different sections of our country, who reel their 

 own silk without knowing the necessity of its being done in a par- 

 ticular manner to suit the manufacturer. Lots of silk are offered 

 for sale, which, to look at it, appear perfectly good ; but, on ex- 

 amination, are not saleable at any price, because they cannot be 

 worked." Another, also, alluding to the same thing, says : " R?w 



