AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES. 193 



In both of these chief breeds there are, again, a number of sub- 

 divisions, distinguished, according to the colour of the cocoons, as 

 white-spinners (Jap. Shiro-ko, white children), green-spinners (of a 

 yellow- green colour, Jap. Kin-ko, i.e. gold-children), and yellow- 

 spinners. White and green spinners are the favourite Japanese 

 breeds, one being preferred in one part of the country, the other in 

 another. Their cocoons, Jap. Mayu, are smaller than the European 

 and Levantine. There are 850 of the white Japanese in a kilo- 

 gram, and 550 of those raised in Asia Minor ; while of the beau- 

 tiful yellow cocoons of the North Italian Brianza breed it takes 

 only 500 to a kilogram. 



In their other stages of development as well, the Japanese white 

 and green-spinners are distinguished by several features from our 

 European breeds. The eggs, Jap. Tane, seeds, French graines, have 

 for example, very fragile shells. For this reason the butterflies are 

 made to deposit them on boards (tane-gami) made of bast paper. 

 These are usually 35 cm. long and 22 cm. broad, and are covered 

 with about 25 grammes i.e. 45,000 separate eggs. These stick 

 fast, and from them the young grubs creep out on the cardboard. 

 The peculiar character of these grubs is not shown till after the 

 third casting : yellow eyes, with black arches, and plain distinct, 

 dark sickles or half-moons on the back. After the fourth casting 

 they grow very fast, acquiring at this point the appearance of our 

 old breeds, though they remain one-fourth smaller than our yellow- 

 spinners. And the Kaiko or Japanese silk-worms are less active, 

 and have a strong inclination to spin themselves in on the spot 

 where they lie. Until the second or third casting, they must be 

 fed on chopped leaves, which are given them, as a rule, four times 

 a day. In fewer cases it is customary to feed them five or six 

 times, especially in the first two of the five periods into which the 

 caterpillar's life falls, on account of its four changes of skin. 



The silkworm, to develop well and strong, needs a clean, dry 

 room, free from draughts, and with fresh, healthy air, — not much 

 exceeding the limits of 10-30° C, — besides protection from direct 

 sunlight, and clean, fresh food, free from dust, yet dry. The 

 skilled breeder must industriously study all these life-conditions 

 in connection with a number of other smaller, but no less import- 

 ant, circumstances — among them the cleanliness of the attendant 

 — and, through no lack of attention or care, fail to fulfil them. In 

 Japan most of the work falls to the women. The breeding (of 

 Haru-ko, or spring-children) depends, of course, upon the appear- 

 ance of new foliage on the fo d-plant, and commences, in the 

 plain and the warmer hill-country, at the beginning of May, but in 

 the valleys not till the middle or end of the month. It lasts, on 

 an average, 34 days, with natural warmth, i.e. a temperature vary- 

 ing between 8^ and 28° in the shade. In the breeding room, how- 

 ever, an average of 10-20° C. is maintained. 



The artificial temperature of 20-25° C. maintained at most 



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