66 



ti I L K MANUAL, AND 



of sleeves, In the stiffenings of neck cloths, in the 

 entire backs of surtouts, cloaks, mantles, and even 

 in the coverlets of beds, &c. and where health is 

 in question, it will be found to be the most eco- 

 nomical stuff that can be used, as it will save 

 many an apothecary's bill. When it can be made 

 a principal means of preventing consumption, 

 rheumatism, gout, inflammation, melancholy, mad- 

 ness, and even suicide itself, no expense ought to 

 be spared." 



General Directions to American Planters and Far- 

 mers for the Raising of Silk JVorms, by J. D^Ho- 

 mergue. 



[Concluded from our last.] 

 ON THE REARING OF SILK WORMS. 



In Europe the silk worms, after they are hatch- 

 ed are generally laid, with the leaves on which 

 they are feeding, on wicker hurdles, in order, as 

 it is thought, the more easily to keep them clean. 

 I think they may as well be laid on clean fine 

 tables, and may in that manner also be kept clean, 

 as I shall presently show. 



During the first day after the worms are hatch- 

 ed, the room in which they are, should be kept in 

 the same degree of heat ; but afterwards, as the 

 heat and the strength of the insect increases to- 

 gether, the room should be cooled from time to 

 time by letting in a draught of air. In general 

 the windows should be now and then opened to 

 let in the dry air from the north and northwest. 

 Dampness is fatal to the silk worm and should be 

 constantly guarded against. 



Cleanliness is also of the greatest importance ; 

 when it is wished to clean the table on which the 

 worms are, it is only necessary to place close to it 

 another table, on which are put mulberry leaves ; 

 the worms will immediately crawl to them, and 

 leave the other table empty, which may then be 

 cleaned. This is necessary to be done the oftener 

 as they increase in size, as they make more or- 

 dure. In the beginning it should not be done 

 until after their first moulting. They generally 

 moult or shed their skin four times. Durino- the 

 moulting, which lasts 2i hours, they lie torpid, and 

 do not feeil. They should he left quiet. 



Care should be taken that the worms do not lie 

 on each other, as it prevents their feeding. When 

 they do they should be separated. Thev should 



have as much space as possible ; the more they 

 are at their ease the better they thrive. 



Nothing is more prejudicial to the silk worm 

 than to be fed with damp leaves. A quantity of 

 dry leaves should therefore always be kept in re- 

 serve in case of rain. Wet leaves must be dried 

 in the hot sun. The leaves should not be gather- 

 ed until the sun has absoi'bed the dew. 



The quantity of food to be given to the worms 

 must be calculated according to their ages. In 

 the first days they should not be overfed. 



In plucking the leaves to give to the worms, 

 the buds should not be touched, nor the branches 

 of the tree broken. Nothing but leaves should be 

 gathered. The mulberry puts forth three times 

 in each season : if the branches are broken, or 

 the buds plucked off the tree suffers considerably, 

 and does not produce so much. All the leaves 

 should not be plucked off, but some left on the 

 tree. 



IV. OF THE RAISING OF THE SILK WORM. 



When the silk worms are ready to make their 

 cocoons, which in this country, generally, is on 

 the 31st day after they have been hatched, a kind 

 of artificial hedge not above one foot high must 

 be prepared, by means of some brushwood with- 

 out any leaves, which is to be fixed along the wall 

 behind the table on which the worms are. They 

 crawl of themselves on this hedge, which is called 

 j-ising-, and there make their cocoons. This brush- 

 wood must not be fixed straight up along the wall 

 but should be inclined above and below, in the 

 form of a semicircle towards the table on which 

 it is to rest, because the worms always move in a 

 circular direction ; and also in order that, if they 

 should fall they may not fall upon the table or 

 floor, but on some part of the artificial hedge, 

 whence they may crawl up and carry on the 

 work. 



It is easy to know when the worms are ready 

 to rise. They crawl on the leaves without eating 

 them ; they rear their heads as if in search of 

 something to clindi on ; their rings draw in ; the 

 skin of their necks becomes wrinkled, and their 

 body becomes like soft dough. Their color also 

 changes to a pale yellow. When these signs ap- 

 pear, the table should be cleaned and the hedge 

 prepared to receive them. 



