FARMERS' REGISTER— SILKWORM. 



479 



seventh day of the fifth age, they have attained 

 their largest size, viz: three inches long, and be- 

 gin to grow shining and yellow. The appetites of 

 some diminish, bitt that of others continues, and 

 must be supplied, to hasten their maturity. Tlie 

 litter nnist be removed every two days, during the 

 fifth age, but not when the worms are moulting, 

 unless it can be done without disturbing them. 



The preservation of the proper temperature of 

 the apartment at this stage, cannot be too seriously 

 imj)ressed upon the cultivator. If sudden and 

 great heat in the weather should take place, as 

 often liappens at this time, serious loss may be 

 suffered, witiiout proper {)rccautions. The inci-eased 

 heat to which the worms are exposed, causes them 

 to cease eating, to leave their feeding shelves, and 

 to wander about the room, in order to find corners 

 a^d places, to form their cocoons in before the silk 

 fluid has been fully elaborated, or matured; thus 

 defeating in a great measure ail the care i)reviously 

 bestowed upon them. In the summer of the year 

 1825, vast numbers of \\orms were killed by hot 

 ■weather, in Mansfield, Connecticut. To guard 

 against sudden heat in the weather, close the win- 

 dow slnitters while the sun is beating on them, and 

 keep the ventilators in the ceiling or other partsof 

 the room oj)en, and if possihle, tubs of ice should 

 be brought into the apartment, until the thermome- 

 ter shows a diminution of temperature to the pro- 

 per degree. The windows must also be kept open 

 every evening and until sunrise next morning, and 

 Avater sprinkled on the floor, to promote evapora- 

 tion, and consequently a freshness in the air.^ 



Of the rearing of Silk IVorms in the last period 



of the fifth j^ge, that is, until the Cocoon is per- 

 fected. 



The fifth age can only be looked on as termina- 

 ted, when the cocoon is perfect. 



The cleanliness of the feeding frames in these 

 last days of the fifth age, requires great attention, 

 to preserve the health of the silk worms. 



About the tenth day of the fifth age, the worms 

 attain perfection, which may be ascertained by the 

 following indications. 



ist. When on |)utting some leaves on the wick- 

 ers, the insects get upon the leaves without eating 

 ihem, and rear their heads as if in search of some- 

 thing else. 



2d. When looking at fhem horizontally, the 

 light shines through them, and they appear .of a 

 whitish yellow transparent color. 



3, When numbers of the worms which were fas- 

 tened to the inside of the edges of the wickers, and 

 straightened, now get upon the edges and move 

 slowly along, instinct urging them to seek change 

 of place. 



4th. When numbers of worms leave the centre 

 of the wickers, and try to reach the edges and 

 crawl upon them. 



5th. When their rings draw in, and their green- 

 ish color changes to a deep golden hue. 



Gth. When their skins become wrinkled about 

 the neck, and their bodies have more softness to 

 the touch, than heretofore, and feel like soft dough. 



7th. When in taking a silk worm in the hand, 



* If the worms should become diseased during the 

 fourth or fifdi ages, oak leaves may be given to tliem 

 These were staled to have been found very beneficial in 

 the year 1772, in Buck's County ; but tlie species of 

 pak was not mentioned. The white oak may be tried. 



and looking through it, the whole body has assumed 

 the transparency of a ripe yellow jjlnm. When 

 these signs appear in any of the insects, every 

 thing should be prepared lor their rising, that those 

 worms which are ready to rise may not lose their 

 strength and silk in seeking for the support they 

 require. Handle the worms at this stage with the 

 greatest gentleness, as the slightest pressure injures 

 them. \V'l)en moved, they should be left on the 

 twigs or leaves to which they are fastened, to pre- 

 vent their being hurt by tearing them off. A 

 blunt hook should be used to take up those not ad- 

 hering to leaves or twigs. 



Preparation of the Hedge. 



A week or ten days before the worms arc ready 

 to mount, bundles of twigs of chesnut, hickory, 

 oak, or of the birch, of whxh stalde brooms are 

 made, must be procured, prepared, and arranged 

 in bunches so that the worms may easily climb up 

 them, to work their cocoons. As soon as it is ob- 

 served, that the worms want to rise, the bundles 

 of twigs must be arranged on the feedings trays, 

 leaving fifteen inclies between them. The top 

 branches should touch the lower part of the tray 

 above that on which they are placed, so as to form 

 an arch — and to be placed a little aslant, that the 

 worms when climbing may not fall off. The 

 branches should be spread out like fans, that the 

 air may penetrate through all parts, and the worms 

 work with ease. When the worms are too near 

 one another, they do not work so well, and form 

 double cocoons, which are only worth half a single 

 round cocoon. Leave openings at the tops of the 

 curves, lor the worms to form their cocoons in. 



As soon as the worms are prepared to rise, the 

 feeding frames should be cleaned thoroughly, and 

 the apartment well ventilated. Put the worms 

 which are ready to rise near the hedges, and give 

 a few leaves to those that are still inclined to eat. 

 After they have begun to rise, those that are weak 

 and lazy do not eat, do not seem to be inclined to 

 rise, and remain mofioidess on the leaves. These 

 shouhl be taken away, and put in a clean dry room, 

 of at least 75° of heat, where there are hurdles 

 covered with paj)er, and the hedge prepared for 

 them. The increased heat will cause them to rise 

 directly. All the silk worms being oft' the hur- 

 dles, they should be immediately cleaned. The 

 temperature of the room should be between 68° 

 and 71°. When the worms arc forming their 

 cocoons, tlie utmost silence must be preserved in 

 the room, as they are \ery sensil:)le to noise, and 

 if disturbed, will for a moment cease to spin ; thus 

 the contmuity of the thread will be interrupted, 

 aud the value of the cocoon diminished. When 

 the cocoons have attained a certain consistency, the 

 apartment may be left quite open. 



Sixth Jlge, beginning in the Chrysalis State, and 

 ending ivhen the Moths appear. 

 The following are the necessary things to be 

 done : 



I. To gather the cocoons. 



II. To choose the cocoons which are to be pre- 

 served for the eggs. 



III. Preservation of cocoons until the a])pear- 

 ance of the moth. 



/. Gathering of the Cocoons. 

 Strong, healthy, and well managed silk worms, 

 will complete their cocoons in three days and a 



