HINTS ON SILKWORM -REARING IN THE PUNJAB. 17 



worms in mounting the heath emit a large mass of semi- liquid excreta 

 which produces dampness and is extremely injurious to worms which are 

 not yet mature. 



During the period of spinning the temperature should be above 

 65 F. and below 80 F. A temperature of about 75 P. is the best. 

 The rooms must be thoroughly ventilated, and all the doors and windows 

 should be kept open. 



22. About ten days after the worms have mounted, the Collecting 

 heath is gathered and the cocoons are picked off the bran- Cocoon8 v 

 ches and the bits of twigs and leaves adhering to them are 

 brushed away. 



23. Good cocoons are regular in size, colour and shape. Goodcocoona. 

 They resist pressure from the fingers. 



24. Faulty cocoons are those of abnormal size, shape Faulty 

 or colour, or which do not resist the pressure of the fingers. cocoons ' 

 These should be put in a separate basket. Among them 



may be found : 



(1) DOUBLE COCOONS. 



These are unusually large and are formed by two silk worms 

 having seriposited together. This happens frequently, if worms are 

 over-crowded while seripositing, These cocoons will not reel pro- 

 perly. 



(2) VELVETY OB SATINY COCOONS. 



These are soft and velvety to the touch, and this is said to be 

 either due to abnormal feeding or temperature during rearing or to 

 inherent defects in the eggs. These cocoons give poor and broken threads 

 when reeled. 



(3) SAFFRON COCOONS. 



/These are saffron coloured : this is said to be due to inferior 

 eggs. These cocoons give little silk and that of a bad colour. 



(4) STAINED COCOONS. 



These cocoons show a black mark at one end, due to a dark 

 liqufd emitted by a dead and decomposing chrysalis inside. No noise 

 will be heard if the cocoon is shaken close to the ear. Melted cocoons 

 may be the result of want of air in the nursery after rising or of disease 

 in the worms. The silk is poor. 



; ( 



(5) IMPERFECT COCOONS. 



These usually have a thin end and are almost transparent 

 showing the inside. This defect is ascribed to low temperature when the 

 worms are seripositing. 



