J42 CHINESE MODE OF REARING SILKWORMS. 



the health and vigour of silkworm caterpillars ; and 

 next to this is plenty of free room for them to move 

 about, the space being extended as they increase in 

 size. 



" When the insects are about to commence their 

 spinning, mats are provided, in the centre of which 

 a strip of rush, about an inch broad, is fixed, and 

 extended in a spiral form, or in concentric circles, 

 over the whole surface of the mat, having an area 

 of about an inch broad between each circle. Here 

 the worms fix themselves to spin ; and it is found 

 that these receptacles occasion less silk to be wasted 

 by them in floss, than where more space is allotted 

 wherein their first threads can be spun. At this 

 time the whole room is carefully covered with mats, 

 to exclude the outward air and the light, as it is 

 believed that silkworms work more diligently in 

 darkness." * This last idea, we have no doubt, is 

 a vulgar error, for we should conceive the contrary 

 to be the truth ; and, indeed, closing up the rooms- 

 must have the effect of preventing the free circula- 

 tion of air, and consequently of injuring the health 

 of the caterpillars. Indeed Count Dandolo found, 

 by strict observation, that this practice had a mosti 

 pernicious effect. The Count says, that on visiting^ 

 apartments where silkworms were reared, that on 

 the side where the sun shone directly on the hurdles 



* Cabinet Lilrary, Silk Manufacture, p. 126. 



