102 



AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



from the size of about one-eighth of an inch that at 

 which it emerges from the egg to from two and a-half to 

 nearly three inches long. All the best silk-producing 



Silkworm, Sloths, aud Cocoon. 



varieties feed upon the leaves of the mulberry; and the 

 primary step to take is to ascertain the best kinds for 

 feeding, regard being made to the rapid growth of the 

 worm, and the quantity and kind of silk to be got from it. 

 That being arranged, the next thing is to cultivate the 

 trees in the best form. In Italy and in China pruned 

 hedge or dwarf growth is preferred, the trees being trained 

 as shrubs. In others, larger growth is encouraged, and the 

 trees are planted at distances of 10 to 20 feet from each 

 other. The difference may account for different methods 

 in feeding, which in one place is by the summary process 

 of throwing branches of trees, with the leaves on, to be 

 stripped by the worms ; and in another by leaves picked 



