A. ZIEGLER ON THE CULTURE OF THE SILK-WORM. 373 



old mulbcrry-trcc, and takes care of it till it gets to be 16 years 

 of age. Our table shows us that a tree of 16 years produces 80 

 lbs. of leaves ; these give food to 1280 caterpillars, which give 

 about 960 cocoons, and these represent a capital of 40 florins (600 

 cocoons =1 florin). If this same tree is taken care of for 15 years 

 more, it will bear 200 lbs. of leaves, and feeds 3206 caterpillars, 

 promising a yearly income of 4 florins = a capital of 100 florins. 

 This should induce, in fact, every farmer to plant a certain space 

 of his land, at least, with mulberry -trees, and, wherever it be con- 

 venient, to line his fields with hedges of them. 



The Breeding of the Caterpillars. 



This begins when the plantation has attained such an age that 

 a corresponding quantity of leaves may be relied upon. Prudence, 

 however, requires us to make the first trial with only a limited 

 number, in order to instruct one's self in all the minute cares and 

 details that are required by the business, which may be better 

 learned in this way than by at once undertaking it on a larger 

 scale. This exact knowledge, only to be obtained by several 

 years' close attendance, will be found the more necessary, as with- 

 out it a too large expense might easily be incurred for eggs by 

 overcalculating the quantity of feeding material, which might 

 bring the silk- worm raiser into serious trouble, as he would be 

 forced, by the want of the latter perhaps a few days before the 

 time of spinning arrives, to sacrifice the majority of his caterpil- 

 lars in order to save at least the remaining few. In this way 

 time, trouble, and leaves have been frequently sacrificed in vain. 



The breeding of the caterpillars requires a certain amount of 

 care and attendance, although the insect may not perish by every 

 sudden change of temperature or small want of the former. To 

 know how much they may be able to stand, cover one of the trees 

 at the time of breeding with a fish-net, to keep the birds off, and 

 let a part of the caterpillars creep out on the twigs. Those falling 

 off must be picked up and put back to them. 



The Breeding-room. 



This requires, above all, a sunny, dry site, which must be high, 

 not exposed to the influence of bad odors, and have a contrivance 

 to be warmed. If convenient, it is better situated in the second 

 story of a house than on the first. Care must be taken to soften 

 the too bright sunshine by window-curtains, and to prevent mice, 

 spiders, etc., from getting into it. For the beginner, any such con- 

 ditioned room will do in which he may raise a few thousand cater- 

 pillars on crates or other fixtures that he may even place upon a 

 table. A gradually increasing breeding requires, of course, a pro- 

 portionately larger room, and a certain rule in all its necessary 

 arrangements. Scaffolds will then be required of the following 

 description : According to the locality, posts are put up (inside 



