376 GRAPE CULTURE AND WINE-IVIAKING. 



leaves ; when growing, they want stronger ones ; and before their 

 spinning, the stoutest. Before the time of the third shedding of 

 the skin, the food has to be cut finely with a sharp knife ; during 

 their growing, with a two-edged blade, thicker and thicker. This 

 must be done immediately before the meal-time, because otherwise 

 the juice would dry up and the leaves would wither. 



After the third shedding of the mandibles, the animals have at- 

 tained sufficient strength to chew the whole leaves for themselves. 

 These are better collected early in the morning, after the dew has 

 dried off, or in the evening, before it begins to wet them ; during 

 the heat of the day is not advisable. In case of rainy weathei 

 menacing, it is necessary to provide a sufficient quantity to last for 

 a few days. If, however, it has been unavoidable to cut the leaves 

 during a rain, they must be dried before feeding them. If left on 

 the twigs in an airy place, they dry quicker than if broke off. 



Wet food makes the caterpillar apt to sicken ; it is considered 

 safer, therefore, to let them rather hunger a short time than allow 

 them to eat it. Leaves that have dust on them do no harm ; but 

 such as have mildew settled upon them must be washed off and 

 dried again. Do not feed the leaves right fresh from the tree or 

 the cellar ; but let them, in the first case, evaporate for several 

 hours ; in the latter, at least half an hour. For the gathering of 

 the leaves clean sacks or baskets must be used, into which the 

 twigs must, however, never be pressed. Immediately after, these 

 must be taken to a cool place, and protected from the sunshine 

 and air-draught. 



About the quantity of leaves to be given there is no certain 

 rule. Experience has shown that the caterpillars out of one ounce 

 of eggs eat up about 800 pounds of leaves in the manner that the 

 first half is allowed until the fourth, the last after the fourth shed- 

 ding of the skin takes place. According to this estimate, count- 

 ing 12,000 to 15,000 caterpillars to one ounce of eggs, one single 

 one would consume during its existence about 1^ to 2 ounces of 

 leaves. 



The different Periods in the Life of the Silk-worm. 



The total term of its life comprises not more than 24 to ZQ^ or, 

 at the utmost, 42 days, and depends partly on the higher or lower 

 state of temperature in which it lives, on the care it enjoys, and 

 the quality of the food. 



Its nature forces it to shed its skin at different times. This pe- 

 riod is also called the sleep of the caterpillars, because then they 

 will remain perfectly unmoved upon their place, without partak- 

 ing of any nourishment at all. While in this state they must not 

 be fed, nor touched, or troubled ; and if some wake up sooner 

 than the rest, it is better not to feed them till all are alive again. 



The shedding process itself is very interesting. At tlie head 

 of the caterpillar, which appears very much swollen, a kind of 



