46 THE SILK WORM. 



from Mr. Rhind's instructions in the art of managing 

 Silk Worms in Italy. 



" The temperature of the chamber near the place 

 where the eggs are put, should be 63J degrees ; this 

 is obtained by increasing the fire, should the tempera- 

 ture be less, and by opening the ventilator, and even 

 the door, should it be greater. This temperature 

 should be observed two consecutive days. On the 

 third day, the temperature is raised to 66 ; on the 

 fourth to 68 ; on the fifth to 70 ; on the sixth to 72 ; 

 on the seventh to 75 ; on the eighth to 77 ; on the 

 ninth to 79; and on the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth, 

 to 81 degress." 



Whatever artificial heat may be necessary for 

 hatching and'rearing Silk Worms in Italy, or other 

 countries, our climate is so congenial to their growth 

 and health, that nothing of the kind is wanted. Indeed 

 a resort to it would be injurious rather than benefi- 

 cial. All that is necessary here, is to expose the eggs 

 to the ordinary heat of a common sitting room, and in 

 due time they will hatch, and require a little of your 

 time and attention in procuring them food and clean- 

 sing their cocoonery, and they will make you an 

 abundant crop of silk. 



TIME OF HATCHING. 



The proper time for hatching the eggs is always 

 determined by the advance of the season. In New 

 England and kindred climates, the season is ordinarily 

 sufficiently advanced by the latter part of May. The 

 only sure criterion, however, is the leaves of the 

 Mulberry and hence the maxim among culturists, 

 that " it is time to hatch the eggs when the leaves of 

 the Mulberry are about the size of your thumb nail/ 



