THE SILK WORM. 47 



When the leaves have attained this size, the papers, 

 on which the eggs are laid, are to be brought from 

 the cellar where they have been deposited for safe 

 keeping through the winter, and exposed to the action 

 of the atmosphere of the sitting room. In a day or 

 two the Worms will begin to appear, and must be 

 immediately fed with the young and tender foliage 

 of the Mulberry. This is done by laying the leaves 

 upon them, to which they will cling and commence 

 eating. Care should be taken to classify the Worms 

 according to the time of hatching, keeping those 

 which hatch about the same time in distinct classes ; 

 this will produce more uniformity in their future ope- 

 rations. While they are upon the leaves at the first 

 feeding, they should be removed to the shelves in- 

 tended for their future use. This is easily done by 

 taking the leaf by the stem and carrying them to the 

 cocoonery. 



SPACE REQUIRED. 



The health of the Worms and the product of their 

 labor depend materially upon their having sufficient 

 room allotted them during their several ages. As 

 they increase in size, it is manifest more room must 

 be given them, or they will become crowded, diseased, 

 and either die, or perform their labor like a sickly and 

 feeble man, or animal. 



It is somewhat difficult to prescribe the space ne- 

 cessary with mathematical accuracy ; but as a general 

 rule, the Worms should never be permitted to come 

 in contact with each other during any period of their 

 lives. Mr. Cobb, who has much practical and scien- 

 tific knowledge on the subject, says : " It is calcu- 

 lated the Worms proceeding from one ounce of 



