52 THE SILK WORM. 



finished their work, they may be taken down and kept 

 under cover for future use. With proper care, the 

 furniture of a cocoonery may be made to last an age. 



In Turkey, Mr. Rhind says, " At the commence- 

 ment of the season almost every family clear out all 

 the rooms in the house except one in which they live, 

 during the crop season ; the Worms being produced, 

 they purchase a quantity of leaves und strew them 

 over the floor of each room, leaving a small space 

 next the wall, that they may walk round and distribute 

 the leaves ; they then place the Worms on the leaves, 

 who readily attack them, and then daily throw on 

 such a quantity as experience teaches them will eup- 

 ply the want of the Worms, and this they repeat un- 

 til the Worms are ready to rise and wind the cocoon, 

 without ever removing the offal or stems, and fre- 

 quently the pile of collected matter will reach the 

 height of three or four feet." 



This slovenly mode of feeding has never, to our 

 knowledge, been attempted in this country, and there 

 appear to be substantial reasons, other than the health 

 and comfort of the Worms, why it should not be 

 adopted. But the promotion of their health and com- 

 fort, is of itself, a sufficient reason for rejecting this 

 method, especially when the health and enjoyment 

 of the feeders are taken in connexion with it, and are 

 duly regarded. The exhalations arising from the 

 litter &c. must be very offensive and deleterious to 

 health. 



WEIGHT OF FOOD. 



Various estimates have been made of the weight 

 of food consumed by the Silk Worm, and the product 

 of silk received in return. Among them is that of 



