60 THE SILK WORM. 



tops, of chesnut, hickory, oak, or birch, are to be pro- 

 cured and brought to the cocoonery. As soon as the 

 Worms give indications of rising, these are set be- 

 tween the shelves, with their twigs upwards. They 

 should be cut at proper lengths to press against the 

 top of the bottom shelf and the bottom of the one 

 next above it, in order that they may keep their 

 places while the Worms are upon them. To prevent 

 the Worms from falling off they should also stand 

 considerably out of perpendicular. Broom corn is 

 also used in the same manner. The arches or cabins 

 being thus prepared the Worms readily climb them 

 and make their cocoons. 



At the end of twenty-four hours, after the com- 

 mencement of rising, the principal part of the Worms 

 will be found to have mounted. Should any re- 

 main, as they probably will, without any signs of a 

 disposition to rise, they should be removed to anoth- 

 er room of a little higher temperature, and furnished 

 with brush or broom corn as aforesaid. This remov- 

 al will generally cause some of them to rise immedi- 

 ately ; others will eat and then rise, and so on till all 

 will have risen. The Worms are three or four days 

 in making their cocoons, and at the end of eight days, 

 generally, all will have risen and completed their 

 work. 



GATHERING COCOONS. 



In taking the cocoons from the brush care must be 

 taken that they be not injured by either compressing 

 them in the hand or mutilating them in detaching 

 them from the bushes. In gathering them, begin on 

 the lower shelf, and take them down gently, and pass 

 them to those who are to gather the cocoons. Place 



