45 



" The period of moulting are, generally,'abou 

 the 7th, 13th, 19th and 24th days of their age 

 but these periods are materially influenced b) 

 the care and attention bestowed on the worms 

 some worms will begin to spin on the 25th day 

 while others will delay their spinning even to 

 forty-five or fifty days, according as they are wel 

 or ill attended to. At the periods of moulting 

 the worms do not eat, and if they all moult to 

 gether, no feed need be given them ; but shoulc 

 they not be thus simultaneous in changing thei 

 skins, those which require food should be sup 

 plied, even though the others may be disturbec 

 by it. They are about 36 hours shedding thei 

 skins. 



The ftalians strenuously insist upon cutting tin 

 leaves fine, before giving them to the worms 

 but, having tried this plan, I found an objection 

 to it which induced me to reject it. When the 

 leaves are cut fine, the worms easily press them 

 down, and they are lost, having become a mere 

 carpet for the worms. I therefore, never cut the 

 leaves after the worms are two weeks old; but 

 for several reasons, I prefer laying on the whole 

 leaves, and even the small branches. When laic 

 on whole, the leaves keep fresh till consumed ; 

 especially when left upon the small twigs. The 

 small branches have another advantage the 

 worms can climb, and fix upon them, over and 

 under them, so that the same shelf will accom- 

 modate many more than when the leaves are cut 

 fine and they are obliged to remain on a com- 

 mon level surface. The worms also prefer this 

 mode, as it approaches nearer to the nature oi 

 the limbs of the tree. 



Every two or three days the shelves should be 

 well cleared of litter and excrement, to effect 

 which the worms may be removed in the follow- 

 ing manner: lay on either large leaves or twigs 

 with leaves, and as soon as the worms attach 

 themselves to them, bear them to a clean shelf; 

 repeat the operation till all are removed. Some 

 lay fresh leaves on one side of the shelf, and 

 leave the worms to go over to them, and clear 

 off the other side. I prefer the first plan. Very 

 few leaves will suffice for the first ten days; a 

 dozen, torn into small pieces will be enough for 

 each shelf, the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th days; double 

 the quantity the next two days. However, it is 

 unnecessary to attempt estimating the quantity, as 

 the intelligent attendant will readily discover 

 what is necessary, and be able at all times to 

 guard against both stinting the worms and waste 

 of leaves. They should always have as much as 

 they will consume and no more. Great care 

 must be observed that the leaves be perfectly 

 free from wet, and fresh. When they have been 

 kept some time, the leaves begin to turn black or 

 dark colored, and should be thrown away. In 

 wet weather, the leaves may be dried by taking 



them into a large room, spreading them out, and 

 occasionally shaking them up. 



Great care should be taken to guard against 

 mice and ants ; mice devour them with avidity, 

 and the bite of an ant is almost instant death to the 

 worm. Isolating the shelves from the walls and 

 setting the feet in basins of water will protect 

 them from ants; but the access of mice to the 

 room must be cut off. 



The success of the crop depends upon the 

 cleanliness of the shelves, and purity of the air 

 in the room, especially in hot, and more particu- 

 larly in damp weather. If the excrement and 

 litter be allowed to accumulate, fermentation and 

 putrefaction soon commence, and the conse- 

 quence will be fatal to the worms, especially in 

 hot, damp weather; besides, the worms at all 

 times thrive better when the shelves are kept 

 clean, and nothing but fresh leaves allowed to re- 

 main about the worms. To guard against impu- 

 rity of air, which is the greatest enemy the silk 

 worm has, a small quantity of chloride of lime 

 should always be kept in a plate in some part of 

 the room. It is a cheap and most effectual pre- 

 ventive of this cause of disease in worms, as well 

 as a powerful remedy for the tripes, and other dis- 

 eases that have become epidemic. It is generally 

 sold at the drug shops at 18| cents a pound, and 

 four pounds will be sufficient for the largest la- 

 boratory. A couple of spoonfuls may be put in- 

 to a plate with about a gill of water, and should be 

 replenished every three days. 



Where proper cleanliness and due attention to 

 ventilation are observed, there is little to be 

 dreaded from hot weather. Nevertheless, in ve- 

 ry hot weather all the means at hand should be 

 availed of for the reduction of the temperature of 

 the room ; for worms will thrive best in mod- 

 erate temperature. But ice, or sprinkling the floor 

 with cold water, should never be resorted to, as has 

 been recommended; for the vapor thus produced 

 will do more injury than the heat. When conveni- 

 ent, the laboratory should be shaded with high trees 

 on the south side. An open, high piazza to shield 

 the south front of the house from the sun's rays will 

 also be of service. Opening; the windows and doors, 

 and the ventilators in the ceiling, will then be all 

 that can be done to cool the room; and this should 

 never be neglected, in hot weather. There is much 

 more danger from cold than heat; and on the 

 slightest appearance of a cold night, fire should be 

 made in the fire places or stoves, and replenished as 

 often as necessary. The temperature should be 

 cept as equable as possible, and sudden changes 

 guarded against. For this purpose a thermometer 

 vill be useful; but the senses of the attendant will 

 >e a sufficient substitute if care be observed. I do 

 [o not pretend to give degrees of temperature most 

 uitable for silk worms; for although we can in- 

 irease the heat, it is not easy to reduce it in a large 

 oom, when the surrounding atmosphere that sup- 

 )lies the air circulating in it, is of a high tempera- 

 ture. It may be observed here, that the cool sensa- 



