47 



the first week after they are taken from the bush, 

 may be reeled without this operation; and a con- 

 siderable advantage is gained by thus reeling them, 

 as they unwind much easier than when they have 

 been heated. Cocoons intended for sale, or keep- 

 ing on hand for future reeling, must be secured 

 against mice and roaches." 



almost every family clean 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 and strew them over the floor, 

 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 attach 



It has been our desire from the beginning to I themselves, and they daily throw on such quantities 

 make our Manual a plain, practical treatise, which as experience teaches them will supply the want of 

 could be laid hold of by every man, woman and child the worms, and this they repeat until the worms are 

 who could read- in a word, which could be under- ready to rise and wind the cocoons, without ever re- 

 stood and practised by all ; and after reading every moving the offal or straw, and frequently the pile of 

 thing within our reach, we have selected the above collected matter will reach the height of three or 

 general rules for the feeding of the worms, and the four feet. When the worms show symptoms of 

 reader will observe, that there is no attempt at mys winding, they plant branches and bushes immediate- 

 tery ; no burying of meaning by the unnecessary ly over the collected mass, and the worms rise on 

 multiplication of words, and to Mr. Smith's plan these, the cocoons are formed and collected, and the 

 we have nothing to add, save the net-work frames, rooms are then cleaned out and the reeling is com- 

 which at his suggestion Mr. Whitmarsh has adopt- menced. This manipulation is performed in the 

 ed. By the substitution of these a great amount of most clumsy manner and with the rudest machine- 

 labor is saved, and the means of health promoted, ry imaginable, notwithstanding which, they produce 

 by increasing the facilities of cleansing the worms, the finest silk in the world." 



and consequently, of purifying the apartment. Now this Turkish method of attending to the 



As to the apportionment of food, that must, in a great worms is simple enough in all conscience ; but it is 

 measure, be left to the discretion and judgment of so filthy as to be repulsive to our very nature. The 

 the chief superintendent; for although it has been re- Turks, as every body must know, are proverbial for 

 duced to a certainty, that a thousand worms will, on their love of ease, for their lazy disposition, and 

 an average, devour during the feeding season from hence their system of feeding of worms is formed 

 thirty -seven and a half to fifty pounds of leaves ; yet solely with the view of consulting theirown idle hab- 

 the quantity to be progressively fed out, must, to a its ; but however much we may condemn it for its 

 considerable extent, if not altogether, be regulated want of cleanliness, we may learn important truths 1 

 by the wants and necessities of the worms for the from its very defects and deformities. We may 

 time being. Their appetites must govern in the learn this, that the raising of silk worms is a very 

 main. Whatever quantity of leaves they consume simple thing, unattended with any difficulty which 

 cleanly, from one feeding time to another, it is to be ordinary industry and discernment may not over- 

 presumed has been advantageouslyeaten, and when- come, From what we have read and seen, we de- 

 ever it shall be found that more has been given than duce these facts, that nothing is wanting to ensure 

 the worm can consume, the subsequent feeding must success to the culture 1C? 33 but room for the worms, 

 be lessened in quantity, while on the other hand, if a supply of food for them to eat, regularity, and 

 they should, between those periods, be any consid- cleanliness in their feeding , proper ventilation of their 

 erable time without leaves, the ensu ng feeding {apartments, and untiring attention to their wants. 

 must be increased ; for while it will not do to gorge The general rules laid down by Mr. Smith will be 

 the worm, neither will it answer to keep him with- sufficient for most readers, but as there may be some 

 out food for any length of time, as abstinence is that would prefer to see something with respect to 

 both detrimental to his health, and injurious to the the quantities of food to be progressively given, we 

 interest of his feeder. will abstract from Count Dandolo's plan all that we 



In the eastern states, the feeding of the worms, esteem essential to be known upon this part of the 

 heretofore, has been carried on with the least possi- business, and we will here remark, that from the 

 ble trouble, and from what we can learn, with, per- great regard for exactitude of this distinguished 

 haps, too little regard to cleanliness, to be followed in culturist, the utmost reliance may be placed in his 

 large establishments, for however well such neglect statements. 



may succeed upon a small scale, if you come to car The quantity of food is the proportion given to the 

 ry it out in a large establishment, much positive worms hatched from 5 OUNCES of eggs, which, ac- 

 evil will ensue in the death of the worms. Small | cording to our reading, means 100,000 worms, al- 



bodies might exist under a system of inattention, 

 which if followed in an extensive laboratory, would 

 end in the mortality of the insects, and the pecuniary 

 loss of the proprietor. 



In Turkey, according to Mr. Rhind, "the produc- 

 tion of silk is confined to cities or the larger towns, 

 in the vicinity of which the Mulberry tree is chiefly 

 cultivated ; those trees belong to the Farmers, or 

 proprietors of the ground, who do not rear the worm 

 themselves, but during the crop season, the leaves 

 are collected by them daily and carried into the city 

 and sold in the market in the same manner as fruit 

 and vegetables, in such quantities as purchasers 

 may require. At the commencement of the season 



lowance being made for casualties of all descrip- 

 tions. 



HEARING OF THE WORMS IN THE FIUST AGE. 



First day. The worms should occupy a space of 

 nearly 36 feet 8 inches square on the wicker trays 

 or tables. They should this day receive 3 1-3 Ibs. 

 of leaves chopped small, dividing their meals 

 through the 24 hours into four, at intervals of 6 

 hours each. The worms to be fed regularly four 

 times a day, and not to give them their food all at 

 once. Care to be taken in giving the food to widen 

 the square by degrees. 



Second day. On this day 6 Ibs. will be needed. 

 This will suffice for the four regular meals, the first 



