48 



of which should be the least, increasing them as thej 

 proceed. 



Third day. This day 12 Ibs. of leaves will b 

 necessary. 



Fourth day. This day but 6 Ibs. 12 oz. of leave 

 must be given, as the quantity must be decreased, a 

 the appetite diminishes : the first meal 2 Ibs. 4oz. 

 and the other meals to decrease in proportion as the 

 quantity of leaves given before, appears not to have 

 been thoroughly eaten. It is important as th 

 worms grow rapidly now that they have plenty o 

 room. At the beginning of this day, many of thi 

 silk worms begin shaking their heads, which indicate 

 that they feel overloaded by their covering or skins 

 Some of them eat little but keep their heads erect 

 Towards the close of this day, the greatest number 

 of the silk worms appear torpid and eat no more. As 

 a general rule, it may be proper to apprise the cul- 

 turist, that during the time of moulting, the worms 

 must not be disturbed ; for the process of changing 

 their skins will be thereby interrupted. 



|CJ t> The hurdles or trays should be clean- 

 ed before and after every moulting, until the 

 fourth age, once during that age, before and after 

 the fourth or last moulting, and every two days dur- 

 ing the fifth age. 



Fifth day. This day 1 J pounds of leaves chopped 

 small will be sufficient, to distribute whenever the 

 worms appear disposed to eat. 



Towards the end of this day the worms are torpid : 

 a few begin to revive. 



The first age of the silk worm is generally accom- 

 plished in five days, exclusive of the two days occu- 

 pied in bringing them forth. 



SECOND AGE. 



Nearly 73 feet 4 inches square of the tables or 

 trays, will be necessary for the accommodation of 

 the worms from this period to their second moulting. 

 The temperature should be from 73 to 75. The 

 insects should not be lifted from their litter until 

 they are nearly all revived. No harm will arise 

 from waiting, even though it should be for twenty 

 or thirty hours from the time the first few began to 

 revive. 



First day. For this day 9 Ibs. of young tender 

 shoots, and 9 Ibs. of Mulberry leaves, well picked 

 and chopped small. 



The method of reviving the worms is thus de- 

 scribed. 



When nearly all the worms are roused, and be- 

 gin moving their heads, and raising up as if they 

 sought something, those at the edge of the paper 

 having already left the litter on which they had lain, 

 preparation should be made to remove them, that 

 the sheets of paper may be cleaned. The worms 

 should be removed from those sheets of paper first 

 when they are perceived to be most revived and 

 stirring. Some shoots of the young twigs of the 

 Mulberry tree, with six or eight leaves on them 

 should be put over the silk worms ; then boughs 

 should be placed, so that, when spread out, there 

 may be an inch or two between them. When one 

 of the sheets of paper are thus covered with silk 

 worms, another must be begun, and so on until all are 

 completed. Each, as filled, are to be removed to a 

 clean tray, sheet or hurdle. 



An hour or two after the worms have been thus 

 removed, they should be given a meal of 3 Ibs. 



of leaves chopped small. In the remainder of thia 

 day, the worms should have in two meals, the re- 

 maining six pounds of chopped leaves, with an inter- 

 val of six hours between each. The hurdles from 

 which the silk worms were removed, will, of course 

 be cleaned. 



Second day. Thirty pounds of chopped leaves to 

 be divided into four portions, should be given at in- 

 tervals of 6 hours each ; the two first meals less 

 plentiful than the succeeding ones. 



Tliird day. This day 33 Ibs. of chopped leaves 

 well picked will be necessary ; the two first meals to 

 be the largest. The leaves should be distributed in 

 proportion as they may be wanted, and with atten- 

 tion. Towards evening some of the worms will begin 

 to refuse to eat and rear their heads up, indicating 

 their approaching the period of torpor. 



As a general remark, it may be observed, that as 

 the worms increase in size, the space allotted to 

 them should be enlarged. 



Fourth day. Only 9 Ibs. of leaves will be neces- 

 sary this day, as the worms will sink into torpor and 

 shed their skins the ensuing day. 



THIRD AGE. 



On this day 15 Ibs of the small shoots will be ne- 

 cessary and the same quantity of picked leaves the 

 temperature of the apartment from 71 to 73 e du- 

 ring this age. Their removal to be the same as in 

 the previous age the space for their accommoda- 

 tion 174 square feet. The 15 Ibs. of young shoots 

 to be the first meal of the worms. When they shall 

 have eaten the leaves upon the shoots, give them a 

 second meal of 74 Ibs. of leaves, and the remainder 

 :o be given at an interval of six hours. 



Second day. This day 90 Ibs. of picked leaves 

 chopped will be needed, the two first meals the 

 smallest. 



Third day. This day 97 Ibs. of leaves are to be 

 jiven, the two first the largest meals. 



Fourth day. This day only about 52i Ibs. of 

 shopped leaves will be requisite, as the appetite of 

 he worms always decrease immediately preceding 

 heir becoming torpid. The first meal to be the 

 argest and so on to the fourth, that being the last. 



Fifth day. To-day only 27-lbs. of picked leaves 

 must be given them. If, however, they appear not 

 o have enough, more must be given them. They 

 >ecome torpid this day. 



Sixth day. On this day the worms arouse from 

 heir torpor and accomplish their third age. 



FOURTH AGE. 



The worms during this period should occupy a 

 pace of about 412 feet square the temperature 

 tiould be from 68 to 71. 



First day. On this day 374 Ibs. of young shoots 

 nd 60 Ibs. of picked leaves will be needed. After 

 ic worms consume the leaves on the young shoots, 

 ley should be given SO Ibs. of leaves, and when 

 icse are consumed they should have the other 30 



)S. 



Second day. 165 Ibs. of leaves must be given to- 

 ay ; the two first meals the lightest and the last the 

 most copious: 



Third day. 225 Ibs. of leaves to day ; the two 

 rst meals the most plentiful ; the last meal to be 

 bout 75 Ibs. 



Fourth day. 255 Ibs. of leaves to-day; the three 

 rst meals 75 Ibs. each, the 4th the remainder. 



