50 



ers, think it wholly unnecessary after the two first 

 weeks. 



During; the time of moulting: or changing of their 

 skins, the worms must not be disturbed. 



The hurdles, or shelves on which the worms are 

 fed, should be cleaned before and after every moul- 

 ting, until the fourth age, and then, as we have be- 

 fore urged, once during that age, before, and after, 

 the fourth or last moulting, and every two days 

 during the fifth age. 



The worms of different ages should be fed on 

 shelves by themselves, as those of unequal ages and 

 inequality of sizes, do not thrive so well when pro- 

 miscuously fed together. 



Care must he observed in picking the leaves for 

 the worms during their two first ages, such as pick- 

 ing off the twiss and stalks of the leaves, and to 

 clean them of all hard and useless parts. 



As a general rule it may be proper to remark, 

 that the chief superintendent will always be able to 

 ascertain whether a healthful atmosphere be pre- 

 vailing in the apartment, by the fact, that if it be so, 

 he will be able to breathe as freely in the laboratory 

 as in the open air, and feel no other difference than 

 what may arise from the heat in the interior apart- 

 ment. When any difficulty of breathing exists, it 

 should be remedied, and may be easily done by the 

 admission of fresh air from without, and by burning 

 some straw or shavings in the apartment. The 

 burning of shavings, in all cases where the air of the 

 room is damp, is recommended, as from the brisk- 

 ness of the fire, it much sooner distributes its heat 

 through the apartment, and thus corrects the humid 

 condition of the atmosphere. 



The culturist will not omit to keep plates of chlo- 

 ride of lime, say three or four, distributed through 

 the apartment, as it is, possibly, one of the best cor- 

 rectors of impure air wilhtn the power of science to 

 apply, and therefore eminently promotive of health. 



While the sun is pouring its rays upon the win- 

 dows of tho laboratory, the shutters should be closed, 

 the ventilators of the apartment kept open. The 

 windows also, to be kept open from evening till sun- 

 rise, unless the weather should be very damp or wet. 



PREPARATION FOR FORMING THE COCOON HEDGE, &C. 



With respect to the accommodation of (he worms 

 with conveniences for spinning their cocoons, we 

 would barely refer the reader to Mr. Smith's plan, 

 to be found in page 46, with (hese additional remarks : 

 that should the culturist adopt the net work frame, 

 for the purpos' 1 , brush-wood of all kinds will be su- 

 perfluous. In Europe bundles of twigs of chesnut, 

 hickory, oak or of birch, such as brooms are made 

 of, are used. As soon as it is observed that the 

 worms want to rise, the faggots or brush-wood 

 should be put against the inside wall above the trays, 

 of the most convenient size, leaving fifteen inches 

 between each bundle or faggot. The twigs or top 

 branches of the bundles should touch the lower part 

 of the tray above that on which it is placed, and 

 by being bent down by the tray above, form a 

 species of arch, to be given such an angle or incli- 

 nation as not to be too sharp to prevent the worms 

 from retaining their position firmly with ease. The 

 branches shoHld be spread out somewhat like fans, 

 BO as to permit the air to penetrate freely. Before 



hurdles or trays should be well cleansed, and the 

 litter removed out of the laboratory. The cabins 

 or arches formed as above directed should be about 

 two feet from one to the other. When the cabins 

 or arches are nearly laden, should there remain any 

 silk worms on the trays, shelves or hurdles, a small 

 branch may be put against them, and thus prevent 

 their lying too thick together. 



Two things are particularly to be attended to: 

 the first is, to put those worms near the cabins or 

 arches, which are perceived to be ready to rise; 

 and the second is, to give a few leaves to those 

 worms that are still inclined to eat. It will, therefore, 

 be necessary in a large establishment to place this 

 part of the business in charge of a careful person or 

 two, as long as the worms feel a disposition to eat; 

 if but a mouthful, they should be indulged. It often 

 happens that after the great majority of the worms 

 have risen, that a portion will remain on the hurdles 

 without manifesting any disposition either to eat or 

 rise, appearing motionless. These should be re- 

 moved to a clear, dry place, where they may enjoy 

 a temperature of 73, and have fresh leaves distri- 

 buted over them, when they will speedily revive and 

 descend and weave their cocoons. If they should 

 need it, bandages of straw might be placed through 

 the branches to act as couches or supports to the 

 more feeble worms. 



As soon as the worms have all risen, the hurdles 

 must be cleansed without delay. 



When the worms manifest a disposition to rrse, 

 the temperature of the laboratory should be careful- 

 ly maintained between 63 and 7'1, as any violent 

 agitation of the air, or sudden change at this par- 

 ticular period is detrimental to the worms. Care 

 also should be taken to keep the air dry; and the 

 chloride solution well kept up. Worms which may 

 fall after having risen, should be placed in 

 another situation among the more feeble ones. All 

 diseased and dead worms should be removed imme- 

 diately, and all offal should be also removed, as noth- 

 ing tends more readily than a viliated atmosphere 

 to occasion a fermentation of the dirt and leaves. 

 The due observance of cleanliness, purification of 

 the room, and equable circulation of air, contribute 

 no less towards the health of the worms, than to the 

 profit of (he culturist. A too dry, or too warm 

 atmosphere, are both to be avoided, as the tenden- 

 cy of each is to dry up the worms and produce-con- 

 traction of the skins. 



It may not be amiss here, to emphatically state, 

 the worms must have sufficient room to perform 

 their labors in ; they must be regularly fed, kept 

 clean, and the air of their apartment preserved alike 

 from excess of cold or heat, or from too much aridi- 

 ty or dampness in a word, cleanliness and com- 

 fort must be consulted, and when these shall have 

 been attended to, the whole mj'stery of profitably 

 feeding worms, will have been not only fully com- 

 prehended, but mastered. 



VARIOUS STAGES AND APPEARANCES OF THE WORMS. 



Towards the end of the 5th day the worms are 

 torpid : a few will begin to revive. 



After the first moulting, the silk worm is of a dark 

 ash color and shows motion : the rings that compose 



the worms mount for spinning their cocoons, the its body stretch and shrink more freely than before. 



