REARING SILKWORMS. 23 



refuse to eat, and fall into a kind of slumber, 

 which is called the first molt. While in this 

 state they look like little bits of rusty wire. On 

 the morning of the fourth or fifth day may be 

 seen a slight, quick motion among the little 

 worms, as they shake off their old head-cover- 

 ings, and crawl out of their little skins, and set 

 out on a search for food. This should be given 

 them as at the first, by spreading fresh netting 

 over the trays and sprinkling fresh-cut leaves 

 over them. The worms have now changed 

 appearance. The head is a light brownish color, 

 the body a light silver-gray. They eat heartily, 

 and should be fully gratified with fresh, whole- 

 some leaves, either cut in strips as wide as they 

 are long, or else the whole leaves on the branch- 

 lets. When leaves are cut, they should be rolled 

 up as hard as can be, in rolls an inch in 

 diameter. Hold them tight with the left hand, 

 and cut down across through the middle. Then 

 put both halves together, and slice down the 

 leaves till the roll is all cut. Toss them up with 

 the hand, and then they will sprinkle lightly 

 wherever you need them. 



During this age the worms measure from one 

 half to three quarters of an inch. In four or five 

 days they lose appetite, and again fall into a 

 stupor or molt. In this they remain as at the 



