REARING SILKWORMS. 31 



other trays, as there will be several tiers among 

 the branches. 



All these different methods have their advan- 

 tages and disadvantages. 



The greatest objection to them all is, that the 

 worms are at liberty to roam where they will, 

 and they will wander about till they find suitable 

 places in. which to spin their cocoons. Besides, 

 wherever branches are used, they have" to be re- 

 newed almost every timefthey are used. This is 

 a great trouble, as it is hard to find suitable 

 branches in many places in California. Another 

 thing is, the branches have to be very clean, else 

 they will give the cocoons a soiled and objection- 

 able appearance, which detracts from their 

 market value. 



Having proved all the above arrangements for 

 worms to spin in to be unsatisfactory, during the 

 summer of 1901 I designed and had made what I 

 call a canopy. This I believe to be, all points 

 considered, the best and most economical of any- 

 thing yet presented to the public in this line of 

 the silk industry. The special points of advan- 

 tage are as follows: 



1. When once made, these canopies will last 

 a lifetime. 



2. They can always be kept clean. 



3. When not in use, they can be stored away 



