36 COMPLETE INSTRUCTION IN 



COCOONS HOW TO CARE FOR THEM. 



The cocoons out of which the millers have 

 come are called pierced cocoons. They have a 

 commercial value only equal to that of waste silk. 

 When the millers come out, they leave behind 

 them in the cocoons both the skins of the worms 

 in which they existed while spinning the cocoons, 

 and also the shells of the chrysalis into which 

 they passed from the worm state, and again into 

 the miller, which is the last, or seventh, age of 

 silkworm life. 



Where pierced cocoons are used, these animal 

 substances are dissolved by chemicals, and then 

 the silk is cleansed before it is carded and spun 

 for manufacturing. 



The cocoons that are not pierced should be 

 steamed within six or seven days after the worms 

 mounted to spin. If working on a small scale, 

 have a boiler of water at the boiling-point before 

 you put the cocoons to steam, as it kills them 

 much quicker. Put them into a tray, as here- 

 after described, not more than three or four 

 inches deep. Cover them over with a clean cloth, 

 and then with several folds of newspaper, so as 

 to retain in with the cocoons every particle of 

 steam. Let none be scattered outside the rim of 



