REARING SILKWORMS. 47 



COCOONERY. 



A cocoonery should always be built on a slight 

 elevation of ground, so that in time of rain the 

 water will not settle round the building. All 

 things considered, a good wooden building is 

 quite good enough for California. The ends of 

 the building should be to the east and west, so 

 that the sun will not strike with fullest force in 

 hot summer weather. 



It is better to have a cocoonery rest on posts 

 two or three feet from the ground, to give free 

 circulation, as also to keep off all kinds of 

 insects. The posts should be daubed with tar or 

 some other substance to prevent insects from 

 climbing into the building. 



SIZE AND STYLE OF COCOONERY. 



To accommodate the product of three ounces 

 of silk-eggs (i. e., 120,000 worms) will require a 

 building forty by fifty feet, twelve feet between 

 floor and ceiling. The roof should be as sloping 

 as the width of the building will admit. The 

 floor should be double, because, standing upon 

 posts, it will thus maintain a more even temper- 

 ature. The walls and ceiling should be lined 

 with wood. Smooth or planed boards are best, 



