REARING SILKWORMS. 87 



are laid away (out of the cocoonery), in about 

 twenty-four hours a white powder soon shows 

 itself, and covers the body all over. No outward 

 sign tells of the approach of this disease. 



Worms fed with stale, wet, or musty leaves 

 are apt to turn dark green on the back of the 

 thorax. They become stiff, and do not like to 

 move. It is best to put such on another tray, 

 and let them rest till the natural action of the 

 system works off. Sometimes they will vomit 

 freely; sometimes riot at all. If they are but 

 slightly affected, they will rest till the food in 

 the body has nearly all passed from them, and 

 then they should be fed lightly at first, and then 

 as usual. If there be no passages or vomit, it 

 shows that the leaves were too much diseased, 

 and the worms are not strong enough to throw 

 off the effect of the poison imbibed, and they had 

 better be destroyed. A strong solution of salt 

 and water takes the life much quicker than clear 

 water. But, after death, all worms should be 

 destroyed by fire, to prevent the possibility of 

 transmitting disease. 



