204 THE CALIFORNIA 



fectly. In 1765, the sum of eighteen hundred francs 

 was appropriated to defray the expense of another trial ; 

 but owing to the unfavorable state of the weather, and 

 the heavy and incessant rains, the experiment in 

 instance totally failed ; and though the rearing of silk- 

 worms in the ojxm air has not been attempted any more 

 in that quarter, yet its partial success taught the culti- 

 vators new and important lessons, in regard to a more 

 perfect system of ventilation. 



In China, when the mulberry tree has sufficiently 

 put forth its leaves, the rolls of paper on which the eggs 

 of the silkworms have been preserved, are daily sus- 

 pended in the sun : the side on which the eggs are 

 placed being turned from its rays. At night the papers 

 are closely rolled up and placed in a warm situation ; 

 and this bcin^ daily repeated, the eggs hatch in about 

 four or five days. But in high latitudes, the Chinese 

 regulate the temperature of apartments with stoves, 

 that the e<?8 may hatch simultaneously. 



The houses for silkworms are in dry situations and 

 in a pure atmosphere, and remote from noise. The rooms 

 are made very close, but with ample means of ventila- 

 tion, and the doors open on the south. Each room, or 

 chamber, is provided with nine or ten tiers of frames, 

 on which the rush hurdles are ranged one above the 

 "other ; on these the insects are fed during all the differ- 

 ent periods of their growth. Stoves are also provided 

 in the corners of the apartments, to preserve a uniform 

 and equal temperature ; or coals arc carried in a cha- 



