205 



fing dish, from time to time, backwards and forwards, 

 through the room. 



In China, the wants of the young worms are supplied 

 with unceasing attention ; they are fed during the night 

 as well as the day, forty times during the first twenty- 

 four hours, and thirty times during the second day ; but 

 fewer and fewer on the third day, and afterwards. 

 Sagacious observers, from their long experience affirm, 

 that as the growth of the silkworms is accelerated and 

 success assured by the abundance of their food ; also, 

 that the quicker the silkworms are brought to maturity, 

 the greater is the quantity of silk which they produce. 

 If the silkworms which are produced by each drachm 

 in weight of eggs are suffered to linger, either through 

 cold, or neglect and famine, for thirty or forty days, 

 before they begin their cocoons, the product of silk will 

 be ten ounces ; but if their maturity is completed in 

 twenty-eight days, the product will be twenty ounces ; 

 while the same quantity of silkworms, in a warmer tem- 

 perature, which being fully fed and well attended, have 

 completed their growth in the short time of twenty-five 

 days, will produce twenty-five ounces of silk. 



The Chinese are fully sensible of the importance of 

 preserving the most perfect degree of cleanliness in 

 their establishments, and are exceedingly careful on this 

 head. When the insect is prepared to spin, mats are 

 provided, and in the center of each a leaf is affixed, an 

 inch in width. This is wound round in spiral form, till 

 the mat is covered ; a space being left between each 



circle of one inch, it having been found that less silk is 

 10 



