SILK GROWER'S MANUAL. 207 



which support the stagings, rest in basins of water, to 

 protect them from ants. When the silkworms are ready 

 to form their cocoons, they are transferred to cells 

 formed of planted bamboo. 



Formerly, it has been the practice in many parts of 

 Europe, to inclose a couple of ounces of eggs, in a silk 

 or cotton bag ; which was worn in the bosom next the 

 skin, and at night was placed beneath a warm pillow. 

 After three days the eggs were carefully transferred to 

 thin shallow boxes, these being placed between warm 

 pillows. The heat of each was frequently renewed, as 

 the silkworms were expected to appear toward the 

 fourth day. 



In Italy, Count Dandolo had recommended and 

 adopted the plan of using stoves for warming and regu- 

 lating the temperature of the apartments in which the 

 eggs were hatched. The heat of these rooms being 

 regulated by the thermometer, is raised during the first 

 day to sixty-four degrees ; raising it gradually a degree 

 or two a day, till it shall have reached eighty-two 

 degrees on the tenth day, and this point is not to be 

 exceeded. Count Dandolo has suggested that one 

 room might answer for all the silkworms of a whole 

 district. Fortunately, the necessity of rules like these 

 is unknown in California, and in a great portion of 

 America. 



In some of the late establishments of France, they 

 have altogether dispensed with the use of fireplaces 

 and stoves, the apartments being now wanned when 



