226 THE CALIFORNIA 



in the center of the heap of branches on which jour 

 worms are, upright, with the top spread, forming har- 

 bors twenty inches or more in width, with circular heads. 

 Some are using rye or wheat straw, after cutting the 

 heads, tied in small bundles of the size of your arm, 

 placing them also upright and spreading the top under 

 the shelf above. 



With our mode in California of feeding with branches, 

 if you do not give them enough twigs to place their co- 

 coons in, they make them in the branches of the heap 

 on which they are. 



The insect generally requires from three to five days 

 to form the cocoon completely. During the first day, 

 the insect forms a loose oval structure of thin, irregular, 

 coarse threads, called floss. Within this structure, dur- 

 ing the three following days, it forms the silken ball ; 

 not, however, in concentric circles, but by irregular 

 movements, backwards and forwards in spots. The 

 silken fiber is covered with a gum, which contributes to 

 exclude the water. 



Sometimes, even after its ascent among the branches 

 or straw, the silkworm will look back, and descend once 

 more, for the last time, to take some more food. 



Ventilation is very important during the period while 

 the insects are performing their last labor ; yet, in no 

 case is a due and comfortable degree of warmth more 

 needed than while the insect is forming its cocoon, as 

 this enables them to draw forth and to surrender the 

 whole amount of silk which they had laid up in store. 



Gathering of the Cocoons. In about eight days after 



