ON SERICICULTURE. 



109 



The following directions for rearing the Eovibyx Yama- 

 Ma'i silkwoi-m may be useful : — 



" Tlie eggs should be kept, during the winter, in a cool, 

 dry and well- aerated place, where the temperature does not 

 exceed 40^, at most 50° F., till the oak trees are breaking 

 into leaf in the hedges. Eggs have been successfully win- 

 tered in a perforated zinc box with double walls, kept in a 

 cool, shaded porch ; also outside a north window : and sus- 

 pended within a dry soda-water bottle, hermetically sealed, 

 and buried in the ground in the shade of a north wall. 



'* The temperature must be kept under 50° during the warm 

 sunny days of spring, lest the worms hatch out too soon. 

 They will then keep perhaps better out of doors, in a shady 

 spot, where the cool niglit air helps to retard the worms. 

 The vicinity of mice, birds, beetles, &c. must be avoided. 

 It is well to plant acorns, or force young oaklings, in pots, 

 so as to obtain an earlier foliage, in case the worms hatch out 

 prematurely. 



" When the oaks are breaking into leaf, bring the eggs 

 into a temperature of 60°; expose them freely to light and 

 fresh air; wash them well with water to cleanse away the 

 mould and to moisten the shell, so that the young larvae may 

 escape more readily. 



" It is a good plan to place the eggs on a plate covered 

 with a glass funnel. The worms will hatch out from 6 to 8 

 a.m., and may readily be removed, by means of a stiff sable 

 hair-brush moistened (avoid at all times touching the worms 

 with the finger), on to a well-moistened plate, or slip of 

 glass, whence they may drink up clean water, which is very 

 beneficial to them : they may then be placed on their food, 

 which must be fresh and moist; admit fresh air freely, sun- 

 shine makes them wander: avoid the proximity of spiders, 



