148 Silk Manufacture. 



they call for a considerable degree of attention on the part of its 

 conductor, and can hardly be brought to a successful issue with- 

 out the aid of experience. This is especially the case in Europe, 

 where atmospheric changes are continually arising, which in vari- 

 ous ways influence the tender silk-producing insect. One false 

 step in management might be fatal, and one day's relaxation of 

 the breeder's cares would suffice to bring all his previous labors to 

 nothing. 



' The degree of skilfulness and care thus required for the suc- 

 cessful rearing of silkworms upon any useful scale, cannot be ade- 

 quately estimated by the experience of those persons in England, 

 who, as a matter of curiosity or of amusement, have watched over 

 a few hundred worms, and have wound off the silk which these 

 have furnished, unassailed by accident or misfortune. It is very 

 natural to sui)pose, that what is so easily practicable with a small 

 number, ofl'ers little difficulty as an extensive employment. If, 

 however, the English breeder considers the time, however short 

 it may have appeared, and the labor, however unimportant in his 

 estimation, bestowed on his inconsiderable brood, and thence cal- 

 culates the greater labor which must attend upon the rearing of 

 hundreds of thousands, or, perhaps, millions of insects, its insig- 

 nificance will disappear. He may then naturally imagine, how 

 great is the importance of abridging that labor, of economizing 

 expense, and of providing in every way against accidents, which, 

 if occurring to interrupt his amusement, would be merely vexa- 

 tious, but upon the avoiding of which, under other circumstances, 

 depend the subsistence and well being of thousands. 



' The proper choice of eggs is the first care of the cultivator. 

 From this he may reheve himself in succeeding seasons, the ope- 

 rations of his own filature producing the requisite quantity. The 

 Italian writers on the culture of silk give very copious directions 

 for choosing eggs, and for detecting and avoiding the fraudulent 

 ai'ts sometimes practised by their venders. 



' Good sound eggs are of a bluish-gray color; those which are 

 yellow should on no account be purchased. It is common with 

 the peasants whose eggs are of the latter description to give them 

 so much the appearance of sound eggs, by washing them in mud- 

 dy, dark-colored wine, that considerable judgment is required to 

 detect the cheat. 



' Where silkworms' eggs are brought from a distant country, 

 much attention is demanded to prevent their premature hatching. 

 This has been successfully accomplished by placing them, when 

 newly laid, and carefully dried, in glass phials closely sealed to 

 exclude air and moisture : the whole being then immersed in earthen 



