152 Silk Manufacture. 



— the worms get heaped upon one another, that a leaf should he 

 presented over them; to this some will quickly attach themselves, 

 and may then be removed to a less crowded situation. 



' The worms proceeding from one ounce of eggs will consume 

 six pounds of chopped leaves before their first moulting. Their 

 second age is of shorter duration, but the greater size of the worms 

 requires a more abundant supply of food; and eighteen pounds of 

 leaves, chopped less finely than before, must be given, during its 

 continuance, to the same number. In the third age, sixty pounds 

 of leaves, still a little chopped, must be given; one hundred and 

 eighty pounds will be consumed during their fourth age; and in 

 their fifth and longest age, one thousand and ninety-eight pounds 

 of leaves are devoured by these insects, which, where hatched a 

 few weeks before, weighed less than an ounce. 



' These quantities are stated on the supposition that the worms 

 are tmiformly healthy. If many of them should die in the inter- 

 mediate time, the weights mentioned will be in excess. On the 

 other hand, if the season should be wet, the leaves will not contain 

 the usual nourishment, with reference to their weight, and more 

 must be given; whereas, if the season should prove more dry 

 than ordinary, the nutriment in the leaves w ill be greater, and the 

 quantity given may be diminished with advantage. The skill of 

 the cultivator is shown by the weight of silk obtained in propor- 

 tion to the leaves consumed; and his judgment is tasked to appor- 

 tion these according to their nutritive properties. There will be 

 no real economy in keeping the consumption of food too low; 

 this, however, is not a common fault, and evils occur much more 

 frequently from over feeding and waste of leaves. 



'The worms should be fed with regularity four times a day; and 

 intermediate repasts may be occasionally given, where their ap- 

 petites appear to be increased in voraciousness. The advantage 

 of chopping the leaves for young worms consists in the economy 

 it introduces. Many thousand insects may, by this means, feed 

 simultaneously upon a (ew ounces of leaves, whose freshly-cut edg- 

 es seem better adapted to their powers when newly hatched. If 

 the leaves were given to them whole, a much greater number 

 must be supplied than would be consumed while their freshness 

 lasted, and great waste would be the conserpjence. The worms 

 will always quit stale leaves for those which are newly gathered. 

 Availing themselves of this fact, some persons provide wire-bot- 

 tomed frames, which they cover with fresh leaves, and lower 

 them within reach of the worms. These instantly make their 

 way through the reticulations of the wire, and fixing upon the 

 leaves above^ the frame may be raised and the litter removed with- 



