Silk Manufacture. 179 



From this history we perceive, that those parts which are most 

 conducive to hfe, are the first that are begun; the head and the 

 back-bone, which no doubt enclose the brain, and the spinal mar- 

 row, though both are too limpid to be discerned, are the first that 

 are seen to exist; the beating of the heart is seen soon after; the 

 less noble parts seem to spring from these, the wings, thighs, the 

 feet, and lastly the bill. 



CABINET CYCLOPEDIA. 



SILK MANUFACTURE. 

 NO. VI. 



' Gathering and sorting Cocoons. In either three or four 

 days from the commencement of its labors the silkworm com- 

 pletes its cocoon, and in seven or eight days thereafter the balls are 

 gathered. Some persons do not wait longer than three or four 

 days ere they reap their silken harvest. 



It is usual to begin by gathering from the lower tier of arbours. 

 In this proceeding no violence should be used to disengage the 

 twigs, which must be gently handled, and consigned to those whose 

 employment it is to separate the cocoons. These persons, as 

 they pick off the balls sort them; selecting those which are to be 

 preserved for continuing the breed, and putting into distinct bas- 

 kets all fine cocoons, those which are double, soiled, or anywise 

 imperfect. The fine and well-formed balls are again subdived in- 

 to white and yellow, the latter colour embracing every shade 

 from the deepest yellow to those which are merely tinged. A 

 very few will sometimes be found having a pale green hue. The 

 cocoons of a bright yellow yield a greater weight of reeled silk 

 than the others, but as their deeper colour results from the great- 

 er proportion of gum wherein the colouring matter principally re- 

 sides, any advantage from this source accrues only to the grower, 

 the gummy substance being all boiled out previous to the weaving 

 of the silk. 



'Raw silk which is of a pale colour is found to take certain dyes 

 better, and is on that account very generally preferred. 



' The selection of chrysalides for breeding is made from such 

 cocoons as are perfectly sound, and whose threads appear to be 

 fine; having their ends round and compact; and being a little de- 



