Silk Manufacture. 183 



be immersed in colder water, to avoid any furzing or entangling 

 in the operation. 



' Dupions or double cocoons. The threads of these are so 

 intertwined, that frequent breakings occur in reehng, and sometimes 

 they cannot be wound at all. In any parcel of cocoons the pro- 

 portion of these will usually amount to one per cent. 



Soufflons. These are very imperfect cocoons with a loose 

 contexture, sometimes even to so great a degree as to be transpa- 

 ent: these cannot be wound. 



^Perforated cocoons, as their name denotes, have a hole in the 

 end, and for that reason cannot be reeled, as the filament is 

 found, to be broken whenever it arrives at the perforation. 



' Good choquettes are concoons wherein the insects have died 

 before perfecting their task. These are known by the adhesion 

 of the worm to the cocoon, which prevents its rattling when 

 shaken. The silk of these is as fine as of the first-mentioned 

 quality, but not so strong nor so brilliant, and they must be wound 

 separately, as they sometimes furze in reeling. 



'■Bad choquettes are defective cocoons, spotted or rotten. They 

 furnish foul bad silk, and of a blackish color. 



' Calcined cocoons are those wherein the worms after having 

 completed their cells, are attacked by a peculiar disease, which 

 sometimes petrifies them, and at other times reduces them to a 

 white powder. In the former case they are called comfit cocoons 

 from the resemblance which is borne by the withered worm to a 

 sugar-plum. The quality of the silk, so far from being injured by 

 this means, is generally excellent, and is even in greater quantity 

 than in the cocoons of healthy worms. Comfit cocoons may be 

 distinguished by the peculiar rattling noise of the worms when sha- 

 ken: they are so much esteemed in Piedmont, that they sell for 

 one half more than good cocoons. They are not of frequent oc- 

 currence, and it is very rarely that so large a parcel as tvventy-five 

 pounds is met with. 



' The cocoons of the mountains are considered better than those 

 produced on the plains: there is a greater proportion of white found 

 among them; and although the balls are not so large, the worm is 

 proportionally smaller than usual. 



' The relative value of cocoons, as stated in the paper already 

 quoted from the American Philosophical Transactions is as fol- 

 lows: — 



Good Cocoons - r - 100 



Perforated - - - - 33 1-3 



Soufflons - - - 35 



Royal cocoons, for seed - - 250 



Royal cocoons, not chosen for seed 200 



