silk jyianufachire.. 249 



formed the materials which constitute the earth; and of course the 

 " Great Globe and all which it inherit," so far as natural causes are 

 concerned, are products of the modification and fixation of water. 

 Other philosophers assure us that the remains of marine animals, 

 t^'c, are found on the highest mountains; and that there are many 

 and incontrovertible proofs that the soHd parts of the globe have 

 gained on its waters, not only within the limits of authentic histo- 

 ry, but in some cases within the memoiy of man.' 



CABINET CYCLOPEDIA. 



SILK MANUFACTURE. 

 NO. VIII. 



Attempts to substitute other food for MULBERRy 

 LEAVES IN REARING SILKWORMS. ' It must always be a subject 

 of anxious attention with the rearer of silkworms so to time the 

 hatching of his eggs as to cause the coming forth of the living 

 insects at the season when the mulberry tree first comes into leaf. 



' By the aid of artificial means, and with methodical arrange- 

 ments, this would appear to be a very simple affair; and yet, so 

 great have the difficulties been in practice, that various expedients 

 have from time to time been proposed and attempted for combat- 

 ing them. 



' Great industry has been employed to seek out some substitute 

 for the natural food of the worm, which should be readily procur- 

 able at all seasons, and in sufficient abundance to render the culti- 

 vator independent of the chances which attend the budding of the 

 mulberry tree. Dr. Lodovico Bellardi, a learned and ingenious 

 botanist of Turin, after making numerous experiments, and failing 

 to discover any elligible substitute for the mulberry, at length pro- 

 posed a method of feeding such silkworms as should be premature- 

 ly hatched, upon leaves of the preceding season carefully dried and 

 prepared for the purpose. The trials made by the doctor were ac- 

 companied by all the success he could desire. 



' The leaves which had been gathered in fine weather, towards 

 the close of the preceding autumn, and before any injury from frost 

 could have been experienced, were first spread on cloths and dried 

 in the sun, and then reduced to powder; this was preserved through 

 the winter in a perfectly dry place. Before giving it as food to his 

 newly-hatched brood, the powder was slightly moistened with wa- 

 ter, and a thin layer of it being placed around the insects, they im- 

 mediately and with avidity began to feed, preferring it to every 

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