IH£ SILKirOSU. 



the creature undergoes five skin-castings or " moultings." 

 During the first phase of their existence they should be regu- 

 larly suppUed with food. Sprinkle among them every six hours 

 a fresh supply of the minced leaves, taking care that they are 

 perfectly dry ; never shifb them, or attempt to remove the re- 

 fuse food until they efiect their first " moult." A day or two 

 before this takes place they will become torpid, and appear like 

 small bits of rusty iron wire. As soon, however, as they re- 

 turn to life again and begin to eat, they may be removed to 

 another frame, of larger dimensions than the last. 



FoUow the directions above given through every stage of 

 the worm's existence, except that, as the older it grows, the 

 less necessity there will be to cut its food so fine, or to select 

 the young leaves from the old. 



Ten or twelve days are required to mature them for spinning. 

 During this period they eat voraciously, and their appetite 

 should be indulged ; but fresh food should not be given until 

 they have eaten up all the last meal, unless so much has been 

 given as to render the remains dry. By-and-by they will cease 

 to eat, and become of a transparent yellow or pearly white, and 

 wander from their beds to the sides of the frame, holding up 

 their heads as if in search of something on which to rise ; then 

 there should be set up, in the form of an arbour, bunches of the 

 Beed-staJk of the turnip, after the seed has been beaten out, or 

 dried fennel or heather. It should be spread thinly, in the 

 form of a fan, that the air may not be impeded in passing 

 through the branches, air being essential to the formation of 

 a good cocoon. 



At the end of the third day, all the silkworms that have not 

 " risen " must be removed to later frames. At the expiration 

 of ten days, the cocoons may be gathered. Some silkworms 

 will, although folly matured, evince no disposition to cUmb ; 

 these must be separated from the rest, and removed to a frame 

 in which are placed a few turnip-stalks, and on these, or under 

 these, they will form as good cocoons as their brethren. 



It is good to wind off the fresh cocoons immediately ; but 

 if that should not be convenient, it wiU be necessary to steam 

 them, in order to smother the chrysalis, which woidd otherwise 

 eat its way through, and destroy the silk. Steaming also gives 

 improved lustre and softness to the silk, and some think it 

 renders the windmg more easy, contrary to the old-fashioned 

 way of baking them. 



The cocoons should be put into a bag of coarst flannel, or a 



