THE AMERICAN SILK WORM. 
BY L. TROUVELOT. 
(Concluded from p. 95.) 
Rearing of the larva in the open air. There are differ- 
ent ways of raising the wild silk worms. I have for two 
years cultivated them in the open air. I had about five 
acres of woodland enclosed by a fence eight feet high; a 
net was stretched over the bushes, which were of six or 
eight years’ growth. This net, supported upon posts, 
was intended to protect the worms from the depredations 
of the birds. The eggs were put upon the bushes in the 
little hatching-box, so that after this, there seemed ‘but 
very little to do. But it was not so: over so largea 
Space, it was impossible to keep the net in good order, 
and the birds managed to get under it; the small ones 
could go through the meshes, and the larger ones through 
some holes in the old net, so I was obliged to chase them 
all the day long, as when pursuing them on one side they 
would fly to the other and quietly feed, until I again re- 
appeared. Thus, besides the insect enemies enumerated 
above, many of the caterpillars fell a prey to the birds. 
Rearing them under a shade. This year I made a 
shade open on all sides, protected by a roof to keep out the 
hot rays of the sun, and boards were arranged so that they 
could be raised up from the roof to give more light when 
the Sun was behind the clouds, and also at morning, even- 
- ng, and at night. This shade had a very fine net around 
It, so that it was impossible for the birds to get through 
the meshes. In this way an oak branch can be kept 
fresh for four or five days; a branch is placed in every 
two holes, so-as to leave a vacant one between any two 
branches, When the foliage of one branch is nearly eaten 
"p, a fresh one is put into the vacant hole, and small 
-a ORAN aTr VOLE 19 
