31 
be taken not to stain the clean ones with the black fluids of sneh worms 
as may have died and become putrid, for there are always a few of 
these in every cocoonery. The outer cocoons of loose or floss silk are 
then removed from the inner cocoons or pods, and the latter sorted ae- 
cording to color, weight, and firmness of texture; those which best re- 
sist pressure indicating that the worm has best accomplished its work. 
Too much care can not be taken to remove the soft or imperfect cocoons, 
as,if mixed with the firm ones, they would be crushed and soil the others 
with their contents. The very best of the firm cocoons are now to be 
chosen as provision for eggs for the next year, unless the raiser prefers 
buying his eggs to the trouble of caring for the moths and keeping the 
eggs through the winter. Eggs bought from large estabiishments are, 
however, apt to be untrustworthy, and it is well for all silk-raisers to 
provide their own seed. The precautions to be taken in choosing 
cocoons for reproduction are set forth in Chapter VI. 
Kept at a temperature of about 70° F., new silk cocoons lose, through 
the giving off of humidity by the chrysalides, a material proportion of 
their weight. According to Dandolo the loss in 100 pounds during the 
first ten days amounts to about 74 per cent.* Theamount of humidity 
in the atmosphere naturally affects this result. The loss continues until 
the cocoons are thoroughly dry, when it will be found that they have 
lost two-thirds of their original weight. 
* Dandolo states that 100 pounds of cocoons will suffer the losses indicated by the 
following table: 
Pounds. 
Weight when taken from the brush and after the floss has been removed. .-..--. 100. 0 
es i OR AE RR na oS ah wal on en pew tpn ee eee ae 99. 1 
enn WP TOMU OEE UENS Moe 2h foci tee cial oon > a sein ne Se cinta Soon Boe 93. 2 
A I a a pA SP go er ape 97.5 
UNMET SRGGEY Ch hia acest ee Sk. sce a ed pee oo we ee so oe ee 97.0 
et CRM ME AMEE) 06 Whe ote an Sette <a se ances Ue eon d JAb Wu. 2 LU Ve 96.6 
enrrrerina attr 15.20 os ae ol a deans dh enw cite bd hn 2 we 96. 0 
EE a a OC a ee RS 95. 2 
eI OL EROS 2 eS on Sh we on ee inne an Sy web eae dacs eee 94.3 
TRIER TU MEARGRIEI A094 oa SOIC Sache cc Cui ain Pans We'd eee van bs 05 < wae eee 93.4 
I MRE Sd) yet Waco a wont aptheds ce hes cane ands scan case gaeeme 92.5 
