70 BULLETIN NO. 3, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



period of the insect's existence, when from the circumstances the extreme 

 care maintained throughout its development is likely to be relaxed, the 

 silk-grower should be particularly watchful and observe the greatest 

 care in keeping up the most favored conditions for the changes the 

 young insect is about to undergo during the period here referred to. 



These considerations will also serve to attract attention to the im- 

 portant influence of the methods employed industrially in reeling the 

 silk from the cocoon upon the value of the staple. We have seen that 

 when the separate fibres issuing from the spinnerets of the worm are 

 fairly cemented together they are stronger than when they are not thus 

 combined. Aud if we look over the Table II, giveu above, we shall find 

 that when the cocoons have been wet, or have been soaked in hot water 

 in order to separate the fibre, the latter as a general rule is stronger 

 than when it has been separated dry. In the process of reeling the 

 fibre becomes thoroughly soaked and saturated with water, so that the 

 glutinous character becomes perfectly developed. As a result the 

 primary fibres are more completely cemented together, while the ulti- 

 mate fibres brought into contact passing to the reel are combined so 

 perfectly that a maximum of strength must be secured. The influences 

 of moisture upon the strength of the fibres will be noted upon compar- 

 ison of the averages given in Table II. For convenience in making this 

 comparison we have collected the necessary figures in the following 

 table : 



No. of sample 



Average strain required 

 for rupture. 



3. 



Drj' reeling. Wet reeling. 



I 



8.36 



11.43 

 12.39 

 9.36 

 9.33 

 7.80 

 9.81 

 11.18 

 11.05 

 6.97 



II 



1 8. 25 



Ill 



1 5.78 



IV 



! 7. 68 





8. 32 



V (White) 



i 6.29 



VI 



' 12.04 



VII 



j 9.56 



VIII... . 



1 8. 59 





We find here that, as a general rule, the higher results are in favor 

 of the fibres that were reeled wet. The exceptions found are in sam- 

 ples V (yellow), VI, and VII T, and these may doubtless be explained by 

 facts in the history of which we are uot in possession, 



In the table of results obtained with the dynamometer we have, as 

 in the preceding relating to fineness, given in the recapitulation the 

 highest and lowest as well as the average of the measurements taken. 

 Below these may be found statements showing the number of measure- 

 ments found above aud below the average respectively. These figures 

 serve to show the uniformity of the fibres with regard to the qualities 

 represented. The extension of the fibre under the strain necesssary to 



