220 ON THE CULTIVATION OP 



December and May. Whereas in Italy, it is the 

 opinion of Count Dandolo, that the mulbeny-tree 

 cannot be twice stripped of its leaves without inju- 

 ring the trees ; and he alleges, that one good crop of 

 silk is worth more than both the first and second ; 

 and that the quality of the second crop is always 

 inferior. 



That the Silkworm caterpillar may arrive at its 

 complete state of development, the quantity of leaves 

 which they necessarily consume must bear a relation 

 to their quantity of nutrition. The better the quality 

 of the leaves, less will be required for this purpose, 

 and the animal liable to less fatigue in masticating 

 them ; so that saccharine substance, unless combined 

 with resinous matter in a due proportion, may feed 

 the animal, but will never enable it to produce silk 

 proportionate to its weight. 



In various parts of France and Italy, many persons 

 rear Silkworms, who have no means of supplying 

 them with food, except by the purchase of mulben-y 

 leaves, which are brought to the market, and sold by 

 weight. It therefore requires not only judgment, 

 but experience, to enable the purchaser to distin- 

 guish such as are most nutritive. 



Great care must be taken to prevent the leaves 

 from heating, and thereby producing the first stage 

 of fermentation, which destroys their quality, and 

 proves too stimulating for the Silkwonns ; and they 



