RAW- SILK. 



19 



the thread with his wisk, hy which means the (C.) 

 quantity of coarse silk'(fit only for carpetting-) will j.^^^.'jc^fons 

 be increased, and the quantity of good silk ^^^w siik^ 

 diminished. 



If the damaged cocoons be reeled off imme- 

 diately and daily as they are picked, before they 

 are pierced by an insect which is bred from the 

 fermentation occasioned by bruised cocoons, or 

 those in which the worms die before they can be 

 killed by the heat of the oven, they will yield a 

 quantity of coarse silk, fit for the Indian market. 



But as good cocoons may turn bad by being 

 kept too long, and as it is not possible to bring 

 into silk the whole quantity which each crop 

 produces in less than six or eight weeks, care 

 should be taken that the cocooneries be very 

 roomy and well aired. The Resident of the 

 factory must also attend (especially during the 

 two or three first weeks of collecting the cocoons) 

 to the placing of them properly on the shelves. 

 He must take particular care that no greater depth 

 than four or five inches of cocoons be placed on 

 one shelf, and that they be regularly turned once 

 or twice every day, whilst the sun is above the 

 horizon. Due attention to this point will prevent 

 the cocoons from growing mouldy, and will render 

 the silk of a fine colour, from the beginning to the 

 end of the season. 



5. The advantage resulting from killing the 

 worm in the cocoon by means of a hot oven, is so 



c 2 fully 



