176 



HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



planted for this purpose is six to nine feet ; and it is 

 considered necessary to allow the trees three to seven 

 years' growth to acquire established vigor, before the 

 leaves are taken. It is possible that in Queensland, 

 where the mulberry grows with so much luxuriance, 

 and is in leaf for eight months out of the year, that it 

 might bear denuding at an earlier age, during the forty 

 or fifty days the worms are feeding. 



Construction of Magnanneries or Breeding 

 Houses. 



The following is the description of the largest-sized 

 magnannerie, capable of accommodating 20 ounces of 

 eggs, or 760,000 worms. It is from the pen of Mr. 

 G. E. Cerruti, now managing one of the largest silk 

 factories at Ning-po, who, while in Victoria, endeavored 

 by his writings to promote sericulture there. It will 

 be remembered, however, that the number of worms 

 mentioned would require fifty acres of young mulberry 

 trees to feed them, and that therefore such a building 

 would only be required in a large establishment. In 

 small undertakings of this nature, any building or 

 chamber well ventilated, thoroughly dry, and free from 

 bad smells, will answer the required purpose — th^se 

 three conditions, and especially the last, being in all 

 cases the essential qualifications of a proper breeding 

 house. In describing the building he says : — 



" This edifice should be about thirty or thirty-four 

 yards in length, by eleven to twelve in breadth,having 

 the principal front to the east, on which side must be 

 left ten or twelve openings ; on the opposite side half 

 that number ; on the north side four, and on the south 

 side two. The height of the building should be 

 eighteen or twenty feet, with a roof so elevated as to 

 be almost perpendicular, to preserve the interior from 

 the direct influence of the sun, which would create too 

 much heat during certain hours of the day, and at all 



