368 



MODE OF FEEDING SILK-WORMS. Chap. XVIII. 



a temple — a place of worship with many huge 

 idols, some from twenty to thirty feet in height, 

 looking down upon the scene on the floor. But 

 to a Chinese there is nothing improper in con- 

 verting a temple into a granary or a silk-worm 

 establishment for a short time if it is required, and 

 I suppose the gods of the place are supposed to 

 look down with approbation on such scenes of 

 peaceful industry. 



When from the large number of worms it is 

 necessary to feed them on floors of rooms and halls? 

 there is always a layer of dry straw laid down to 

 keep them ofl" the damp ground. This mode of 

 treatment is resorted to from necessity, and not 

 from choice. The sieves of the establishment, 

 used in the framework I have already noticed, are 

 greatly preferred. 



Whether the worms are fed on sieves or on the 

 floor they are invariably cleaned every morning. 

 All the remains of the leafstalks of the mulberry, 

 the excrement of the animals, and other impurities, 

 are removed before the fresh leaves are given. 

 Much importance is attached to this matter, as it 

 has a tendency to keep the worms in a clean and 

 healthy condition. The Chinese are also very 

 particular as regards the amount of light which 

 they admit during the period the animals are 

 feeding. I always observed the rooms were kept 

 partially darkened, no bright light was allowed to 

 penetrate. In many instances the owners were 

 most unwilling to open the doors, for fear, as they 



