SILKWORM GRAIN. 347 
hung from the ceiling ; then it is to be frequently 
turned over carefully until it is quite dry, which, if" 
the weather be fine, will be the case in three days. 
When the grain is quite dry, I use, in order to pre- 
serve it, large boxes of wire gauze, having the inside 
fitted with drawers of fine perforated zinc, which are 
to contain a layer of grain, one centimetre thick. 
These drawers are so placed one above the other as to 
leave intervening spaces of three centimetres, so that 
the air may circulate freely. The boxes are hung from 
the ceiling of the magnanerie, being so fixed that the 
wind may not sway them about. The grain is thus 
preserved in the open air until the moment of incuba- 
tion or of consignment for sale. 
In this manner I preserve grain, which remains 
through the winter exposed freely to the air; and 
which has resisted— 18° Cent. (2° above zero Fahr.), 
especially in the winters of 1869-70 and 1870-7L 
Notwithstanding this rigorous and prolonged exposure 
to cold, the subsequent hatching was on each occasion 
all that could be desired. 
When the grain is to be sent to a comparatively 
short distance, as for example to the south of France, 
or to Italy, wooden boxes suffice for the purpose, care 
being taken to fill the space between the grain and the 
cover with very clean wadding. Each consignment 
must be made by express train. But if the grain is to 
be sent to a great distance, especially over sea, it is 
indispensably necessary to take various precautions. 
In this case, a contrivance of which I will give the 
description must be employed. 
Take a box made of wire gauze, or perforated zinc, 
in the inside of which other boxes of similar material, 
