young worm is covered. This black color, however, 
gradually disappears, and is replaced by that of a 
dingy white. 
Young worms continue to increase in size 
.until they cast their skin, or " moult," a period 
varying, according to the temperature in which 
they are reared, from four to eight days. When 
moulting, they erect their heads and cease to eat. 
They moult either four or five times during their 
caterpillar life, which lasts, in this latitude, from 
four to five weeks. 
The period from hatching until the first moult- 
ing is called the first age) from the first until the 
second moulting, the second age, etc. 
In order to insure success in rearing silkworms, 
the following must- be particularly attended to, viz : 
I. Only worms that are hatched on the same 
day should be kept together. By keeping worms 
hatched on different days apart, you will save a 
great amount of labor, as the worms will, by this 
arrangement, all moult at the same time. 
II. No regular number of times for feeding the 
worms can be assigned ; they should be fed as often 
as the leaves become dry or are consumed. 
III. Feed the worms on the leaves of the 
Mortis alba, or w 7 hite mulberry, if procurable ; if 
not, those of the black or red mulberry, or of 
the Madura aitrantiaca, or osage orange, may be 
6 
