S BOMBYX MORI. 
Feeding the Worms. 
tANY rules have been laid down as to the regularity 
of feeding, most writers advising four meals a day. 
Such definite rules are of little use, as much de- 
°^Q3 ft pends upon circumstances and conditions. The 
food should be renewed whenever the leaves have been 
devoured or become the least dry. The leaves will keep 
fresh longer if not picked from the branches. In this respect 
Osage orange lias the advantage of Mulberry, as its spines 
prevent too close settling, and allow free passage of air. 
When feeding, fill the trays with small leaf-covered twigs or 
branches, laid carefully over the worms. The worms eat 
more freely early in the morning and late at night. Healthy 
worms require but little rest, and will eat through the night. 
They eat greedily after each molt, and in the last stages, 
the quantity of leaves consumed is enormous. It is well 
in order to feed very early in the morning, to gather the 
leaves the evening previous, after sundown ; this is best also 
for fear of rain through the night, as wet or damp leaves- 
being very injurious, should never be fed. To keep leaves 
fresh, cut large branches and place the stems in water. In 
this sunny climate, we have so little dew in the spring, that 
leaves can usually be gathered in the early morning, being 
fresher then than at any other time. Should the season 
jDrove imusualh cold or damp, and no artificial heat is 
provided, the worms will lie in a dormant state and eat but 
little until the o-enial warmth revives them. In this case 
they will not mature so early and it will prolong* the work. 
Hence it has been recommended to have a stove in the 
cocoonery for use on cold or dam}) days. If the worms are 
well cared for, and kept in a warm, healthy condition, they 
will usually arrive at maturity in from twenty-five to thirty- 
five days. The period of spinning does not depend so much 
upon the age of the worm, as the quantity of food it has 
eaten. It is conceded by most silk raisers that the quicker 
the worm is brought to maturity, the larger the cocoon, the 
longer the thread, and the better the silk, 
