80 
THE ART OF REARING 
it happened in 1814. Whereas, by beginning to 
hatch the eggs when the season is fairly advanced, 
should it suddenly grow unfavourable, it is easy 
to gain some days, by delaying the rapid progress 
of the worm without any risk, as may be seen in 
the Table at the end of this work. 
It may, however, happen that if the season 
continues so bad as to render the leaf sickly and 
weak, (Chap. III.) a greater quantity of the leaf 
will be required than I have here stated. 
The quantity of leaves I have mentioned may be 
too plentiful, if the season prove so favourable as 
to make the leaf less watery and more nutritive. 
When I fixed the proportion of leaves, I, of 
course, made my statement upon an average of 
the ordinary course of the seasons, which must 
always be understood when general rules are laid 
down. 
The only case in which the quantity of leaves 
fixed, in these general rules, for the consumption 
of the worms, will be found unnecessarily ex- 
cessive, will be if the worms have been ill at- 
tended, and fall sick, pine away, and that many 
die. The quantity of leaves necessary for silk- 
worms was determined, after having made the 
most exact exjieriments repeatedly. Taking for 
granted that the silk-worms are maintained in 
the degrees of temperature which I have in- 
dicated, and with the view, as much as possible, 
