SILK-WORMS. 
93 
economy and regularity in the distribution of the 
leaves. 
Towards the end of this day the worms are tox*- 
pid, and a few begin to revive even. 
After the first moulting, the silk-worm is of a 
dark ash-colour, shewing a very distinct vermicu- 
lar motion ; the rings that comjxose its body stretch 
and shrink mox’e fi-eely than heretofoi’e. 
I must here repeat that it is of the utmost im- 
port that the food should be chopped very finely, 
first with a knife, and then with the double-bladed 
hashing tool, which may be seen (Fig. 15.) 
When the weather admits of it, the leaves should 
be gathered several hours before the meal is given ; 
they last very well a day, and more if kept in a 
damp cool place, where there is no draught of air. 
It is always desirable the leaf should have lost its 
first sharpness, and not be given to the wonns till 
six or eight hours after it has been gathered. • 
I shall now draw up a general view of this pa- 
ragx*aph, and add a few observations that appear 
to me useful. 
The first age of the silk- worm, reared in the 
tempei’ature I have indicated, is almost always 
accomplished in five days, 'exclusive of the two 
days employed in their coming forth, and being re- 
moved and distributed. 
In this first stage, the silk-worms proceeding 
*from five ounces of eggs, have consumed thirty 
