SILK-WORMS. 153 
operation, it still contains a great deal of water 
in its folds, and even on its surface. 
Then twenty or thirty pounds of leaves should 
be spread upon a large, coarse sheet ; and doubling 
it into the shape of a large sack, two persons 
should hold the four corners, and shake the leaves 
well about from one end of the sheet to the other, 
until they appear to be quite dry, which will 
be the case in a few minutes. 
If the sheet be weighed before and after this 
process, it will be found considerably increased in 
weight by the water it has abstracted from the 
leaves. 
Should it be required further to dry the leaves,, 
burning a good heap of shavings, and some fagot 
sticks, and placing the leaves nearly all round the 
fire, taking care to turn them well with pitch- 
forks, they will become by these means as dry as if 
gathered at noon on a fine day ; it may be affected 
as is required in either way; I have tried both 
methods, and have been equally satisfied with 
both : should the leaves be only wet with dew, 
drying them with the sheet will be sufficient. I 
must observe upon this subject, 
1st. That even if the worms be forced to fast, 
during some hours, to allow time for drying the 
leaves, it is better for them than running the 
chance of giving them wet leaves, which make 
their bodies exhale a greater quantity of liquid, 
h 5 
