178 
THE ART OF REARING 
to be in a hurry to make them climb upon the 
fagots ; for by remaining some hours on the 
hurdles, they have time to cleanse themselves by 
evacuation upon the litter. 
Whatever may be the method followed in the 
course of this period, it must always be desira- 
ble that the little bundles should be well placed, 
well arched, clean and light, and not thick ; that, 
as I before said, the air may circulate freely, and 
that the worms may work with ease in them. 
3. Last Feed to be given to the Silk-worms. 
The 240 pounds of sorted leaves, which are still 
in reserve, should be given them by degrees, and 
according to their wants. 
The little appetite of the silk-worms, and their 
wish to rise ujdoii the leaves, proves that even 
■were they given more food at one time, it would 
only add to the litter, which would become dirty, 
because this is the period at which they evacuate 
most. From this, it is better rather to stint them 
in each distribution. 
The hours of feeding cannot be fixed in this 
last day ; it cannot even be known whether there 
may not be required a small quantity of leaves for 
the following day. 
It is very obvious that latterly the digestive 
faculties of the silk- worms decrease, and that it is 
only habit or intemperance which inclines them to 
