SILK-WORMS. 201 
eel fagots, which should be brought to them, and 
laid near them gently on the floor. 
There should be a basket placed between two 
of the gatherers to receive the cocoons, and ano- 
ther person should be employed in removing the 
stripped fagots, which fagots, if they are com- 
posed of heath or broom, may be laid by for ano- 
ther year; but if they are made of straw, turnip 
haulm, or any such light material, are not worth 
saving, and may be burnt*. 
* Heath may last for several years, and is better for the 
purpose the second than the first year. 
Straw, when used to form the hedges, and indeed heath, 
the first year, is apt to injure the silk-worms, when the ends 
and extremities are too slender and thin. 
For when the silk-worm rises on the small boughs, it always 
climbs up to the very ends, and if these ends are too slight, 
they bend and part from the stronger twigs, not having suffi- 
cient support; the silk-worm drops on the hurdle, and on the 
ground, if the branches have not been arranged so as to avoid 
this. These falls are very injurious, and sometimes kill the 
silk-worm ; therefore the heath should be carefully placed to 
prevent these falls. 
When the heath has been used one year, I have the bundle 
or fagot just passed through a light blazing fire, which singes 
off any down or floss that may remain on the boughs and the 
ends of the leaves, and renders the heath perfect for the use of 
the next year. When singed, they should be well beaten out 
against a wall, to shake out the burnt particles, and aired, 
that they may retain no smell. 
They may then be stowed away, till wanted, when they 
should again be well aired. Instead of old dry heath, it 
would be an advantage to use the branches of fresh plants, 
such as turnip plants, but they should be stripped of all the 
leaves, and of the small weak top twigs. 
