SILK-WORMS. 
321 
lbs. o 
Brought over 13'J2 0 
But this leaf has lost by sovting so; 
much weight, in the following propor- 
tion : — 
Refuse picked from the leaves. 
First age 
Second age 
Third age 
Fourth age 
Fifth age . 
lbs. oz. 
. i 
8 ] 
3 
0 
• 
9 
0 
: 
. 27 
0 
. 
. 102 
0 j 
Refuse picked off, per ounce of eggs 142 S 
Total 1504 S 
During the whole period of rearing 
the silk-worms, the 1609lbs. 8oz. ofthe 
leaves drawn from the tree, have lost by 
evaporation, and other causes, besides 
sorting and picking, as above stated 105 0 
Total 1G09 S 
much as possible from all useless parts. This operation is 
most essential in the two first ages, when the leaves are to be 
chopped very small. 
In the third age, the sovting and picking the leaves is not 
of much consequence, and still less so in the fourth age, and 
fifth age. 
The sorting and picking is of importance, inasmuch as it 
enables you to put 15 or 20 per cent, less substance upon the 
wickers than would otherwise he done, and which the worms 
do not cat. This substance increases the litter and the mois- 
ture, without necessity or motive ; in the climates, where the 
worms are in the open air, it would of course be unnecessary 
to sort the leaves. 
In the fifth age, and even in the fourth, when the season is 
favourable, leaves mixed with a quantity of mulberries, boughs 
and stalks, may he put on the hurdles, although it is known 
that the worms do not eat them, because at that period it 
