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NEWCHWANG MOUNTAIN SILK. 
BY MR. CONSUL THOMAS TAYLOR MEADOWS. 
‘HERE are two crops of the mountain cocoon, a “chun” 
or spring crop, anda “tsew” orautumncrop. The 
latter is collected in the last half of September and October, 
and the cocoons are brought to market during this latter 
month. At this period the silk growers pick out the best 
_ of the cocoons for the production in spring of the butterfly 
and worm for the spring crop. They are preserved in baskets, 
which are hung up in the Chinese dwelling rooms. These 
almost always face the south, thus opposing a blank back 
wall to the cold northerly winds prevalent in winter, and 
getting from their southerly windows the full advantage of 
the sun in that season, when, during nine days out of ten, 
there is a clear blue sky. Besides this, the dwelling rooms are 
partially heated by the warmthemanating from the surface of 
the kang, a brick bench which occupies about one-third of the 
room, which serves as a sleeping place at night, as seat, &c., 
during the day, and inside which isa winding flue, with an 
aperture at one end, in which a fire of millet stalks is occa- 
sionally lighted. In spite of all this, however, the tem- 
perature of a Chinese dwelling in the mountain silk district 
is, during the greater part of the winter, considerably below 
the freezing point. The worm, being indigenous, could 
doubtless stand the cold of the winter's nights, in its cocoon 
on the bushes on which it forms these latter; but, apart 
from theft, destruction by wild animals, insects, &c., it is 
probable that in nights of unusual severity only the strongest 
and best inclosed might escape perishing from cold. 
The natural heat of spring suffices to bring the chrysalis 
out of the cocoon in the butterfly shape. The butterflies 
then couple, and in about four or five days after impregna- 
tion the female lays eggs. They are laid on native paper 
spread on mats, tables, &c. In about five or six days from 
each of these eggs is produced, a small worm of about the 
size of a black ant, and which is black in colour. This is 
about the time when the buds on the oak bushes have 
begun to make their appearance. This must be in the last 
half of April. The young leaves are forced by twigs, being 
cut off from the bushes and placed in water, in pools of the 
mountain streams, or in tubs in houses. From these the 
young tender leaves are taken, and are scattered over the 
paper, as the worms appear from the eggs. The worms 
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