February 23, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 159 
Resuming the subject of the French silkworm establishments, 
I remark that the cocoons, after a sufficient time has been given 
to insure the transformation of the worms into the chrysalis state, 
are separated by gentle handling from the stalks or twigs to 
which they have been attached. Under any circumstances the 
insects within the cocoons have to be stifled before the silk is 
wound off, after those required for breeding have been selected 
and placed in a moderately warm room. The old plan of kill¬ 
ing the insects by an oven of the construction used by bakers 
has been superseded by a plan far more suitable, since by the 
other many of the cocoons were overdried, while in some the chrys¬ 
alids escaped with life. Under the improved apparatus (fig. 33) 
steam of regulated temperature is passed through a series of 
shallow baskets of wicker, in which the cocoons are laid till the 
death of the chrysalids is insured, which can be ascertained by 
trying a few. The steam needs to be hot and dry, because half- 
condensed steam is likely to damp the cocoons injuriously. When 
the cocoons are to be sent a long distance the steaming operation 
must be continued until the contents are dried to a powder ; the 
cocoons may then be packed with pressure, and upon being 
plunged in hot water they resume their former shape. A brief 
exposure to the air is requisite after the cocoons are removed 
Fig. 33.—Apparatus for Stifling Chrysalids. 
from the influence of the steam. A cocoon that has been tho¬ 
roughly dried will be found minus at least two-thirds of its former 
weight. Lastly, upon this head, it should be noted that in some 
countries exposure to the sun’s rays is the common method of 
destroying the chrysalids, when the cocoons are to be sooner or 
later wound off—a plan occasionally tedious and unsatisfactory. 
As briefly as possible we will describe the usual manner in 
which the cocoons are reeled by those women whose skill fits 
them for the manipulation, so that the threads unwound from 
several cocoons form an entire and uniform thread of the thick¬ 
ness required. Frequently a number of women are engaged 
together, their looms being connected with a long spindle, which 
is moved by hand or other power. Each worker has before her a 
pan, into which hot water is introduced, and the heat of this is 
kept uniform with supplies of steam, which she regulates by a tap. 
A suitable quantity of cocoons is thrown in from time to time, 
and they are stirred round, so as to loosen the silk on the surface 
of the cocoons, which is rather adhesive or gummy ; by this 
means also the floss silk is separated from the main threads. 
The next thing to be done is to beat the cocoons rather lightly 
with a small birch broom or brush, the threads that have now 
been freed yet caught in the points of the twigs. By examining 
the little tangle of filaments, composed of threads from several 
cocoons, the practised winder can quickly ascertain that the main 
thread of each is quite ready for operating upon. Then a staple, 
or Win, is formed by joining the ends of four, five, six cocoons, 
perhaps more. Two are commonly made at once, each hand 
being employed, the threads being made to cross each other, then 
twisted several times ; again separating them after this, the winder 
runs them through a hook, and they are finished off by the wheel, 
the rapid motion of which smooths and strengthens the threads 
formed. On the breakage of one of the original threads another 
is brought in. Caution is exercised when making every join lest 
the compound thread become uneven or insecure ; then the threads 
are by the winder at the conclusion of her operations put into 
hanks, ready for the manufacturing process. 
Considered as an article of commerce the value of silk depends 
chiefly upon good reeling. Badly wound silk may be worked up 
in various ways, unless it be so coarse or uneven as to necessitate 
its subjection to carding. This carding or combing, on a plan 
similar to that employed with wool, hemp, &c., is pursued in the 
first instance sometimes with poor cocoons, and the silk obtained 
from many of the new silkworms of our day must be carded ; it 
cannot be wound by the thread, 
Japan is an advancing country, and in the future we may 
anticipate for it a rather important position amongst civilised 
nations. Already there are Japanese girls who are more skilful 
than the maidens of some western lands in reeling silk, and with 
a little instruction they may become on a par with the proficient 
hands of France, since they are quick and persevering. Accord¬ 
ing to Mr. Adams’ observations, at present the work of winding 
the silk from the cocoons is done almost too rapidly, causing an 
irregularity in the size of the thread, only attributable to haste or 
to carelessness, since the cocoons show no defects, their quality 
ranking high. The appliances are in many villages of a primitive 
character. Those who have had some experience manage to keep 
two winders going at the same time ; each cluster of threads 
before it is passed upon the winder is passed through a hair ring, 
and also through a notch in a rod of bamboo. These small 
winders are turned by the hand of the girl, and the skeins usually 
re-reeled afterwards and formed into large skeins by a large 
machine. It is noticeable that in the Japan establishments it is 
common to first wind off the loose or floss silk, which is made 
into a rough thread called noshe. In doing this a portion of the 
true cocoon is often removed. The water into which the cocoons 
are plunged is cooler than Europeans generally employ, and the 
distance to the winder is short, so that the threads are less likely 
to dry up and snap suddenly.—J. R. S. C. 
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HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 
Fruit trees are now in a more forward condition than is usually 
the case so early in the season, particularly Apricots and Peaches. 
The various methods of affording protection were alluded to in our 
last calendar, but we may state that where moveable protection is 
adopted, such as canvas screens, it should be applied every night 
until all danger is past. The buds of Pears on walls, also those in 
the open, are alarmingly forward, and should the weather prove 
frosty when the blossoms are expanding protection should be given ; 
also for Plums. 
Figs which have been covered during the winter should be un¬ 
covered on mild days, deferring pruning until the embryo fruits are 
visible, so that the least fruitful shoots may be removed. To insure 
good crops excessive pruning must be avoided, removing only the 
stronger unripened shoots as far as practicable during the summer, 
and the winter pruning is only needed to thin the short-jointed well- 
ripened shoots [where too crowded, and by stopping the points in 
summer of those bearing fruit short-jointed fruitful wood will result, 
and the fruit having the benefit of more light and air will mature 
more completely. 
The pruning and nailing or tying-in of such fruit trees as the 
Morello Cherry on north walls should be attended to without 
delay, thinning out the shoots where this is necessary, but avoid as 
much as possible cutting back the shoots. Wherever standard fruit 
trees have been recently planted they should be securely staked and 
be well mulched with good stableyard manure, all newly planted 
trees on walls having similar attention. Where it is necessary to 
make new plantations of Strawberries at this season the ground 
must be well prepared by trenching and manuring if necessary. 
Well-rooted runners of last year being at command, it is better to 
defer planting until growth commences, and then lift with a ball of 
earth to each so that little check may be given. 
