THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
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two sorts;—first, those who sell the eggs, reserving a sufficient quantity 
for keeping up the stock; and next, those who purchase them merely to 
feed the animal until it spins its nut or cocoon. As the worm in the 
course of its various transmutations, being again called to life and activity, 
would otherwise break all the fibres it had spun in eating its way out, 
this nut or cocoon is either baked or suffocated by steam. The latter is 
the method preferred ; the cocoons being apt to be partially burned in the 
process of baking, unless great care be used in the operation. 
A third variety of breeders purchase the cocoons from the second ; and 
their province is to draw the fibres from them to form the thread. This 
process is termed reeling or filaturing the silk, and is thus performed:— 
The cocoons being first sorted, according to the various sizes of the fibres 
upon them, the quantity of cocoons intended to form the thread is then 
put into a small basin of hot water, which enables the fibres to run freely 
from them. These fibres are then passed through an eye in a small wire, 
held above the basin, and, in joining them together, a slight twist is given, 
which produces an elasticity in the thread; and the greater this is in 
degree, the more valuable is the silk reckoned. 
This process finished, the threads are fastened to a reel, which is not 
circular, but should be formed of four projecting sticks of wood, with even 
tops to them, about one inch broad and four inches wide, with borders at 
each end to prevent the silk in reeling from slipping off. The reel is then 
turned round, and the fibres drawn from the cocoon till a skein is made. 
Particular care should at the same time be taken that the cocoons, during 
the drawing of the fibres, be brushed with a small birch broom, in order 
that they may be properly loosened, and the cocoons kept free from 
the pluff which gathers upon them ; for this renders the thread woolly 
and wasty; and great attention should be paid that only a given quantity 
of fibres be drawn at a time, otherwise the thread becomes uneven, a 
thing most prejudicial to the quality of the silk, and essentially spoiling 
it for many purposes of manufacture. 
The Chinese method of reeling is a still more simple process. First of 
all, a small jar is placed on the ground, a charcoal fire is kindled within, 
and over it is placed a basin of water. When the water has attained 
a certain temperature, the cocoons are thrown into it. While this mode 
of softening is being performed, a small wheel, made of bamboo cuttings, 
is placed on the edge of the basin. This wheel is but two inches and a 
half in diameter, and has a small eye in front of its stand, through which 
the thread of the silk is to pass as it rises in fibres out of the basin, 
during which process it is cleaned from adventitious matter, and freed from 
yol. i.—NO. VII. 
F F 
