July 28. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
329 
should begin by a good choice of seed or eggs, which they 
should keep carefully, having obtained it from their own 
moths, in preference to buying of those who deal in it. 
When, however, it is absolutely necessary to purchase seed, 
let it be examined, to ascertain, by certain signs, whether it is 
likely to turn out good, and especially if it has been carefully 
preserved according to the best rules. Again, as to the 
quantity of seed to be hatched—an exact calculation of the 
quantity of food you are likely to have should be made, for 
it can never be to the interest of the owner to have so many 
worms as will oblige him to buy food day by day, or to hire 
persons to tend them. The seed should not be hatched till 
the leaves of the Mulberry appear; and there need be no 
hurry in bringing them to life early, as should cold check 
vegetation, the worms will suffer from want of food. The 
system of hatching the eggs by means of the heat of the 
body is not to be tolerated, as it exposes the worms to 
many dangers and diseases. Till we, in Tuscany, under¬ 
stand the necessity of a well-regulated warmth for hatching 
the worms, we can never expect a result proportionate to 
the care and attention bestowed upon these creatures, 
namely, an abundant harvest of silk. 
He who is to have the management of Silkworms should 
take pains to learn the most approved method of treating 
them, and should anxiously watch that the necessary care 
be bestowed upon them, not only by day, but by night also. 
Amongst ourselves, it appears that women only can be 
trusted to tend the worm; whereas, in other countries, 
where the business is better understood, men are found 
much more docile, and even the most stupid among them 
are able to learn the use of the thermometer and other 
necessary instruments. 
The hatching the eggs, and the treatment of the worms 
the few subsequent days, influence greatly their future well¬ 
doing. One of the commonest mistakes amongst us, is the 
keeping the worms too closely crowded in ; and when the 
beds are changed, it is surprising if multitudes are not 
suffocated, in consequence of the mischievous custom of 
removing them in handsful, and allowing them to remain 
heaped together for no short space of time. Tlio regular 
changes of the worm are not attended to; they are disturbed 
at all times, and the fatal result is attributed to absurd 
causes, instead of to the true one—want of proper care and 
attention. Again, no rule is observed with regard to 
feeding, either as to quantity or frequency, consequently 
the leaves are wasted and the worms injured.. Besides the 
most scrupulous attention to cleanliness, it is essential to 
maintain the atmosphere of the apartment even and pure. 
Those people who best understand the art, and who derive 
the greatest advantage from it, so tend the worms, that 
whether the season be favourable, or otherwise, the harvest 
is safe ; whilst with us, all depends upon fine weather. 
Those who adopt the new plans do not remove their 
worms from the hurdle when ready to spin, but form the 
bush there for them, so arranging them that each may have 
ample room for their work. These, and other new sug¬ 
gestions, will excite the spleen of those women who consider 
themselves adepts, and, if obliged by an absolute command 
of the master to adopt them, they mil most likely contrive 
that they shall not answer; for ignorance and obstinacy are 
usually accompanied by malignity. 
The time that the cocoons remain in the bush varies with 
different circumstances, and an experienced eye is needed 
to show when they are ripe. The taking them oft too 
soon, as well as leaving them too long, is injurious to the 
silk. 
No careless or ignorant person should be allowed to 
gather the cocoons, for if the operation be not properly 
attended to the silk may be very much damaged. The 
cocoons having been placed where they will neither ferment 
nor become too dx - y, should, as soon as possible, be taken to 
market; the unripe and imperfect ones having been care¬ 
fully removed. It cannot be expected that the eggs should 
be prolific if the cocoons which are to produce them be not 
most carefully chosen. The husbandman seems to forget 
that in this, as in other branches of agriculture, a fruitful 
hax-vest must not be looked for if he neglects the seed. In 
choosing the cocoons, some regard lxxust be paid to the 
texture of the silk, as well as to its colour; but as this differs 
in different localities, and under different circxxmstances, no 
certain rule can be laid down, but experience will be found 
the best guide. 
As to the signs by which to distingxxish the male from the 
female cocoons, none are certain, bxxt those which are least 
often wrong should be attended to; as also the number of 
cocoons necessary to produce a certain height of eggs. 
The apartment where the eggs are to be laid requires 
great care, that is, the temperature must be even; a fact ; 
which our people seem to forget, but which is sedxxlously 1 
attended to in foreign countiies where it is well understood 
that the well-being of the worm depends on such precaution. 
Care, too, must be taken of the cloths containing the eggs— 
the room where they are stored for the winter must be cool, j 
dry, and impervious to frost and vermin. 
With regard to the diseases prevalent among the worms, 
it is essential that all old women’s tales should be rejected, | 
for they merely provide mendacious defences of obstinate j 
ignorance. 
The Silkworm, like other insects, was formed for liberty, 
and, if for his own advantage, man breeds it in confinement, 
he should keep in mind its natural constitxxtion, and en¬ 
deavour to accommodate his treatment to that of nature, by 
giving it pure, warm, dry air to breathe, remembering, that 
the various diseases to which it is subject depend not so 
mxxch upon its physical constitution as upon want of 
attention at the most important epochs of its life. It is 
important to have good eggs, which must be carefully 
preserved and hatched in uniform temperature. 
In the four first stages, cleanliness, xiniform warmth, and 
ventilation, are necessary. The changes, or moxxltings, j 
should take place at the same time in all the worms, and 
this depends mainly on their having plenty of room, a j 
regular quantity of food, and fresh air in the apartment; it 
these are wanting the creatxxres become langxxid and sick, j 
The most fatal diseases appear after the fourth change; 
different writers call them by different names, but none 
have been able to tell us their original cause; however, it 
appears likely they are occasioned by the immense quantity j 
which, in proportion to their size, these insects eat in a i 
state of confinement. 
It will be well to conclude this interesting subject with 
the following axioms of Count Dandolo. He says these ] 
fatal diseases would be avoided, if 
1st. The worms are kept thinly scattered on the hurdles. 
2nd. If the prescribed temperatxire be carefully main- J 
tained. 
3rd. If the air be never permitted to stagnate. 
4tli. If, when the external air is damp, and the internal 
evaporation copious, fires are lighted to puiify and rarify 
the atmosphere. 
5th. If the worms have plenty of light, the most valuable 
stimxxlus to animal life. 
Oth. If the beds be changed sufficiently often to prevent 
fermentation. 
7th. If the leaves be given as dry as possible. j 
8th. If the sulphuric acid and nitre are frequently used 
to destroy the various noxious exhalations generated ixx the- 
apartment, as we have before had reason to remai’k. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
%* We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “ To the Editor of \ 
The Cottage Gardener, 2, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London,” 
Seedling Potentili.as (B, §- B .),—We were not aware, until we 
received specimens of these, that there were so many beautiful varieties 
at the command of the gardener. Nos. 32 and 46, orange, veined upwards 
from the base with crimson. No. 21, deep blood colour; very large, j 
No. 19, a very pale clear yellow. No. 51, scarlet. No 21, light maroon, 
with dark veins. Nos. 22 and 62 , pale yellow, but not so good as 19 . 
Nos. 22 and 49, dark maroon. No. 64, scarlet, with yellow rays rising 
from the base. There are some others, all very rich and fine, but closely 
resembling those we have specified. 
Trifolium jncarnatum Sowing (Clericus R .).—It may be sown ! 
