?2 SILK WOilMS. 
who attend the worms, which^ as soon as 
they are hatched from the eggs of the 
moth, are kept in warm rooms^ and 
supplied with fresh leaves every day ; it 
is necessary to preserve great cleanliness ; 
all withered leaves are carefully removed, 
and fresh air is occasionally admitted. 
In a few weeks the caterpillar arrives at 
its full growth^ and immediately pro* 
ceeds to spin ; winding the glossy yellow 
silk round itself, till in seven or eight 
days it is encompassed by an oval ball^ 
or cocoon, the size of a pigeon's egg. 
Lucy, But how can the silk be taken 
off these cocoons ? It must break every 
minute. 
Mother. It is stronger than you think, 
and easily wound upon reels^ by those 
who are accustomed to the work. 
When the cocoons are completely 
formed, the first operation is to pack 
them in shallow baskets, and bake them 
in the oven. 
Lucy. So they kill all tlie poor 
moths. 
