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KntereJ according to Act of Congress in the year 1882, by the Women's Silk Cultvek 
 
 Association of the U. S., in the Office of Librarian of Congress, 
 
 at Washington, D. C. 
 
AN 
 
 ^INSTRUCTION+BOOK^ 
 
 ART OF SILK CULTURE 
 
 COMPILED BY THE 
 
 Women's Silk Culture Association of the United States, 
 
 FROM VARIOUS AUTHORITIES AND ACTUAL EXPERIMENTS. FOR THE 
 
 USE OF THE WOMEN OF THEIR COUNTRY. WHOM THEY HOPE 
 
 THEREBY TO AID IN THE PERFECTION OF THIS 
 
 BEAUTIFUL INDUSTRY IN AMERICA. 
 
 NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 1882. 
 
1= la :e3 IF -A. c IE . 
 
 IN presenting an instruction book to the public, the Asso- 
 ciation do not claim to give their own experience in the 
 practical branches of sericulture, not their results from such 
 culture. As citizens we have no surroundings to enable us to 
 practically test this agricultural pursuit, but we give such facts 
 as are gleaned from the best books published on this subject, 
 and some of the personal efforts or plans of those who have 
 successfully accomplished Silk Culture. The instructions are 
 explicit and contain all the information which can be given on 
 the subject of Silk Culture to those at a distance, and who 
 cannot attend the school. Facts have been gathered from the 
 best manuals on the subject, and the aim has been to present 
 the simplest and easiest methods of pursuing the work. It is 
 adapted to the needs of a large class of intelligent people all 
 over our land, and commends itself especially to the young, 
 as developing an interest in one of the humblest yet most use- 
 ful of God's creatures, requiring the intelligent care and ob- 
 servation of the habits of a worm that possesses three strange 
 organizations, whose product forms one of the most valuable 
 commodities of commerce and manufactures, and well may we 
 say part of " a nation's wealth surrounds a worm." 
 
 We are indebted to Felix Gillet, of Nevada City, California, 
 an intelligent and experienced silk culturist, for one chapter 
 of excellent matter, also to a work — by the late John Clarke — 
 on the Mulberry tree, permission having been granted to the 
 Association by his daughter. Miss Clarke, of Philadelphia, for 
 the use of extracts from her father's book, as her donation to 
 the women of her country. 
 
Instruction Book. 
 
 Also to Prof. H. C. Kerr, State Geologist of North Carolina, 
 for his valuable illustrated article ; to Ira Dinock, President 
 of the Nonotock Silk Company, of Connecticut, for illustra- 
 tions of reeling; to Lorin Blodget, Esq., for cut of the reel ; 
 Werner Istchner, Esq., for his valuable letter, and to several 
 other authorities for the portions of our book relating chiefly 
 to the culture of the silk. 
 
 Women's Silk Culture Association. 
 Philadelphia, Aprils 1882. 
 
XlSTTlROTDUOTXaiSr. 
 
 WHEN Providence does anything for man, his business 
 is to cooperate. It has done much for us ; has given 
 soils and climates positively omniferous. China herself boasts 
 of nothing superior. We cannot do wrong in stepping on 
 the traces of 4,000 years. Experiments have been made in 
 all parts of the country, and their success has established the 
 fact that the Mulberry will grow, and the silkworm thrive 
 throughout the whole length and breadth of the United States. 
 
 The process of reeling, also, which was formerly supposed 
 to be of difficult performance, has been so familiarized that 
 children perform it with skill and dexterity. The gathering 
 of the foliage, and the feeding of the worms, may be effected 
 by the children and such other members of the family as. are 
 incapable of more arduous labor ; one aged person being 
 always in the direction of the business as a responsible head. 
 If productive labor is a source of wealth, both to nations and 
 individuals, it is desirable that it shoidd be increased to its 
 greatest possible extent. This can only be done by seeking out 
 objects to which the labor of the young, old, and infirm is 
 adapted ; and among these, there is none more appropriate than 
 the culture of Silk. 
 
 The importance of this cidture and manufacture, both in a 
 pecuniary and moral point of view, is immense. There is prob- 
 bably no other business in which the same amount of capital 
 will yield an equal amount of income. There can be no 
 better investment. The small amount, too, necessary to a 
 commencement of the business is also an encouragement 
 which no other holds out to the enterprising. A feiv acres of 
 
Instruction Book. 
 
 land of ordinary fertility, and a few dollars in money for the 
 purchase of seeds a7td plants, will enable a Silk grower to lay 
 the foundation for a plantation on a considerable scale. An- 
 other facility peculiar to the business is the ease with which 
 operations are extended, without a corresponding extension 
 of capital. The ratio in which the Mulberry may be multiplied, 
 by means of cuttings and layers, is astonishing. Experiments 
 have proved that, with a little labor and attention, they may 
 be more than quadrupled every year. This will enable the 
 farmer in moderate circumstances to compete with the capi- 
 talist, and prevent monopolists from engrossing the whole of 
 the business and its profits. To the individual of limited 
 means, having a large family of children, the culture of Silk 
 holds out encouragement of extraordinary promise; while, at 
 the same time, it affords ample opportunity for the capitalist 
 or the incorporated company to make large investments with 
 the moral certainty of success. 
 
PART I. 
 
 REMARKS ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE MUL- 
 BERRY FOR THE FOOD OF SILKWORMS. 
 
 IN offering a few suggestions on the cultivation of the Mul- 
 berry tree in its different varities as food for silkworms, 
 we first urge upon agriculturists to plant these thrifty and 
 beautiful trees, as shade and ornamental trees and as hedges 
 around their fields. This latter plan places the culling of 
 leaves within the reach of children and women, and saves 
 labor. In making the decision to do this, we again urge that 
 orders for trees be sent not later than June and July for 
 autumn planting, and in the winter months for spring plant- 
 ing. This enables us to send better trees and to arrange our 
 orders, giving timely opportunity to the nurseryman to select 
 his trees and ship, just at the proper time for planting ; which 
 varies in our Northern States from February to April, and 
 from September to December. We are about negotiating with 
 French houses for the importation of trees, until the young 
 nurseries, that will doubtless be planted, shall have time to 
 reach a proper stage for transplanting. Four varieties are 
 recommended : the Moms Alba or White Mulberry, the 
 Moms Elata, the Morus Japanica or Japanese Mulberry, and 
 the Morus Brossa or Morus Tartarean. 
 
 "The first thing to be done towards the production of silk, 
 is a provision of food for the thrifty insect, which will take due 
 care to perform its part, if only we are equally industrious'to 
 
Instruction Book in the 
 
 perform ours ; and its only proper and legitimate aliment is 
 the leaf of the Mulberry Tree. This tree has been endowed 
 by nature with many properties that render its cultivation, 
 wherever that may be — in the hedge, in the plantation, in the 
 cornfield, or as an ornament around our premises and dwell- 
 ings — an object happily combining utility, convenience, and 
 pleasure. Independently of the primary purpose of its culture, 
 the production of an agreeable and elegant article of clothing, 
 it leaves the surface less impoverished and incommoded than 
 it is by many other trees, in consequence of its roots striking 
 into the earth not obliquely, but more deeply and perpendicu- 
 larly." The ground, therefore, between mulberries, or their 
 rows, may, in many cases, be successfully occupied with other 
 products ; particularly since neither the shade of the tree, nor 
 the dropping of rain from its leaves, is considered prejudicial 
 to plants growing beneath. It is also a matter of universal 
 observation that no insect except the silkworm will feed on 
 the mulberry leaf. The experiment was purposely tried by 
 M. Pullein, which satisfactorily demonstrated that the product 
 of this tree is the exclusive property of the silkworm, or the bi- 
 sect which apparently works only for man. 
 
 The White Mulberry {morus alba) has generally superseded 
 all other kinds in this country for the feeding of silkworms. 
 
 They still, however, cultivate the Black [morns nigra) in 
 China ; and in Spain and Persia it is said that they still prefer 
 that species. The Morus Alba (white mulberry) is the species 
 upon the leaves of Avhich the silkworms are now fed ; it has 
 sound wood, beautiful leaves and sweet fruit, and is either 
 useful as a forest or ornamental tree. It is also one of the 
 most useful trees in the world, when its importance in con- 
 nection with Silk Culture is taken into consideration. 
 
 There are many varieties of Morus Alba, all of which may 
 be utilized for the feeding of silkworms, but the variety called 
 Multicaulis is both in France and Italy considered the best. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 
 
 This variety, however, has been found rather more tender 
 in this country than the other species, and scarcely forms 
 more than a low shrub in the North, and which is*often frozen 
 to the ground in severe winters. 
 
 MoRUS Tartarica. 
 
 Moms Tartarica, or Tartarian Mulberry, abounds on the 
 borders of the Sea of Azoph, and on the banks of the Volga 
 and of the Don, or Tanais. The leaves are large, oval, oblong, 
 serrated and shining. The fruit resembles the Morus Nigra. 
 The leaves afford silk of the finest quality. Count Dandolo, 
 in the enumeration of his twelve species, mentions the Morus 
 CoNSTANTiNOPOLiTANA as Well as the Morus Tartarica. But 
 he nowhere mentions the Morus Broiissa. This circumstance, 
 and the proximity of Constantinople to Broussa, warrant the 
 presumption, until evidence to the contrary, that these two are 
 the same. It has been asserted that the Broussa can be raised 
 from its own seed ; it is, therefore, a species ; and whether this 
 species may be considered or not the same as the Morus Tar- 
 tatica, or Tartarian Mulberry, may be more fully determined 
 hereafter. 
 
 MoRETTi Elata. 
 
 The Moretti Elata does not generate by seed as some other 
 varieties do, but sustains the hardest winters, and is the best 
 adapted for the North. It is fit for standard, forest or orna- 
 mental trees. It is straight, with an elegant shape and 
 luxuriant foliage. It is proof against grasshoppers, borers, or 
 any kind of vermin which destroy so many species of trees in 
 this country. It gives one pound of cocoons to every fourteen 
 pounds of leaves. 
 
 Morus Japonica, 
 
 Morus Japanica or Japanese Mulberry tree — this kind was 
 
lO Instruction Book in the 
 
 introduced into France by Camille Beauvais, and has the larg- 
 est leaves, giving the same quantity of Silk as the Moretti. 
 It is so easily picked that French breeders prefer to plant it 
 to any other kind. It stands well hard winters, as proved by 
 five years' growth in Kansas, if well cared for. 
 
 MoRUS Alba. 
 
 Morus Alba, white or Italian Mulberry, was originally from 
 China, but has been most extensively cultivated in Italy ahd 
 France for ages. The silk which -it produces is of the finest 
 quality. The leaves are cordate, sirrate, entire or lobed. Their 
 upper surface is a shining green, perfectly smooth, and the under 
 has some hairs set on its edges. The flowers are monoecial ; 
 some, males, disposed in cylindrical chatons supported on 
 peduncles longer than themselves ; the others, females, form 
 round or oval chatons, rather short peduncles, which are suc- 
 ceeded by small berries of the same form, and of a red or 
 white color. The fruit is white, roundish oblong, and insipid. 
 It is a tree of rapid growth. In the climate of Paris it attains 
 to the height of twenty-five or thirty feet, but in more southern 
 countries of forty or fifty feet, with a trunk from six to eight 
 feet circumference.* 
 
 This tree is known to have attained the venerable age of 
 more than four hundred years. Its superiority over every 
 other mulberry, except the Morus Multicaulis, consists in this : 
 it is clothed with leaves fifteen or twenty days earlier than the 
 others ; the silkworms therefore, come more speedily at ma- 
 turity, and are thus preserved from the inconveniences of the 
 hot season. The White Italian Mulberry, moreover, not only 
 
 * The bark, according to Rosier, may be converted into linen of the fineness of silk. For this 
 purpose, the young wood is gathered in autumn, during the ascent of the second sap, and im- 
 mersed for three or four days in water. It is then taken out at sunset, spread on grass, and 
 returned to the water at sunrise, and this is repeated until finally it is prepared and spun like 
 flax. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. tl 
 
 grows more rapidly, but has a more abundant foliage ; and 
 leaves more delicate and nutricious, whence the silk is hand- 
 somer and of a better quality. 
 
 The White Mulberry {morus alba) grows to the height of 
 twenty or thirty feet, is more rapid in growth than the black, 
 and contains more of the glutinous substance resembling 
 caoutchouc, which gives tenacity to silk produced by the 
 worms fed on them, and which is found in all plants on which 
 they exist. 
 
 The leaves of the White Mulberry, which produce the best 
 quality of commercial silk, are alternately glossy on the upper 
 side, smooth on both sides, oval, tough, and vary in shape, 
 but are generally heart shaped. The wood of this tree has a 
 good reputation and can be well worked by cabinetmakers, 
 and utilized for fence posts, etc. 
 
 Morus Alba Rosea. 
 
 Morus Alba Rosea, Rose-leafed Mulberry, is slender, with 
 branches more extended than all the other grafted varieties. 
 It may, however, attain a great height. Its wood is more 
 solid and compact. Its leaves are shining as if varnished, 
 rarely lobed, borne on rose petioles ; and its fruit is of a rose- 
 grey, very large, and one pound of cocoons per eighteen of its 
 leaves, produces very fine silk. 
 
 Morus Alba Nana. 
 
 Moms Alba Nana, Dwarf White Mulberry, is a little larger 
 than that known under the name of Constantinople Mulberry, 
 Its leaves are like those of the grosse reine, but its berries are 
 white. It may be advantageously cultivated, since its boughs 
 are near ; and this tree of small size will furnish as many 
 leaves as another thrice its magnitude ; and a greater number 
 can be planted on the same space of land. 
 
12 Instruction Book in the 
 
 The Morus Multicaulis. 
 
 Some remarks on the Morus Multicaulis will not be amiss 
 in this little treatise on trees. It has many advantages — from 
 its rapid growth and large leaves, is especially adapted to the 
 South — but will thrive well as far north as the 43d meridian ; 
 indeed the Mulberry grows well wherever the apple tree will 
 grow. 
 
 In the South, however, it would probably be the most 
 profitable variety to cultivate. There it would produce leaves 
 more rapidly, consequently more tender and perhaps of a 
 better quality for the worm ; but even there it would require 
 more care in its cultivation. 
 
 Where it is possible, it would be well to grow several kinds, 
 so that the superiority of any one over the other may be 
 determined. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 The propagation of the Mulberry is very easy by layers and 
 by cuttings ; the latter is the best and most rapid mode of 
 propagation. 
 
 Cuttings of the young shoots grown, or even two years' 
 old wood, if taken off in the fall (say November) will root 
 easily the following spring. 
 
 The cuttings should be cut evenly across the bottom just 
 below a leaf bud. Shoots one foot in length having three or 
 four eyes or buds planted in the soil, leaving one bud only ex- 
 posed above ground, will root easily, provided the operation be 
 skillfully done. 
 
 In twelve months the young plants will be well rooted and 
 ready for transplanting into nursery rows 2% x 2% feet apart 
 each way. This distance allows of their being cultivated each 
 way the same as corn. 
 
 If the conditions are favorable they should be trees three or 
 four feet high and large enough for permanent planting the 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 13 
 
 next season, when they should be planted 6 -a. 6 feet each way. 
 This will allow i,2io trees to an acre. 
 
 As soon as the branches begin to touch each other, eveiy 
 alternate one should be removed, which will leave the re- 
 mainder 12X12 feet apart, which in time should be further re- 
 duced by removing every alternate tree, leaving the remainder 
 24 X 24 feet apart as permanent trees. 
 
 This method of culture allows the trees that are annually 
 removed to be stripped of their foliage without permanent in- 
 jury, as they are not to be considered as permanent trees. Care 
 should be taken, however, not to strip the foliage of the ones 
 intended for permanent trees before they are sufficiently strong 
 to bear such treatment. 
 
 This method is only recommended when a good supply of 
 cuttings are to be had. 
 
 In India and China, great silk growing countries, Mulberry 
 trees are planted and cut down twice yearly; this causes 
 them to grow thick and bushy, and facilitates the picking of 
 the trees. It is highly recommended that hedges be planted 
 of Mulberry around the grounds of the farm. This renders 
 picking of leaves easy for children. 
 
 In this country, it is admitted as a general rule that all soils 
 adapted to the culture of Indian corn, or that will produce ten 
 bushels to the acre, are adapted to the cultivation of the mul- 
 berry. 
 
 As to SITUATION or SHELTER, all ..agree that nurseries and 
 plantations should have a sunny exposure, and protection 
 against strong cold winds. Declivities, hill-sides, land sloping 
 towards the east, south-east, or south, and protected on the 
 north and north-west by woods, groves, artificial plantations, 
 or buildings, are situations eligible to favor and sustain the 
 growth of the mulberry. 
 
 Any land that is suitable for raising a crop of corn will do 
 for cultivating the Mulberry. A dry, warm, sandy loam is 
 
14 Instruction Book in the 
 
 quite congenial to its nature. A cold, damp, or heavy soil, 
 will not answer. It will thrive tolerably well on poor land, 
 but much better on that which is fertile. Prepare the ground 
 as for a crop of corn, and at the same season furrow it into 
 rows 3^ feet asunder. Then scatter well rotted manure in 
 the furrows two inches deep. Trim the trees of every limb, 
 and lay them in the furrows so that they will just reach each 
 other, cover them up about as deep as corn is usually planted , 
 except the roots, which should be buried deeper. Carefully 
 preserve all the limbs and plant them in the same way. Ten 
 trees are often thus procured from one. In about three weeks, 
 should the weather prove favorable, sprouts from the buried 
 tree will break through the ground. After which, the earth 
 about them must be stirred occasionally, and the weeds be 
 kept down till August, Then let them entirely alone that 
 they may ripen, and the wood attain solidity before the coming 
 of the autumn frosts. When the trees have done growing in 
 the fall, pull or plough them up and cut them apart with a 
 knife or pair of pruning shears. To preserve them through 
 the winter, lay them down in the open field on dry ground — 
 cover them with sand and they will be found fresh and in good 
 order the next spring. Or they may be placed in a cellar, 
 with the roots resting on the ground, with some dry earth 
 placed about them. 
 
 If your object is to grow more trees, you will, the ensuing 
 .spring, again plant accor,ding to the directions already given. 
 But if you purpose to make a permanent plantation, you will, 
 after ploughing the ground, set out the trees in rows eight 
 feet apart, and standing two feet from each other in the rows. 
 When Winter again draws near, cut off the trees near the 
 ground, and preserve the trunk and limbs for further increase. 
 When Spring returns the roots and stumps which were left in 
 the ground will send up a great number of shoots, which will 
 put forth a quantity of foliage that will be truly astonishing. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 15 
 
 By severing the tree near the earth several advantages are 
 derived. The body and branches are thereby saved to be 
 again planted. The tree is so valuable that this is an im- 
 portant consideration. The quantity of leaves which will 
 grow on the sprouts is greater than could have been obtained 
 from the whole tree had it been left standing. Leaves cannot 
 be gathered from trees of much heighth without reaching or 
 climbing up to them ; but they may be plucked from shoots 
 of one year's growth without any such extra exertion, and by 
 children. An early French writer on the subject of the culti- 
 vation of the Mulberry tree says : — " Let trees make roots the 
 first year and grow, the second year pick carefully and trim. 
 The full product will be about as follows : — Dwarf trees, four 
 feet apart give their maxima the third year after planting ; 
 eighteen feet apart they require five years to reach their 
 maxima ; planted twenty feet apart the maxima is attained in 
 ten years. These trees grow to a great age, and give rich 
 supplies of leaves for "even hundreds of years, after good culti- 
 vation and when once firmly established. Count Gasparin 
 recommends planting in rows, twelve to sixteen feet distant, 
 the trees eight feet apart from each other. One acre of Mul- 
 berries in full perfection, should feed 80,000 to 100,000 worms, 
 or from 300 to 500 pounds of cocoons, much depending on 
 care, climate and soil. We have given various plans to guide 
 the planter, and would suggest that each agriculturist add to 
 this his practical experience in the planting of other hardy 
 trees, and be guided much by his past experiences, common 
 sense and the good results of his own knowledge. 
 
 To Obtain the Seed. 
 
 As fast as the fruit ripens it should be gathered ; otherwise 
 it will fall from the tree and be lost or devoured by birds. 
 When a portion of the fruit is ripe, spread blankets under the 
 trees and shake them gently every morning during the ripen- 
 
16 Instruction Book in the 
 
 ing season. By this means the ripe berries are disengaged 
 from the boughs, and falling on the blankets, are easily gath- 
 ered, whilst those that are unripe remain undisturbed. 
 
 One ounce of seed properly sown will give about 5,000 
 young trees. From a single pound of seed, one hundred thou- 
 sand plants may be reasonably expected. There are in one 
 pound avoirdupois of white mulberry seed, about 322,700 
 seeds. This therefore allows one seed nearly out of every 
 three to vegetate. From 9,600 to 10,000 seeds weigh about 
 one ounce of Bavarian weight ; and at least 300,000 seeds may, 
 on the average, be considered to the pound. 
 
 Time of Sowing, 
 
 From the first of April to the beginning of May, or even, in 
 favorable situations, should circumstances require it, so late as 
 the beginning of yiine. But it should be remembered that the 
 earlier the spring sowing, the more strength, firmness, and 
 bark the seedling will acquire to resist the attacks of its first 
 winter, which will be the most critical period in the history of 
 the young plant. 
 
 Manner of Sowing. 
 
 The seed may be sown in seed-beds or nurseries, as best 
 suits the convenience of the cultivator. When land is no 
 object, it will be best to sow them in the nursery, as it will 
 save the labor of once transplanting. Every cultivator knows 
 the fertilizing effects of frost and snow, and consequently ought 
 to avail himself of them at the proper season. Dig or plough 
 the preceding autumn, and leave the ground rough and ex- 
 posed {o the pulverizing action of frost and thaw all winter. 
 The ground should also be ploughed again in the spring; two 
 or three times, if necessary to render it light and friable. Two 
 or three dressings of manure well ploughed in, will be of es- 
 sential service. The seed may be sown in drills, at sufficient 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 17 
 
 distances asunder to admit of passing between them for the pur- 
 pose of weeding and hoeing. Roll the seed in plaster of 
 Paris, or mix with mould, then sow it tolerably thick, as in 
 the sowing of onions or carrots. 
 
 Subsequent Culture of the Seed-beds and Seedlings. 
 
 Should the weather be dry, water the seed-beds every other 
 evening. The ground must be stirred occasionally, or the 
 soil lightened between the drills, and the beds at all times kept 
 clean of weeds. 
 
 On the near approach of winter, or on the first appearance 
 of what is commonly called black frost, cover the plant-beds 
 with long stable manure, leaves, straw, or matting, and confine 
 the covering with twigs of pine or evergreen, until the middle 
 of the ensuing April. 
 
 Transplanting does not appear always to take place so early 
 in France as with us ; nevertheless, part of their practice seems 
 worthy of our attention. The plants will soon show them- 
 selves, when they must be thinned, if growing too thick, put- 
 ting them as near as possible two or three inches apart. After 
 having let them come to the size of a goose-quill, it will be 
 necessary, for at least three years, counting that in which they 
 are sown, to tend them during the whole time in the following 
 manner : At their first appearance, they should be thinned ; 
 the second year, they are to be pruned of all the small 
 branches up to a foot from the ground ; from time to time they 
 must be watered; they must also be thoroughly weeded. 
 There are Two Seasons for making nurseries, the Spring, and 
 the time of the maturity af the fruit. Those who choose to 
 sow the seed of the mulberry in the month of Apiil, must con- 
 sequently use the dried seed gathered nine months before, and 
 less liable to sprout. But those who sow the fruit at its ma- 
 turity, enveloped with all its moisture (or pulp), which seems 
 intended for its nourishment, and to give it, if we may use the 
 
 2 
 
18 Instruction Book in the 
 
 expression, its first milk, have generally the pleasure of seeing 
 it put forth with vigor. Besides, the heat of the season, pro- 
 vided the proprietor use the precaution to water the plants, 
 will necessarily cause their rapid growth. 
 
 Sowing Broadcast. 
 
 This method is extensively and usefully practised in China; 
 and has also been tried with success and profit in New Eng- 
 land many years ago. Though culturists generally prefer the 
 crops of standard trees or hedges, and the recent introduction 
 of the Multicaulis may render this process less necessary, yet 
 conditions may exist wherein for special purposes it may be 
 expedient. 
 
 On ground previously prepared, sow the seed broadcast 
 every spring ; and the next year, when the young plants are 
 covered with foliage, they may be mowed in the same manner 
 that farmers mow small shrubs, and given to the worms. 
 These mowings may be repeated until the stock becomes ex- 
 hausted, when the land must be seeded again. During one 
 season, the same seedling will bear to be mown thrice ; and 
 on different portions of the ground, the mowing may be daily 
 continued according to the demand for the crop, except after 
 very dry weather. 
 
 The advantages of this method are, i. The leaves are 
 gathered with little expense or labor. 2. The same area of 
 ground will produce more foliage. 3. The making of silk 
 may thus be commenced on the first year. 4. Tenants, as 
 well as owners, from year to year, can secure a yearly crop of 
 silk ; and the quantity can be increased or diminished as oc- 
 casion requires. 
 
 Transplanting. 
 
 On this subject, authors do not precisely agree, and are 
 generally wanting in that method which will be found neces- 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 19 
 
 sary in this place. For the sake of distinction, we shall divide 
 this section into what. refers, i. To the seed-bed: 2. To the 
 nursety : 3. To theiiedge : 4. To the dwarf orchard : 5. To the 
 hedge plantation: and 6. To the plantation for standards. 
 
 The Seed-bed. 
 
 1. By the Seed-bed we mean that on which not only the 
 young seedlings, or plants from seeds are growing, but where 
 they have suffered no transplanting nor other disturbance, 
 except that of being kept clear from weeds. From the seed- 
 bed, according to the time and manner hereafter to be stated, 
 the seedlings are to be transplanted either to the nursery, the 
 hedge, the dwarf-orchard, or to the plantation for standards, 
 according to the intention of the culturist. Seedlings are fit 
 for transplanting when they attain the height of eighteen 
 inches ; and generally,'on the second year, those not removed 
 before may be transplanted in the nursery. But if they are 
 thrifty, they may remain in the seed-bed until planted out 
 into hedges. 
 
 The Nursery. 
 
 2. In France, seedlings are transplanted into The Nursery, 
 just after the fall of the leaf. With us, in April, or later if 
 there be a probability of the return of frost, parallel furrows 
 are to be made of sufficient depth, eight feet asunder. In 
 which, as soon as possible after removing from the seed-bed 
 and taking away the ragged roots as well as shortening the 
 top-root in order to force out lateral roots, the seedlings must 
 be planted one foot apart in the rows. When the plants in the 
 nursery are sprung, strip off the side-buds and leave none but 
 such as are necessary to form the head of trees. The buds 
 which are left should be opposite to one another. 
 
 The Hedge. 
 
 3. Mulberry Hedge. — One method of turning into direct 
 
20 Instruction Book in the 
 
 profit and economizing the very ground on which our fences 
 stand, is to turn them into mulberry hedges. The White 
 Mulberry forms an excellent live fence, and when once estab- 
 h'shed is more permanent than any other. Cattle must not be 
 allowed free access to the hedge while young, as they would 
 destroy it altogether ; but after it has become a good fence, 
 they ma/ approach it with advantage. The more it is broken 
 and lacerated by cattle, the more impenetrable it will become ; 
 as, for every branch broken, a half dozen shoots will im- 
 mediately .start out, till the bush forms a perfect bramble. 
 This mode is, therefore, recommended as accomplishing three 
 important objects : supplying food for silkworms ; keeping 
 the trees low, that the leaves may be gathered from the 
 ground by children ; and furnishing a good and almost never- 
 ending fence. 
 
 Take seedlings two years old from the seed-bed, and set 
 them, in the spring, at the distance of eighteen inches apart, or, 
 if it is intended to make a thick-set hedge, at the distance of 
 one foot. Cut off the tops at four or six inches from the 
 ground, leaving two buds on each plant opposite each other, 
 and removing all the rest. This causes the stock to have two 
 vigorous branches the first year. 
 
 To plant the Mulberry successfully in hedge-rows, the plant 
 should not be allowed to rise higher than seven or eight feet. 
 But a few years are suffiicient to raise considerable fields of 
 them in full vigor, sufficient to support an immense number 
 of silkworms ; and regular plantations can be formed, by plant- 
 ing the trees at the distance of from six to eight feet asunder ; 
 or in rows of eight or ten feet asunder, and the trees at three 
 or four feet distance in the row ; a space sufficient for the ex- 
 tension of the branches, sufficient also for cultivation, and for 
 the greater convenience of gathering the leaves. So greatly 
 is this last operation facilitated by the flexibility of the stalks 
 and the superior size of the leaf, that, as we are assured by M. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 21 
 
 Perrottet, a child is sufficient for gathering the food for a large 
 establishment of silkworms. 
 
 The Dwarf Orchard. 
 
 4. The Dwarf Orchard. — The dwarf orchard, consists either 
 of the dwarf or bush Mulberry so common in France ; or of 
 any mulberry species or variety kept in hedge-size and culti- 
 vation. It is in the East Indies preferred to the tree with a 
 high trunk because its leaves are more easily gathered ; the 
 trimming less difficult and less expensive ; and the sap, having 
 a shorter distance to rise, produces earlier leaves and pro- 
 portionately in greater abundance. The tree with a lofty 
 trunk must have a good soil and ample room, whilst dwarf 
 trees will grow anywhere, on arid soil and small spaces. 
 
 The field selected for an orchard of the dwarf mulberry 
 ought to be ploughed, and after remaining in the furrow about 
 two months, to be manured and cross-plowed, and lastly 
 leveled with a harrow. Lines must then be drawn nine feet 
 apart, through the whole length of the field, and the young 
 trees must be planted along those lines, at the distance oi six 
 feet from each other. After the gathering of the leaves in the 
 third year, the dwarf mulberry may be trimmed, but not be- 
 fore. This trimming among the French consists in lopping off 
 the bj'anches that have yielded leaves during three years, and 
 reserving the wood of the preceding and of the current years. 
 The trees thus arrive at a state of productiveness with compa- 
 ratively little expense of time and labor. It has been recom- 
 mended to have the rows of the dwarf orchard sufficiently dis- 
 tant to allow a horse and cart to pass between, to convey, 
 during the gathering, the leaves with the greater expedition 
 to the cocoonery. The objection to this is that the pressure 
 of the horse and cart on the intervening space might be such 
 as to injure the vegetation of the trees. To avoid this, it is 
 recommended that the leaves should be gathered into large 
 
Instruction Book in the 
 
 baskets and conveyed to a cart conveniently situated ; or 
 rather, that light hand-carts propelled by men should be sub- 
 stituted. 
 
 The young trees are to be headed to about a foot from the 
 ground, and but two or three branches allowed to grow. The 
 intervening ground may be cultivated with various other pro- 
 ductions, especially during the first years. Indeed, it has 
 been recommended by some to give to the ground applied to 
 dwarf orchards or hedge plantations the benefit of meliorating 
 crops, because the soil, according to this opinion, becomes 
 improved, and the intervening crops defray all expenses in 
 the culture of the Mulberry. Potatoes should be between the 
 rows, well manured ; so that the whole ground may be rich 
 like a garden. 
 
 The Hedge Plantation. 
 
 The Hedge Plantation consists of a piece of ground, not 
 only fenced in, but its whole interior planted with mulberries 
 in regular rows at certain distances kept in hedge culture. 
 It was formerly the practice in France to plant out mulberries 
 as standards, and suffer them to attain considerable size ; for 
 which gathering-ladders and additional labor were indispensa- 
 ble. The practice is, of late, much changed. It was observed 
 that the young plants in nurseries put forth their leaves much 
 sooner than the standard trees. Of hedge plantations there are 
 two plans. In the first, young trees of one year's growth are 
 used. The hedges are planted in lines, extending the whole 
 length of the field, these lines separated from each other by a 
 space oi six or eight feet. Each tree is planted at the distance 
 of three feet from the next in the same row. So that in the 
 space of an acre or 4^3,560 square feet, we shall have 2,/f.20 trees. 
 They will yield, in their third year, about two pounds of leaves 
 each {or 4,840 pounds for the acre) ; and this quantity will be 
 doubled annually until the eighth year, provided they are 
 managed as required. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 
 
 The above statement leads to the following statistical con- 
 sequence : the trees on one acre for the 
 
 3rd year yield, 4,840 lbs. of leaves. 
 4th " •' 9,680 
 
 5th " " 19,360 
 
 6th " " 38,720 
 7th " " 77.440 
 8th " " 154,880 
 Which, in this case, on the eighth year, would be equal to 
 1,548 pounds of silk, worth ^7,740. One hundred pounds of 
 leaves of the White Mulberry are reckoned to be equal to one 
 pound of raw silk, now worth at least five dollars. 
 
 The second plan of the hedge plantation requires that at two 
 years old the trees should be planted out into hedges at 
 eighteen inches apart, in rows eight feet asunder. The ground 
 should be prepared as before directed, and some good rich 
 mould put into the holes, to be afterwards pressed around the 
 plants. The hedges should never be permitted to grow higher 
 than six feet, so as to keep them within a convenient height 
 for gathering the leaves. After the leaves have been gathered, 
 they should be pruned , and, particularly, of such branches 
 as may have been injured or killed. All dead branches, also, 
 thus found in the beginning of April, must be pruned from 
 the living wood with sharp hedge-sheers, and these prunnings 
 should be so regulated as to give a proper form to the hedge. 
 The planting oi Morns Alba in the hedge form will be found 
 to be the most advantageous. The same quantity of land will 
 thus produce at least eighty per cent, more leaves than from 
 standard trees ; and the labor of gathering leaves is full one 
 half less, and the vegetation is much quicker. A few standard 
 trees, or a plantation of standards, should be kept on every 
 estate (particularly when situated in the interior), for the pur- 
 pose of deeping up regular supplies of seed, and of making 
 that of leaves doubly secure. 
 
24 Instruction Book in the 
 
 Plantation for Standards. 
 
 Plantation for Standards is a piece of ground, on which, at 
 proper distances, mulberry trees designed to arrive at (or that 
 have attained to) full growth are planted. ,The distances 
 generall)'- recommended for this purpose are iweiity feet behveen 
 the rozvs, and twenty feet asunder ; i. e. twenty. feet every way. 
 
 Pruning. 
 
 Trees left to themselves are liable to assume forms as un- 
 suitable to the taste of the horticulturist as inconvenient to 
 those engaged in the gathering of their leaves. June is the 
 best seasoji for pruning, v^\\&x\\}c\&yQ)\xi\^^ twigs that are taken 
 off may be, with advantage, given to the worms But after 
 what has been already said, it is here only necessary to add 
 that the imperfections in the form and growth of trees may 
 easily be remedied by a judicious cultivator at least once every 
 two or three years. 
 
 Suckers. 
 
 Trees may also be obtained from suckers. These, each 
 with some roots attached to them, may be separated from the 
 tree early in the spring, planted in the nursery or orchard, 
 two feet apart, where they may remain until their size intimates 
 the propriety of transplanting. They must be treated as seed- 
 lings or cuttings ; watered in dry weather, and kept clear of 
 woods. 
 
 Cultivation of the Multicaulis. 
 
 Cultivation by Cuttings and by Layers is divisible into 
 four methods, of which two refer to cuttings, and two to the 
 method by Layers. 
 
 L — Cuttings: Methodist. By previous fonvarding of the 
 budding or vegetating process in frames or under glass. Let 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 2S 
 
 there be prepared, before the month of March, frames or boxes 
 of convenient lengths, and sufficient in number to contain the 
 cuttings on hand. Let the depth of the front of these frames 
 or boxes be about eighteen inches, that of the back two feet ; 
 and width two feet and a half If these be boxes having bot- 
 toms, they must be perforated, to allow of a constant commu- 
 nication (on account of the draining off or admission of mois- 
 ture) with the external soil. To these, glass-frame tops open- 
 ing by hinges should be provided. 
 
 Prepare also a mixture composed of rather more than one- 
 half, or nearly two-thirds of zvell-rotted stable or other manure 
 (it has been said that all fresh manure is poison to the mul- 
 berry), and the rest of a light, dry mojdd, sufficient in quantity 
 to fill the frames to the depth of from twelve to fourteen inches. 
 Place these on the ground where they are intended to remain, 
 in a position facing the sun. The trees intended for this use, 
 cut into pieces of two, or two and a half inches, or always of 
 such lengths as to have each at least one bud, which should 
 be near the end. In the frames or boxes containing the mix- 
 ture already described, about the first of March, stick these 
 cuttings, with the bud always uppermost and turned towards 
 the south, but the whole cutting inclined with its head towards 
 the north, at an angle of about forty-five degrees. Place them 
 in rows about half an inch asunder, and at about the same dis- 
 tance in each row; or in such wise that the one shall not 
 touch the other. Press the earth around them with the finger 
 and thumb, covering over the bud about the fourth of an inch. 
 On mild, warm days, open the glass tops to admit air ; but on 
 the approach of frost, especially at night, close the glasses and 
 cover with matting or other protection. Or rather cover with 
 mattings every evening before sunset, and keep them on next 
 day until the sun has attained considerable power. To pre- 
 vent the escape of the heat of the bed from the sides, let a few 
 inches of horse manure be placed around them. Two or 
 
26 Instruction Book in the 
 
 three times a week, just before putting on the matting for 
 the evening, let the bed be gently watered with water that 
 has been previously exposed for a day or two to the sun. 
 And when the plants come up and begin to put forth leaves, 
 some plaster of Paris should be sprinkled over them. From 
 the first to the middle of May, the plants will be from four to 
 eight inches high, and may then be transplanted to the place 
 where they are intended to grow. For this purpose, on 
 ground previously prepared as already directed, with the 
 plough describe parallel rows, three feet asunder, on each of 
 which let holes for the reception of the plants be made one 
 foot apart. With a transplanting trowel, if possible soon after 
 a rain, take the plants up carefully with as much earth as pos- 
 sible attached to the roots. Insert these in the cavities pre- 
 pared, draw the earth around, press about them with the finger 
 and thumb. Water them for two weeks daily, especially if the 
 weather be dry ; or until the plants give evidence of having 
 freely commenced drawing their sustenance from the soil. If 
 the whole of this be attended to, very general success will be 
 the consequence ; and the plants will grow, during the season, 
 from four to six feet, and will ripen their wood so that the en- 
 suing winter will not injure them. 
 
 Method 2nd. By open cultivation without previous budding. 
 It is strongly asserted by some that two buds instead of one 
 are necessary on each cutting whenever planted in open cul- 
 ture. For this, let the ground be previously prepared with 
 well-rotted barn-yard or other stable manure ; or, in want of 
 it, with a mixture of ashes with fine mould, in the proportion 
 of 150 bushels of the former to four loads of the latter to the 
 acre. Having plenty of this or other suitable compost, manure 
 broadcast, otherwise in the furrow, or even in the dibble, as is 
 sometimes done for corn. After ploughing and harrowing, 
 strike off furrows north and south, three feet asunder, in which, 
 one foot apart, and at an angle of forty-five degrees, the heads 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 27 
 
 pointed to the north, place, about the last week of Apfil, the 
 cuttings, one inch under the earth, with the upper bud facing 
 the south. Draw the earth aroun^d the cutting, so as to cover 
 the bud about one quarter of an inch and press the earth 
 tightly around it. Water them for a few days if there be no 
 rain. As the sprouts appear, let the hoe draw some mould 
 carefully round them so as to give the roots depth of soil for 
 their nutriment. Let the weeds be kept down, and the ground 
 kept frequently turned over and fresh ; and a good crop of 
 trees may be insured. 
 
 Layers, 
 
 Method 3rd. Layering by the whole tree, without branches. 
 Trees are layered either by the whole tree, or by first taking 
 off the lateral branches and then layering each separately ; the 
 latter plan is preferable, since it allows sufficient room for the 
 young shoots to grow. For this purpose, let the ground be 
 duly prepared and pulverized by ploughing, harrowing, and 
 if necessary rolling ; and manure, at least in the drill, with the 
 compost already mentioned or slaked ashes. About the last 
 week of Apnl, run a plough or cultivator through the land, as 
 if for corn, in parallel lines three feet asunder; and let each 
 furrow be three inches deep. One person lays the tree in a 
 horizontal position in this furrow ; the root of one plant being 
 placed at the top of the one preceding it ; and proceeds thus 
 to the end of the line. Another follows him with a hoe, and 
 draws the earth over the prostrate plant, covering it with 
 mould to the depth of from one to two inches ; though care 
 should be taken not to bury it too deep. 
 
 Method 4th. Layeri7ig by sections deserves the attention of 
 culturists. Cut the tree into pieces of from twelve to fifteen 
 inches; and having prepared the soil at the same season as 
 already directed, place these sections in the plough-trace in 
 such a manner that there will be a piece of the plant alternat- 
 
28 Instruction Book in the 
 
 ing with a space of equal length intervening between it and 
 the next section. The intention of this is to admit more 
 freely the sun and air between the plants, and also to favor 
 the growth of the offshoots or branches ; for these, by the last 
 method, will be, from the closeness of the trees, few compared 
 with the number of buds which otherwise would produce a 
 plant. 
 
 The Osage Orange. 
 
 The Madura, or Osage Orange, affords a good substi- 
 tute for the mulberry, and will make excellent cocoons. 
 This is a spreading, deciduous tree, and at maturity is from 
 twenty to thirty feet high, with a yellow axillary berry the size 
 of an orange, but not so succulent, though said to be agree- 
 able when fully ripe. It was originally found on the banks of 
 the Little Missouri or Washita river ; also on those of the 
 Red river in Louisiana, and of the Arkansas river. It is rapidly 
 spreading over the Southwest ; and is a valuable tree for 
 hedges as well as for ornamental variety. It begins to find a 
 place in our nurseries, and will soon be generally known on 
 account of its beauty. 
 
 The Association has had ribbon of good quality made from 
 pure Osage Orange silk. The worms feed freely and con- 
 tinue healthy, and little difference exists between the silk of 
 the Osage Orange and Mulberry. Yet the Association re- 
 commend, where food must be planted, and where families 
 intend to go into silk culture in good earnest, that the time- 
 honored Mulberry should be planted. 
 
 State of Leaves proper for Feeding. 
 
 Notwithstanding that all silk-growers who have favored us 
 with the result of their experience have recommended the 
 feeding with dry leaves, or leaves free from both dew and rain, 
 two articles appeared in the September number of the Silk 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 29 
 
 CulUirist of 1837 affirming that leaves wet with either were 
 innoxious to the insect and not prejudical to the cocoon. 
 Nothing, however, can be more contrary to the advice generally- 
 given. The preservation of the health of silkworms depends 
 essentially on the leaves being perfectly dry when given to 
 them. Wet leaves invariably produce a diarrhaea. The worst 
 leaf that can be given to the silkworm, and which always 
 injures it, is that which is covered with what is termed manna, 
 arising from a diseased state of the tree. The blighted or rust- 
 spotted leaves do not injure. The worm will eat this leaf, 
 carefully avoiding the spots. If the culled leaves are properly 
 preserved from heating, moulding, etc., what is called wilting 
 will not hurt them. 
 
 Feeding by the green leaf . — Let a mulberry hedge be pro- 
 vided in a warm situation having a southern exposure, and on 
 the north "and north-west well protected by buildings, planta- 
 tions, or woods. As the worm in their first age consume but 
 little, a garden-border will afford sufficient for the purpose. 
 Or, we may sow the seed broadcast or in drills in a forcing 
 border or hot-bed to meet the first wants of the insect; and 
 to be provided in the event of some temporary disappoint- 
 ment. 
 
 Feeding by leaf pozvder. — Leaves for this purpose may be 
 taken from the tree towards the close of summer, and dried 
 so effectually as to admit of being reduced to a fine powder, 
 and afterwards preserved during the winter. In the spring, 
 after gently sprinkling with water as much of this powder as 
 may be wanted, allow it slightly to macerate or acquire general 
 moisture ; when given to the early hatch, they will be found 
 to attack this powder with an avidity not perceptibly differing 
 from that with which it would consume the early leaf 
 
 During the experiments of the past, when silk culture 
 became a speculation and consequently a failure, a farmer 
 in a vicinity not far from Mansfield, Connecticut, pur- 
 
30 Instruction Book in the 
 
 chased a farm on which were standing twelve mulberry 
 trees of full growth. Knowing nothing of the business 
 of making silk, he supposed them to be of no more than 
 the ordinary value of forest trees for fuel. A neighbor, 
 however, soon called upon him and agreed to pay him 
 twelve dollars annually for the privilege of picking the 
 leaves. The farmer, to his astonishment, found that the 
 twelve mulberry trees were as good to him as $200 at six per 
 cent, interest. And we advocate the system of a Mulberry 
 Leaf Market, as being especially beneficial to citizens in 
 moderate circumstances without land. It is particularly under- 
 stood, however, that the leaves at the tip end of every twig are 
 always to be preserved, to draw the sap and preserve the life 
 and vigor of the tree. There are few farms in this country 
 that could not be four-folded in value by adopting the plan of 
 letting out trees. The children of poor families might be 
 profitably employed in picking the leaves instead of running 
 about the streets contracting habits of vice. 
 
 The following extracts from the personal experience of 
 those who raised large quantities of trees and worms in the 
 year 1838 may be useful to those contemplating : 
 
 Important to Silk-Growers. 
 
 " It gives us much pleasure to communicate to our patrons 
 "and the silk-growing public, the results of some experiments 
 " that we have made in the cultivation of the Chinese Mul- 
 " berry, considered by us of the first consequence. We have 
 " heretofore recommended, and now earnestly repeat the 
 " advice then given, that permanent plantations of Mulberries 
 " should be managed according to the directions given in the 
 " leading article of our first number, viz. : to sever the trees 
 " near the ground late in the fall, and feed the worms with the 
 " foliage which will spring from the stumps and roots left in 
 " the ground the next season. We have cultivated the tree 
 
Art of Silk Culture. SI 
 
 " in this way, and can assure our subscribers, that it is at- 
 " tended with great conveniences and advantages, as it in- 
 " creases the quantity of leaves, and facilitates their gathering. 
 "We have about looo roots which have been cultivated in 
 " this manner, and they have prospered equal to our wishes, 
 " and more than fulfilled every expectation. The shoots are 
 " now five and six feet in height, bearing numerous large 
 " leaves, and the whole ground is nearly covered with their 
 " rich vegetation. Six, eight and ten sprouts generally pro- 
 " ceed from one stump, which will rise ten feet in height in 
 " one Summer. By the middle of June the leaves will be 
 " large and sufficiently abundant to feed worms to advantage, 
 " and one man may, by passing along the rows with a sharp 
 " knife, cut off the sprouts near the earth, throw them into a 
 " cart, and thus collect food enough to supply a million of 
 " worms. In another month there will be leaves sufficient to 
 " feed another crop of worms, thus doubling the profits of the 
 " business, at a trifling increase of expenditure. We are not 
 " theorising, but stating what we have proved by our own ex- 
 " periments. This mode of culture almost demolishes the 
 " whole expense of collecting leaves, and increases the food 
 " for the worms .500 per cent, above what can be obtained 
 " from the cultivation of the White Mulberry. But few of the 
 "American people have engaged in silk operations, and of those 
 " few, probably not one half of them, have known anything of 
 " it, until the five last years: But small as their number is, 
 " they have effected greater improvements in the business than 
 ".all the Silk-growers of Europe have achieved in a century, 
 " and if we do not supply England with raw silk within twenty 
 " years, cheaper than she can obtain it elsewhere, it will be 
 " because there will be no country called America — no people 
 " denominated Yankees." 
 
 The prediction here has been more than verified, American 
 manufactured sewing silks being now exported to every part 
 
82 Instruction Book in the 
 
 of the world; but the raw material is still imported. This 
 should not be, with our broad acres. The Association for 
 this cause urge the cultivation of all the Silk needed in the im- 
 mense factories that are now rising all over our land. 
 
 THE REARING OF THE SILKWORM. 
 
 The worm commonly employed in the production of silk 
 is called the Silk Worm of Four Moidtings, of which there are 
 two varieties. I, Those that form a straw-colored cocoon ; and 
 2. Those that produce the deep yellow cocoon. The prefer- 
 ence is given to the former; stating that it requires 2o^ 
 pounds of White Mulberry leaves to obtain i^^ pounds 
 cocoons ; which is at the rate of thirteen pounds thirteen 
 ounces to one pound of cocoons. Three other species, how- 
 ever, are mentioned. 
 
 1. The Small Silkivorm of Three Moultings. — The eggs of 
 this species weigh one-eleventh less than the eggs of the 
 common silkworm; 39,168 of the latter forming an ounce, 
 while 42,260 of the smaller are required to make that weight. 
 The silkworms and cocoons of this species are two-fifths 
 smaller than those of the common sort. Their cocoons are 
 composed of finer and more beautilul silk, and 400 of them 
 weighed one pound ; whilst 240 pounds of the common 
 weighed the same. 
 
 2. The Large Silkworm of Four Moultings. — The eggs of 
 this species were obtained from Frinli. They were only one- 
 fiftieth more in weight, or 37,440 to the ounce. One hundred 
 of their cocoons weighed one pound ; and twelve pounds and 
 a half of leaves yielded one pound of cocoons. But the 
 coarseness of the silk counterbalance any advantages derivable 
 from the preceding considerations. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 
 
 3. Worms that Produce White Silk. — Large quantities of 
 these have been raised, and found in all respects equal to the 
 common silkworms of four moultings. Tne silkworm of three 
 moultings and those that produce white silk are by many- 
 considered preferable to any other. And every year the 
 whitest and finest cocoons should be selected to prevent the 
 degeneration of the species. This kind was introduced into 
 France about the year 1783, and is there highly esteemed ; 
 but it is supposed to be the same that we have under the 
 name of the ''white worm'' as it produces two crops in a 
 season. That is, hatched at the usual season it will finish its 
 cocoon and deposit eggs that admit of being hatched and 
 raising cocoons during the continuance of the same season. 
 
 Lord Valencia found at Jungepore, in Bengal, a species of 
 worm producing eight crops of silk. The distinction between 
 a one, two, three, etc. crop ^%^ is not by some well understood. 
 It means that the eggs of the one-crop can be hatched success- 
 fully only from the eggs oi the previous year, kept over winter 
 to the following spring. But the two crop eggs may be 
 hatched first from the eggs of the previous year, and next 
 from the eggs of the first hatch of the same season. The 
 three crop eggs will hatch from the same season's eggs in so 
 many repeated times. The eggs of one-crop will not produce 
 worms until the following season. One writer says he ob- 
 tained a silkworm from China, which he reared, and in twenty- 
 five days he had cocoons ; and by the twenty-ninth or thirtieth 
 day he had a new progeny feeding in his trap. He remarks 
 that they would be a mine of wealth to those who would 
 cultivate them. The variety Madrassa finish the following 
 course in forty days ; six days in the e^g, twenty-two days a 
 larva, eleven days a chrysalis, and one day the wings or moth. 
 
 The Cocoonery. 
 It has been recommended by a number of copyists to scrape 
 
34 Instruction Book in the 
 
 the eggs off the paper or cloth, to wash them with water or 
 wine, or to employ other preparations and unnatural manoeu- 
 vres. Nothing can be more evident than that this is an 
 officious interference with the regular manipulation of nature ; 
 any artificial misdirection of this kind is, to say the least, 
 superarogatory and detrimental. In this country, it has been 
 abundantly tested that no degree of cold, even down to zero, 
 can injure them provided they are not suddenly raised or 
 depressed from one extreme of cold or heat to another. It is 
 a sudden transition of temperature by which they are injured. 
 Eggs when laid must be kept dry and cold, and preserved in 
 a vessel or by other means from the attacks of insects or 
 vermin; if in summer or autumn, in a temperature not ex- 
 ceeding fifty-five degrees. When spring arrives, they should 
 be placed in an ice-house or some such place where they can 
 be kept in a temperature not greater than from forty to forty- 
 five degrees ; for though at some degrees above this they may 
 not hatch, yet they will be liable to addle ; as they would if 
 kept in a cellar where the unavoidable dampness of such 
 places promotes this accident, and disappoints the hopes of 
 the silk-grower. 
 
 Hatching. 
 
 No hatching should at any time be attempted until the 
 mulberry leaves are springing sufficiently to promise an abun- 
 dant supply during their first and every successive age, as the 
 larvae increase in si^e to use them. It is always safer to be 
 a few days too late than too early. In removing the eggs 
 from the ice-house for the purpose of hatching them, care 
 should be taken not to introduce them too suddenly to a 
 change of temperature. They should be cautiously and 
 gradually brought from a cold to a warm atmosphere, until 
 the temperature be from seventy-five degrees to eighty degrees. 
 Otherwise, through the injury from sudden transition, sus- 
 tained by organization so delicate, they either would not hatch 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 
 
 at all, or hatch and die soon after. The young larvae, re- 
 sembling a small black worm, generally appear from sunrise 
 to ten o'clock in the morning. The tender leaves of the mul- 
 berry should be in readiness scattered on the trays, shelves, 
 or table where they are placed, and the attendant should be 
 up by the dawn of day to watch them. Those that do not 
 leave their shell by ten o'clock, usually remain until the next 
 morning. It is important to keep the worms of each day's 
 hatch by themselves ; which may easily be done by the leaves 
 placed near them for their early sustenance, to which those 
 that have left the shell will immediately and instinctively 
 attach themselves, and are therefore thus easily separated and 
 removed wherever the person tending them choses. The 
 hatch of any one day particularly, if sufficiently large, should 
 all through the season be kept by itself ; but never should the 
 hatches of more than two consecutive days be placed together ; 
 as they cannot thus pass, during the time of feeding, through 
 the several moultings together ; and the consequence will be 
 that on the same shelf worms will be found eating voraciously, 
 whilst others are sick or in the act of moulting ; worms in 
 different states, requiring different treatment, which will be 
 inconvenient if not detrimental. The silkworm at no time 
 evinces much inclination for motion ; and if properly fed and 
 provided, will not travel beyond the distance of two or three 
 feet throughout the whole of its pilgrimage from the egg to 
 the cocoon. But when the young worm first appears, unless 
 food be near, it displays considerable activity. Its strong 
 desire to eat, which it immediately manifests, impels it to 
 wander anywhere for food. But if this desire be satisfied by 
 an adequate and timely provision, they seldom show an in- 
 clination to leave the shelves on which their wants are sup- 
 plied. Should this at any time take place, which will only be 
 occasioned by hunger, the mere smell of a leaf is sufficient to 
 bring them back to their domicile. This disinclination to 
 
S6 Instruction Book in the 
 
 locomotion is one of the greatest advantages of the domestic 
 over the wild silkworm ; otherwise, the trouble consequent 
 on their attendance would be immense. But our attendance 
 on their little but important wants is an interesting specimen 
 of the union of profit and amusement. 
 
 The period of moulting is about twenty-four hours, during 
 which it lies in a torpid state and refuses to eat. They are 
 then greatly injured by disturbance ; and the feeding or at- 
 tendance necessary to one, must not be allowed to disturb 
 another in a different condition. 
 
 Diseases from the bad air of the district in which silkworms 
 are reared. — Low marshy places, productive of noxious vapor ; 
 all situations where the air is liable to become stagnant ; and 
 certain effluvia, especially that from tobacco, are injurious ; 
 the latter being speedy death to the worms. 
 
 Diseases from zvant of room. — When silkworms are on the 
 shelves crowded too much, they become unhealthy. In re- 
 m oving them, the hand need not be applied to the insect. It 
 is only necessary to apply another hurdle with fresh leaves in 
 it to the side of the shelf where the crowded worms are. 
 Silkworms breathe through little orifices, or spiracula, situated 
 on each side near their legs. Consequently, being crowded 
 is to them a greater mechanical obstruction than it would be 
 to animals otherwise constructed. 
 
 Diseases from the quality or quantity of food. — The worms 
 should be fed with great attention to their peculiar wants. 
 Dry leaves, fresh as possible, being given, after having lain a 
 day in a cool place, thinly spread to prevent heating. In 
 anticipation of rainy weather, a supply for three days may be 
 procured. Leaves taken from trees growing in moist soil 
 and shady places are not proper. Over and under feeding 
 may equally produce disease. The leaves after being pulled 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 37 
 
 may be exposed to the sun a few minutes, and then set in a 
 dry place to cool. 
 
 Diseases from improper change of food. — Changing the leaves 
 of the red for the white, or other species of the mulberry, is 
 sometimes detrimental. The leaves of different .species should 
 no be given at the same time ; much less, any leaf of inferior 
 quality be administered at the last stages of feeding. 
 
 Diseases from peculiar constitution of the air. — The farmer, 
 the horticulturist, the orchardist, all complain of unfavorable 
 seasons ; and the medical man or his patients of endemical 
 and epidemical times. And whether we have the influenza or 
 the cholera, we lay the blame to the air, and demand of the 
 meteorologist its component parts. But all this time a myriad 
 of evanescent things, hidden from eye, from ear, from sense, 
 may be in operation. All we can do is to use the precau- 
 tions already prescribed. 
 
 Diseases from sudden changes of temperature. — We must 
 ever remember that the insects are tender, and therefore, we 
 should be provided with every suitable means to correct any 
 sudden variation in temperature. 
 
 The Passes. 
 
 This disease is known. — First, from the yellow tinge of the 
 worms. Second, from its lengthened spare shape and wrinkled 
 skin. Third, from its sharp and stretched feet. Fourth, it 
 eats little, languishes, and is evidently in a state of atrophy. 
 The remedies are instant removal from the healthy worms to 
 an apartment which is well ventilated and where they can be 
 distinctly attended to. They should have a due supply of ten- 
 der leaves, and a uniform temperature, but a little higher than 
 that required by the worm in a state of health. 
 
SS Instruction Book in the 
 
 The Grasserie. 
 
 This disease generally appears towards the second moulting, 
 rarely later , and is scarcely known in the fourth age. The 
 symptoms are 1st, they eat but do not digest their food ; hence, 
 2nd, they swell ; 3rd, their bodies become opaque and of a 
 greenish color. The remedies are, if not too late, ist, instant 
 removal; 2nd, lessen the quantity of nourishment; 3rd, give 
 the thin leaves of the wild or of some inferior mulberry; 4th, 
 ventilation and moderate temperature. 
 
 The Yellows. 
 
 Appearing about the fifth age, when the worms are filled 
 with a silky fluid and about to spin. Symptoms, the body 
 swells, and the enlargement of the rings gives to the feet an 
 appearance of being drav/n up. Remedy ; ist, instant removal, 
 as on all similar occasions ; 2nd, ventilation, assisted by fires, 
 if necessary; 3rd, in two cases, oak leaves were given with 
 success. 
 
 The Tripes, or Mort Blanc. 
 
 Symptoms, the worm becomes flacid and soft. When dead, 
 they preserve a fresh and healthy appearance, and on being 
 touched they feel, it is said, like tripe. Remedies; ist, instant 
 removal ; 2nd, dry the air of the infirmary by sudden flash 
 fires under chimneys provided for the purpose. Chloride of 
 lime is a fumigator and purifier. 
 
 Of worms, through negligence, the French formerly lost 
 fifty per cent; whilst the Chinese scarcely lose one per cent. 
 This difference, carried out into the million, is 490,000 worms ; 
 or a differnce in Silk of 163 pounds, worth $815 ; sufficient to 
 show the value of the timely care and vigilant attention of our 
 five weeks' services, for which the little generous animals will 
 pay us so liberally. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 
 
 Enemies to the Silk Worms. 
 
 The enemies of Silk Worms are sparrows, stvallows, robins, 
 titmouse and poultry. Care must therefore be taken to exclude 
 them. Besides these, such vermin as mice, rats, weasels, lizards 
 ants and spiders are to be catalogued as enemies. The last are 
 said to make the most active war against Silk Worms. 
 
 One point in Silk culture which may be considered an ele- 
 ment and therefore, important in statistical calculation. Count 
 Dandolo says : " To make one ounce of picked eggs there 
 should be for an average weight 39,168 eggs. I have observed 
 with some surprise, that there was little difference in the weight of 
 eggs belo7iging to about twenty persons ^ The Count, therefore, 
 had ascertained this fact by at least twenty distinct trials. 
 Where have we another example of patient investigation equal 
 to this ? Not one ! So easy is it to copy, or to quote the 
 words of another as c;/r doctrine ; so difificult to be original. 
 
 Space Statistics. 
 
 The Worms proceeding from one ounce of eggs should 
 have a space : 
 
 n the 1st age. 
 
 of . 
 
 . 7 
 
 feet 
 
 :, 4 inches square. 
 
 2nd " 
 
 , 
 
 14 
 
 
 8 
 
 " 3rd " 
 
 
 • 34 
 
 
 8 
 
 4th " 
 
 
 82 
 
 
 6 
 
 " 5th " 
 
 
 • 183 
 
 
 4 
 
40 
 
 Instruction Book in the 
 
 
 FEET SQUARE REQUISITE ON THE SHELVES FOR 
 
 WORMS PROCEED- 
 
 Ages. 
 
 
 ING FROM 
 
 
 
 
 One 
 Ounce 
 
 8 
 
 Two 
 Ounces 
 
 Three 
 Ounces 
 
 Four 
 Ounces 
 
 Five 
 Ounces 
 
 Six 
 Ounces 
 
 Seven 
 Ounces 
 
 Eight 
 Ounces 
 
 Nine 1 Ten 
 Ounces Ounces 
 
 I 
 
 16 
 
 24 
 
 32 
 
 40 
 
 48 
 
 56 
 
 64 
 
 72J 80 
 
 2 
 
 15 
 
 30 
 
 45 
 
 60 
 
 75 
 
 90 
 
 105 
 
 120 
 
 135 
 
 150 
 
 3 
 
 35 
 
 70 
 
 105 
 
 140 
 
 175 
 
 210 
 
 245 
 
 280 
 
 315 
 
 350 
 
 4 
 
 83 
 
 166 
 
 249 
 
 332 
 
 415 
 
 498 
 
 581 
 
 664 
 
 747 
 
 830 
 
 5 
 
 184 
 
 368 
 
 552 
 
 736 
 
 920 
 
 1,104 
 
 1,288 
 
 1472 
 
 1,656 
 
 1,840 
 
 Mr Strong of Germantown, from an experiment with five 
 ounces, furnished from the seventh to the thirty-third day the 
 follov^^ing statement, by quoting the number of hurdles re- 
 quisite, each twelve square feet. 
 
 DAYS. 
 
 HURDLES. 
 
 DAYS. 
 
 HURDLES. 
 
 DAYS. 
 
 HURDLES 
 
 7 
 
 \l% 
 
 16 
 
 34 
 
 25 
 
 70 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 17 
 
 34 
 
 26 
 
 70 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 18 
 
 34 
 
 27 
 
 87 
 
 10 
 
 13 
 
 19 
 
 34 
 
 28 
 
 87 
 
 II 
 
 13 
 
 20 
 
 34 
 
 29 
 
 ^7 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 21 
 
 34 
 
 30 
 
 87 
 
 13 
 
 27 
 
 22 
 
 51 
 
 31 
 
 90 
 
 14 
 
 27 
 
 23 
 
 61 
 
 32 
 
 108 
 
 15 
 
 38 
 
 24 
 
 70 
 
 33 
 
 112 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 41 
 
 Unless we can in all climates of this Union from Maine to 
 Louisiana, and in all years, through May and June at least, 
 promise ourselves a temperature of not less than 75 degress, 
 the use of a thermometer and the means necessary for raising 
 the temperature to that degree, is advisable. One of the foun- 
 dations of the art of rearing silk worms is to know the various 
 degrees of heat in which the silk worms should live ; if this 
 precept be not enforced, nothing can be performed with exact- 
 ness. We must not lose sight of the fact that it is not heat 
 that affects the silk worm, but sudden transitions from one 
 temperature to another. If it be necessary to hasten the 
 worms in consequence of the advanced state of the mulberry 
 leaf (which cannot be retarded) it should be done gradually, 
 so that they perceive not the alteration. One year, when hur- 
 ried by the early growth of the mulberry leaves, the worms 
 were given 100 degrees of heat during the first two days after 
 hatching ; and about 95 degrees during the remainder of the 
 first and second age. There elapsed only nine days from the 
 hatching until the second moulting. The walls and wicker 
 hurdles were so heated they could scarcely be touched. 
 All thought they must persish ; but all went on well, and a 
 most abundant crop followed. To follow this method it is 
 requisite to observe well the advancement of the season. If 
 the first age of the worms is prolonged, the leaf will grow and 
 harden and become unfit for them. The essential point is 
 that their progress should follow that of the leaf We must 
 calculate the duration of the different ages of the worm ; and 
 so manage that the fourth age shall fall into the time in which 
 the leaf has attained its full growth. 
 
 The silk worms proceeding from one ounce of eggs consume 
 
 In the first age. — 6 lbs. of white miilbeny leaves well sorted 
 and chopped very small ; to which 5 lbs. of the leaves of the 
 morus multicaidis will be equal. 
 
42 Instruction Book in the 
 
 In the second age. — Of the white mulberry, i8 lbs. ; sorted, 
 clean and chopped rather more coarsely than in the first age. 
 Of the multicaulis, about 15 lbs. 
 
 In the third age. — Of white mulbeiry, 60 lbs. well sorted 
 and less chopped. Of multicaulis, 50 lbs. 
 
 In the fourth age. — White mulberry 180 lbs,, well sorted 
 and still less chopped than that of the third age. Multicaulis, 
 144 lbs. 
 
 In the fifth age . — White mulberry, iioo lbs. Multicaulis, 
 880 lbs. 
 
 The above is, of course, given as a general rule, or one on 
 the supposition of ordinary circumstances and care. We are 
 informed that even a variation in the season will have an influ- 
 ence on the requisite quantity of leaves. If the leaf be injured 
 by the season, and the proportion of nutritive matter it con- 
 tains lessened, a greater quantity to produce the same effect 
 will be necessary; and, vice versa, if the nutritive proportion 
 of the leaf be increased, a quantity less than the medium pre- 
 scribed will realize the hopes of the culturist The above will 
 serve as an outline of manipulation on a small scale. In fol- 
 lowing out the detail, however, for the sake of variety we will 
 repair to the large laboratory or establishment/i?;' w^;';«.f /ro- 
 ceeding from five ounces of eggs. It is proper that at the com- 
 mencement the shelves should be numbered i, 2, 3, 4, &c., 
 throughout. The quantity of the eggs to be hatched ought 
 not to be more than will leave room, within the cocoonery, 
 and according to the number of shelves that we can conveni- 
 ently furnish therein, sufficient for the full development of the 
 worms, or for their accommodation at their utmost growth. 
 
 The eggs should have been divided by weight into ounces 
 or half ounces, and each parcel kept apart. It would be better, 
 supposing the number of shelves to be 30, 35, 40 or upwards, 
 to divide into half ounces ; and so to apportion them as to 
 
Art of Silk Culture. ^S 
 
 leave a number of spare shelves ; and, if the eggs be good, and 
 the produce more than an average, to distribute them into more 
 space than they would ordinarily occupy. But the distribu- 
 tion on the shelves according to the order or date of their 
 hatching, and according to distinctive numbers on the shelves 
 and as duly recorded on a diary, which will be kept by every 
 accurate culturist, should be observed throughout. 
 
 Leaves are now to be thinly scatttered over the shelves. 
 It is not absolutely necessary that the hurdles should be used 
 till the third age. The young larvs will run about and leave 
 the shelves, if food be not given to them immediately after 
 their exodus from the shell. They will never leave the feed- 
 ing-shelves till they rise to spin, provided they be duly 
 supplied with food, proper in quality, sufficient in quantity, 
 and at the time they require it. The following cut represents 
 the worms just emerged from the shell, during the first age. 
 
 Rearing of the Worms. 
 
 First Age. — First day. — To the worms proceeding from one 
 ounce of eggs, on the first day of their existence in the larva 
 state, are to be given, in proper proportions, at successive 
 meals, two hours apart, of the white mulbeny leaf, about three- 
 fourth lbs., chopped very small; giving the smallest quantity 
 for the first feeding, and gradually increasing the quantity at 
 each successive meal ; of the midticaulis leaf, the quantity may 
 be three-fifths lbs. The benefit of giving the leaf, at this early 
 stage of the worm, in a stage of minute division by chopping, 
 is evident. The more the leaf is chopped, the more fresh-cut 
 edges exist, on which the little mandibles of the infant opera- 
 tives can fasten. In this state they bite the leaf quickly, and 
 consume it before it is withered. If care be not taken thus to 
 chop the leaf small, and to give the young worms sufficient 
 space at first, and more as they need it, a greater number will 
 be liable to perish by disease, or from difficulties they want 
 
Development. 
 
 
 
 
 7 j 1st Day 
 
 9 3d " 
 
 ! 
 
 10 4th " 
 
 I 
 
 11 5th " 
 i 
 
 12 1st Day. 
 
 j 
 13 1 2d „ 
 
 14 
 
 1st Day. 
 
 -£^ 
 
 SECOND AGE. 
 
 THIRD AGE. 
 
Development. 
 
 FOURTH AGE. 
 
 FIFTH AGE. 
 
 S-S 
 
 2^ 
 
 I ; 
 
46 Instruction Book in the 
 
 strength to encounter at an age so early. The worm that 
 cannot eat, dwindles, becomes extenuated, weak, and unsup- 
 ported ; and, consequently perishes under the leaf. Count 
 Dandolo fed his worms regularly four times every day. 
 
 Second day. — On this day, of the white mulberry leaf, give, 
 at four regular meals, about one and one-fifth pounds chopped 
 very small. Let the first meal be the least, and increase 
 gradually to the last ; of the multicaulis, give about one pound. 
 There will now appear some evident change in the appear- 
 ance of the worm. It begins to lose its dingy and bristled 
 aspect, and the head perceptibly enlarges and whitens. 
 
 Third day. — Give at four meals this day, oisoft, white mul- 
 berry leaves, chopped very small, about two and two-fifth 
 pounds; o{ the multicaulis, about two pounds. The worms 
 are now feeding with avidity. The head of the worms con- 
 tinues to become whiter, the. insect to grow larger, the former 
 bristly appearance to vanish, and the skin is assuming a sort 
 of hazel color. When viewed through a convex lens, their 
 surface looks shining, and their head a silvery white, some- 
 what like mother-of-pearl and transparent. 
 
 Fourth day. — As the worm approaches the moulting, a dimi- 
 nution of appetite occurs. Of the white mulberry, give about 
 one and one-third pounds, let the first meal be about one-half 
 pound, and the rest gradually decrease to the last. Of the 
 7nulticaidis, give about one pound, one ounce. And let it be 
 remembered, that in this first age, it is of importance to give 
 the insects plenty of room by gently separating and spreading 
 them, to avoid as much as possible their sleeping, on the verge 
 of moulting, in heaps. At the beginning of this day, the 
 first appearance of the approaching change are indicated. The 
 worms begin to shake their heads and thus express uneasiness 
 at the increasing tension of their skin. Some are now eating 
 
Art of Silk Culture 47 
 
 very little ; keep their head in an elevated position, their body- 
 appears transparent. Those nearer the moulting time, when 
 seen against the light, are of a yellow, livid tinge ; but the 
 greater number at the close of the day, appear torpid and 
 cease to eat. 
 
 Fifth day. — Of the young leaves of the white mulberry, 
 three-tenths pounds only, chopped small, will be sufficient. 
 These chopped leaves, scattered lightly on those parts of the 
 shelves where worms appear to be still feeding. Of course, 
 where variations from the general state be perceived, and some 
 are still willing to eat, more leaves may be given. The dis- 
 cretion of the careful superintendent, here and in all similar 
 cases, must be given. Towards the end of the day, however, in 
 the general case, the rooms are torpid and a few begin even to 
 arrive. After the first moulting, the silk worm is of a dark ash 
 color, showing distinctly a peculiar vermicular motion ; and 
 the rings that mechanically assist that motion contract and di- 
 late their intervening distance more freely than before. 
 
 Second Age. 
 
 About fifteen feet square of shelf space will be for tht accom- 
 modation of the growing family proceeding from one ounce, 
 necessary until the accomplishment of the second moulting, or 
 completion of this second age. These should always be 
 covered with strong paper or proper paste-board. The tem- 
 perature during this age should be between seventy-three and 
 seventy-five degrees. Prescribing as to temperature in a hot 
 country appears, of course, somewhat arbitrary. Our only 
 means o{ commajiding the temperature is to use large fans sus- 
 pended from the ceiling. Silk worms of the first day should 
 be placed in the coolest parts of the laboratory, and the latest 
 hatched worms in the hottest part. 
 
 Important changes are effected by the first moulting. The 
 organs assume greater consistency. The scaly muzzle which 
 
48 Instruction Book in the 
 
 they lose by moulting is replaced by another which the air 
 indurates ; and till the small jaws or mandibles have acquired 
 sufficient hardness, they cannot, in certain cases, divide the 
 leaves with an expedition equal to what their seasonable 
 advance to maturity requires. With the aid of a convex lens, 
 we immediately perceive the efforts to the expense of which 
 an unassisted worm is liable at this age in gnawing the leaf. 
 
 Sixth day. — Of the white mulberry give now four-fifth lbs. 
 of leaves well picked and chopped small. Of the multicaulis 
 this is equal to 3 lbs. Experience has proved that the silk 
 worms like the tender boughs so much that they remain 
 crowded on them even when the leaves are consumed, and 
 evince a reluctance to return to the litter below. This remark 
 will doubtless afford a hint to the provident culturist m afford- 
 ing the requisite accommodations for the health and comfort 
 of animals that repay in proportion to the care expended on 
 them. When the worms have been removed to clean hurdles, 
 those they have left should be thoroughly cleansed. 
 
 Seventh day. — Of the white nndberry give. 6 lbs. of chopped 
 leaves ; divided into four portions to be given at intervals of 
 six hours; but an improvement would be to divide into ten or 
 twelve portions, given at intervals of two or three hours each. 
 The first meals less plentiful than those which follow. Of the 
 midticaulis, this quantity is equivalent to 5 lbs. The body of 
 the worm now acquires a clear hue ; the head enlarges and 
 becomes whiter. Continue to pay unremitting attention to 
 the equal distribution, as to space, of the worms. Place 
 boughs wherever they appear to be too thick ; on which they 
 will immediately fasten, and may thus be removed or dis- 
 tributed to fill up places not sufficiently covered. 
 
 Eighth day. — Give now, of the white mulberry 6f lbs. of 
 chopped and well-picked leaves ; and at this time let the two 
 or three first meals be the largest. Of the ntidticaidis , give 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 49 
 
 5|- lbs. These leaves, distribute at each meal with attention, 
 and, as far as possible, proportionate to the degee of avidity 
 discovered by the worm ; 'since it becomes again the period 
 when the voracity of the worm, consequent on the approach 
 of the second moulting, begins to abate ; which they soon 
 ndicate by the usual prognostics of rearing their heads and 
 declining to eat. 
 
 Ninth day. — Of the white mulberry, one and four-fifth pounds 
 only of picked leaves, and chopped small, will be required, dis- 
 tributed in the same manner as before. Scatter the propor- 
 tions lightly and with discriminating care over the worms. Of 
 the multicaulis, about one and two-fifth pounds ^ill be suffi- 
 cient. On this day, our metempsychosin insect is again dis- 
 covering its periodic restlessness for change. It is sinking 
 into a torpor. The next day its old wardrobe is disposed of, 
 and it becomes as eager or more of its third life as it was of 
 the first. 
 
 Third Age. 
 
 Tenth day. — Give of white mulberry three pounds of small 
 shoots, and three pounds of picked leaves, chopped small. At 
 the close of the age, they may be more coarsely chopped. To 
 this quantity, four and four-fifth pounds of the multicaulis are 
 equivalent. The worms that have accomplished this age should 
 not be removed from the shelves until they are nearly roused. 
 Part will rouse on the ninth and part on the tenth day. No 
 injurious consequence will ensue, if the part that has revived 
 should wait twelve or fifteen hours till the rest are ready. A 
 never-failing sign that they are roused is the undulatory mo- 
 tion they display with their head when horizontally blown 
 over. It will ever be incumbent on the superintendent fre- 
 quently to inspect the operations of the feeders, to see that 
 the food is at all times equally distributed, according to the 
 varying wants on different portions of the shelves. Redun- 
 4 
 
so Instruction Book in the 
 
 dant leaves, though a loss, is still an inconvenience less than 
 the accumulation of an unnecessary portion of litter, which 
 may ferment and produce noxious evaporation and disease. 
 
 Eleventh day. — Of the white mulberry, give at separate meals 
 eighteen pounds of picked and chopped leaves; of the multt- 
 caulis fourteen and two-fifth pounds. The first meals should 
 be the least ; the reason of this the worms themseves will ex- 
 plain, since it is in the latter part of the day that they become 
 voraciously hungry. 
 
 Twelfth day. — Of the white mulberry, nineteen and two- 
 fifth pounds of picked leaves will be wanted, chopped and 
 divided intcf^the usual number of meals ; the first being most 
 plentiful. Towards evening, the hunger begins to abate, the 
 last meal therefore on this day should be the least. To this 
 quantity of the multicaulis, fifteen and three-fifth pounds will 
 be equivalent. The worms now grow fast ; their skins be- 
 come whiter, their bodies semi-transparent, and their heads 
 longer, and the contortions they make show that their change 
 approaches. 
 
 Thirteenth day. — Ten and a half of chopped white mulbeiry 
 leaves will now be sufficient. Eight and two-fifth pounds of 
 the multicaulis. Give in the usual number of meals, the largest 
 first, the last meal the least, feeding those only that require it. 
 Should a greater number of worms on one table be torpid, 
 whilst others continue to require food, give only a slight meal 
 without waiting for the stated hour of feeding, in order to 
 satisfy them, that they may sink into torpor speedily. Care 
 of this kind is important, and intermediate meals occasionally 
 given and by discretion administered, are beneficial. 
 
 Fourteenth day. — Of the white mulberry 5f lbs. of picked and 
 chopped leaves will be sufficient, in ordinary cases, more or 
 less, as occasion requires. To this medium supply, oi multi- 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 81 
 
 caulis leaves 4|- lbs. will be equivalent. Indications of silk 
 now begin to appear from the occasional depositions of the 
 the insect. The worm now manifests inclination for solitude 
 and free space to slumber in. It either climbs the edge of the 
 paper, the elevated stalks or leaves, or in failure of that, on the 
 litter ; it rears its head and expresses its uneasiness. Imme- 
 diately on the verge of change, they void all gross excremen- 
 titious matter; a yellow and semi-transparent lymph only occu- 
 pies the intestinal tube, and constitutes nearly the only fluid 
 remaining in the animal. This also is that which prior to 
 their change gives them a yellowish white color like amber. 
 Whilst the worms thus prepare for the moulting, sufficiently 
 clear, by moderate ventilation the air of the cocoonery. 
 
 Fifteenth day. — On this day the rousing of the silk worms, 
 which they begin to manifest, is an inclination of the comple- 
 tion of the third age. 
 
 Fourth Age. 
 
 The worms, with proper care surviving now from one 
 ounce, should have a space equal to 82 square feet, and 
 should be equally distributed as already prescribed, and the 
 temperature should not be less than 68 degrees nor higher if 
 possible than 71 degrees ; but whenever it rises, as, at this 
 season, it inevitably may, greater compensating means must 
 be sought by the instant removal of all litter liable to fermen- 
 tation ; and promoting by ventilators and other means, a due 
 circulation of air in the cocoonery. We must again insist on 
 the impropriety of lifting off the hurdles those silk worms 
 that have completed their third age until nearly all are roused. 
 The one part waiting a day, or even a day and a half, for the 
 other, is, as said before, not injurious. It is, however, advis- 
 able to place the early roused in the coldest part of the 
 laboratory ; be it remembered the appetites as well as the 
 growth may be thus artificially retarded. If this be inconve- 
 
82 Instruction Book in the 
 
 nient or impracticable, give to the early roused less space ; 
 and to the late roused, more space. By both these means, 
 their advance towards the maturity of their fourth age will be 
 so preserved that they will moult together, which is 
 important. 
 
 Sixteenth day. — On this day give ']\ lbs. of the young shoots, 
 and 12 lbs. of picked leaves of the white mulberry coarsely 
 chopped with a large blade. To this quantity 1 5| lbs. of the 
 multicaulis will be equal. When the moment of removing the 
 worms from the hurdles arrives, one or two hurdles only at a 
 time should be covered with young shoots. These shoots, 
 loaded with worms, are afterwards put on the empty shelves, 
 and removed, as in the first moultings. Should there not be 
 a sufficiency of small boughs, branches of 15 or 20 leaves of 
 white mulberry tied together by the stalks, will answer the 
 purpose. The removal should be effected by three persons ; 
 one to fill the shelves, one to carry them, and another gently 
 to remove them from these shelves on the hurdles, in the space 
 allotted to them. When those which have revived are 
 removed, others yet remain torpid on the 35 feet square of 
 hurdles, or that have not yet strength to climb on the shoots 
 or branches of leaves. But it will be discovered that the 
 early roused have probably by this time eaten all the leaves 
 on the young shoots or branches that served to carry them, 
 and that they remain without food on the shelf They should 
 then be suppled with 6 lbs. oi white mulberry chopped a little, 
 or with 5 lbs of the multicaulis. The other 6 lbs. of leaves 
 should not be given until the second meal has been thoroughly 
 consumed. 
 
 At the end of this day, the worms begin to evince renewed 
 vigor ; they move more nimbly, they grow perceptibly, they 
 lose their ugly color, become slightly white, and assume 
 more animal vivacity. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. S3 
 
 Seventeenth day. — 23 lbs. of the white mulberry, slightly cut 
 up, will now be wanted. The first meals should be the light- 
 est ; the last, most copious. 26 lbs. of the multicaulis. The 
 worms now grow fast, and their skin continues to whiten. 
 
 Eighteenth day. — 45 lbs. of the sorted leaves of the white 
 mulberry, a little cut ; or 36 lbs. of the multicaulis, are at this 
 time the proper preparations. The former meals of the day 
 to be the most plentiful. 
 
 Nineteenth day. — Of white mulberry, the cut leaves to be 
 distributed at successive meals, should amount to 5 1 lbs., the 
 first meals of the day still being the larger in the proportion of 
 about 5 to 3. To this quantity, 41 lbs. of multicaulis are 
 equal. The worms continue to become whiter, and measure 
 in size to \\ inches long. 
 
 Twentieth day. — Reduce 25f lbs. of the picked leaves of 
 white mulbeny, since on this day the appetite of the larvae 
 diminishes ; or of the multicaulis give 2of lbs. Let the first 
 meal be the largest, and gradually lessen until the last. Sev- 
 eral are beginning to become torpid ; therefore, with discrimi- 
 nation give leaves, to prevent both waste and also avoidable 
 fermentation, only as they are wanted. The worms are now 
 if inches long. 
 
 Twenty-first day. — Of picked leaves of white mulberry, seven 
 pounds ; of multicaulis, five and three-eight pounds are suffi- 
 cient for the day. The changeable animals under our care 
 are now decreasing in size, since they lose part of their sub- 
 stance before they sink into torpor. The greenish color of 
 their rings becomes changed, and their skin is now wrinkled. 
 
 Ttventy-second day. — The worms rouse on this day, and thus 
 accomplish their fourth age. 
 
S4 Instruction Book in the 
 
 Fifth Age. 
 
 Twenty-third day. — At this time nearly all the worms are 
 roused, or have accomplished their fourth moulting. The 
 laboratory should be sixty-eight or seventy degrees ; and the 
 tenants, for they pay good rent, must be accommodated with 
 premises equal to one hundred and eighty-three square feet. 
 In the first day of the fifth age, the worms should fill a space 
 of about one hundred feet square on the shelves, which added 
 to the eighty-two feet which they occupied during the pre- 
 vious age, and which should now be cleaned, form together 
 one hundred and eighty-two feet square on which they are 
 gradually to spread, until the termination of this state. This 
 day, about eighteen pounds of the young shoots of the white 
 mulberry, or of common leaves not sorted, and also eighteen 
 pounds of picked and sorted leaves ; in all, thirty-six pounds, 
 which is equal to twenty-nine pounds of inulticaulis. The 
 eighteen pounds of shoots and leaves on which the worms 
 were removed, furnish an abundant meal. The other eighteen 
 pounds of sorted leaves should be divided into four meals, which 
 should be given to them every three hours. In giving the first 
 meal, care must be taken to straighten the lines of the strips 
 on the hurdles, by sweeping any straggling leaves or worms 
 into regular order with a little broom. 
 
 In the preceding age, one hundred and i eighty pounds of 
 leaves were distributed and the litter of that age weighed sixty 
 pounds. The worms, therefore, derived sustenance from one 
 hundred and twenty pounds of the substance, including the 
 loss by evaporation. The excrement weighed about eighteen 
 pounds. 
 
 Twenty-fourth day. — There will be wanted on this day, of 
 white mulberry, fifty-lour pounds of leaves, sorted, and divided 
 into eight feeds. The first should be the least of about five 
 pounds, and the last the most plentiful, or of about nine 
 
Art of Silk Culture. S5 
 
 pounds. Of multicaiilis , forty-three pounds for the daj^, of 
 which the first and last feeds four and seven pounds respec- 
 tively ; the intermediate feeds increasing by a corresponding 
 ratio. 
 
 Twenty-fifth day. — The worms will now require of white 
 mulberry, eighty-four pounds of sorted leaves, divided into 
 eight meals, the first smaller increasing to the last. Of the 
 multicaulis, sixty-six pounds for the whole day. On this and 
 the preceding day, the worms continue to whiten, many ar e 
 now upwards of two inches in length. 
 
 Twenty-sixth day. — Our propotions must be of w/«V^ mul- 
 berjy, ninety pounds of sorted leaves; intervening feedings 
 increasing. Multicaulis, for the whole day, eighty-six pounds . 
 The voracious period of the worm is now rapidly advancing. 
 Some are now two and a half inches long. 
 
 Twenty-seventh day. — Of white mulberry for the whole day, 
 162 lbs. of picked leaves will be wanted. Of the imdticaulis, 
 125 lbs. for the whole day. If necessary, the worms should 
 now have intermediate feeds. When the regular distribution 
 of leaves is devoured in less than an hour and a half, the worms 
 need not receive any until the regular feeding, which it is 
 understood is every three hours. 
 
 Tzventy-eighth day. — Give now oi white mulberry 195 lbs. of 
 picked leaves, divided into eight feeds, the last of which to be 
 most abundant. Of multicaulis 156 lbs. similarly divided. 
 The worms now eat most voraciously, and some even attack 
 the fruit which is among the leaves. An intermediate meal 
 may be added when it appears necessary, as may be inferred 
 when the full quantity necessary to constitute a meal, is 
 devoured within an hour. Some of the worms are now three 
 inches long ; have become whiter, and present to the touch a 
 velvet surface. 
 
86 Instruction Book in the 
 
 Iwenty-ninth day. — i8o lbs of white mulberry, well sorted, 
 will be required this day ; or 144 lbs. of multicaulis. The first 
 meal should be the largest, the later diminish gradually ; but 
 should the necessity of any intermediate meals be indicated, as 
 it would by the sign already stated, it should at this important 
 crisis be given. 
 
 Some of the worms are now upwards of 3 inches in length ; 
 in certain cases, from extraordinary health and good attention, 
 they are known, in this country to attain the length of even 
 four inches. The extremity of the insect begins to grow 
 shining and yellowish, their voracity abate, which intimate 
 their arrival at maturity ; in size and weight, on an average, 
 eleven of them will weigh two English ounces avoirdupois. 
 
 Thirtieth day. — The diminished appetite of our cocoonery- 
 boarders requires now only 132 lbs. oi the white mulberry, well 
 sorted ; of the multicaulis, I05f lbs. to be given at eight 
 meals ; the subsequent feeds to be gradually lessened. Give 
 to backward worms, if necessary, intermediate meals. 
 
 Thirty-first day. — Diminished wants now lessen our care to 
 the provision of 99 lbs. only of white mulbeny, or of 79 of 
 multicaulis ; which must now be distributed with care and dis- 
 cretion as wanted. 
 
 General Remarks on the Fifth Age. 
 
 Reckoning 48 lbs. of sorted leaves which are to be given 
 to-morrow, or on the 32nd day, the worms will have consumed 
 during this fifth age 1,098 lbs. of picked leaves. Addirig to 
 this, 102 lbs. of additional feed required, the total weight taken 
 from the trees will be 1,200 lbs. 
 
 The total weight of excrementitious matter down from the 
 shelves in the fifth age, is about 660 lbs. ; which demon- 
 strates that of (1,098-660) 438 lbs,, a part served to nourish 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 67 
 
 the worms and the rest exhaled in vapor. Calculating the 
 weight of the leaves and the loss by evaporation, the worms, 
 it appears, have consumed in theii' fifth age alone 240 lbs. of 
 leaves per ounce. 
 
 Thirty-second day. — During this day, the fifth age will be 
 terminated, and the rising begin. Everything should be 
 cleaned and kept cleaned. The silk worm will now be per- 
 fected, which may be known by the following signs, i, when 
 the insects instead of eating leaves put on the hurdles, get on 
 them and rear their heads, as if in search of something else. 
 2, when, on looking at them horizontally, the light shines 
 through them, and they appear of a whitish-yellow transpa- 
 rent color. 3, when numbers of the worms which were fas- 
 tened to the inside of the edges of the hurdles and straightened, 
 now get on the edges and move slowly along ; instinct urging 
 them to seek change of place. 4, when numbers of worms 
 leave the centre of the hurdles and try to reach the edges. 5, 
 when their rings draw in and their greenish color changes to 
 a deep golden hue. 6, when their skins become wrinkled 
 about the neck and their bodies have more softness to the 
 touch than before. 7, when on taking a worm in the hand, and 
 looking through it, the whole body appears to have assumed 
 the transparency of a ripe yellow plum. These signs are 
 prognostics of their rising. Of course, everything before this, 
 should have been prepared for the accommodation of the in- 
 sects, that those which are ready may not waste their strength 
 and silk in seeking the support they require. 
 
 No slovenly appendages are needed. They are in a few 
 minutes in their cabins, and after looking about to ascertain in 
 what position they should arrange their building, for the larvae 
 has forecast ; it commences to throw the floss around it. The 
 spinning has now fairly begun. Some may yet linger ; 
 they should be placed on a separate shelf, that all the cocoons 
 formed in the cabins above it may be completed and gathered 
 
88 Instruction Book in the 
 
 at the same time. To the lingering worms, a very small 
 quantity of leaves should be given ; but the slightest injury at 
 this age should be avoided" as particularly hurtful. It is best 
 to place in their way boughs of oak or heads of broom-corn. 
 The lazy worms will soon be distributed among the branches 
 and begin their work. Avoid dampness. Temperature sixty- 
 eight to seventy-one Fahrenheit. The air may be admitted 
 freely when the cocoons have become of a proper consistency. 
 
 Sixth Age, 
 
 This age commences in the pupa state, and ends when the 
 moth emerges from the cocoon. The following are the 
 necessary things that remain to be done : ist. To gather the 
 cocoons ; 2nd. To choose those cocoons which are to be pre- 
 served for the eggs or seed; 3rd. Preservation of cocoons 
 until the appearance of the moth ; 4th. The daily loss of weight 
 which the cocoons suffer from the time they are finished until 
 the appearance of the moths. 
 
 Gathering cocoons for seed. — The matured ceterpillar of the 
 cocoonery, or ateliere, ceases to eat, ascends to its cabin, elab- 
 orates its cocoon, and retires from the gaze of mortals. In 
 three or four days from the commencement of the spinning, 
 the worms have finished their cocoons ; and in seven or eight 
 days they will be ready for gathering. Gather them carefully, 
 with all their floss. Then take this off with great delicacy ; 
 neither flatten nor bruise the cocoon. 
 
 Daily loss in weight of cocoons of 1,000 os. from the time of 
 fermentation until the moth escapes : 
 
 Ounces. 
 
 Gathered and cleaned 1,000 
 
 First day following, the said cocoons weighed 991 
 
 Second day 992 
 
 Third day 975 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 59 
 
 Ounces. 
 
 Fourth day 970 
 
 Fifth day 966 
 
 Sixth day ....... 960 
 
 Seventh day 952 
 
 Eighth day 943 
 
 Ninth day 934 
 
 Tenth day ....... 925 
 
 It is a loss for the purchaser of cocoons to receive those 
 that are of different ages, because when, in some cocoons, the 
 moth is preparing to come forth, while others are not so for- 
 ward, the spinners are at a loss whether to let it come directly, 
 or to kill the chrysalis to preserve the cocoon. If the rules 
 which have been given, be exactly followed, this loss will be 
 avoided, and the cocoons will be perfectly formed and ready 
 to be reeled off at the end of seven days, reckoning from the 
 day they first rose on the bushes or frames. By reeling off 
 the cocoon between the period at which it is formed and that 
 at which the moth pierces the cocoon to make its exit, the 
 silk is of a much better quality and the necessity of killing 
 the chrysalis is obviated. Spread the cocoons intended for 
 seed, on a dry floor, and strip them clean of floss to prevent 
 the feet of the moth being entangled in it when coming out. 
 
 The Seventh Age. 
 
 This age completes the entire life of the moth. When the 
 pupa aurelia, or chrysalis, has completed its transformation in 
 the cocoon and is ready to depart, it puts forth a liquid, some 
 affirm an acid, to dissolve the gum ; and having softened the 
 point through which it intends to make a passage, it forces its 
 beak through the fibres of the cocoon, and with two or three 
 efforts, makes its exodus from its prison into open day. Some- 
 time the moth does not injure the cocoon from winding ; but 
 it generally does so, and such cocoons are therefore, usually 
 
60 Instruction Book in the 
 
 set aside for floss, to be carded and spun like cotton. Some- 
 times the moth gets entangled in the fibres, or the cocoon is 
 too hard for the feeble moth, and she deposits her eggs in the 
 cocoon and dies there, or dies before this deposit. They 
 should always be left alone to their own unasisted efforts. 
 Nature will do more for them than art ; and if a few should 
 die, that few will be less than if the operation which some re- 
 sort to of cutting open a way for them were resorted to. 
 
 At such times, the cocoons should be spread thin on tables ; 
 their natural mode is to put forth their heads and legs first, as 
 they help themselves by laying hold on something with their 
 feet and antennae, to drag out the remainder of the body. 
 They live, after leaving the cocoon, from five to twelve days, 
 according to the temperature to which they are exposed. The 
 moths do not come forth the first and second days ; they are 
 hatched chiefly the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh days, accor- 
 ding to the degree of heat in which they are kept. The hours 
 in which the moths burst the cocoons in greatest number are 
 the first three or four after sunrise, if the temperature is from 
 sixty-four to sixty-six. The male moths, the very moment 
 they come out, go eagerly in quest of the female. When they 
 are united, they must be placed on sheets of newspapers or 
 some such thing, so that when soiled they may be thrown 
 away. 
 
 Preservation of the Eggs. 
 
 When the eggs have been deposited on dry cloths, and 
 have passed through their several changes of color, the cloth 
 or paper must be folded so as to admit air to them to prevent 
 them from heating. The air should be dry, not above fifty 
 degrees and not below zero. Some think they should not be 
 exposed to frost, but this is an error ; they have been re- 
 peatedly so exposed down to zero, and have subsequently 
 been hatched producing an abundant crop. It is sudden 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 61 
 
 CHANGES that affect the egg. Much has been said and written 
 upon this subject by men professing great experience, cer- 
 tainly without having made an expenment. If the eggs can be 
 kept between thirty-two and fifty-five, without injury from 
 damp, they may be regarded as perfectly sound. They must 
 be preserved from all insects, vermin and other enemies, since 
 all insects, birds and vermin greedily devour them. Good 
 keeping will produce good worms. And if properly treated, they 
 will never degenerate in this climate. 
 
 Stifling the Chrysalids. 
 
 Where the quantity of cocoons is small, the necessity of 
 curing may be superseded by immediate reeling ; or, if the 
 culturist has on his premises an ice-house in which to deposit 
 the cocoons, the necessity is obviated, as the chrysalis will 
 remain in a passive state until brought to a temperature of 
 from 40 to 50. This system is advisable where practicable ; 
 since stifling by baking and other processes is in some degree 
 injurious. Otherwise, the moth^must be destroyed between 
 the fourth and twelfth day at furthest, after the completion of 
 the cocoon ; or it will cut its way through, and thus render the 
 reeling of its work impracticable. 
 
 There are several methods of killing the pupa : ist. By 
 baking in an oven of the temperature of 88 or 89 degrees, 
 wherein the cocoons are shut from four to six hours, after 
 being first placed in bags, which must be occasionally turned 
 or moved to effect an equal exposure. 2nd. By the sun's rays 
 at a temperature of about 88, in which they may be left for 
 three days, from 9 o'clock A. M., to 4 P. M. 3rd. By steam. 
 For this purpose, place the cocoons in a basket lined with 
 three or four folds of woolen cloth to promote the equal dis- 
 persion of the steam. Suffer the cocoon's to remain in this 
 basket of dimensions such as to cover the mouth of the kettle. 
 
62 Instruction Book. 
 
 after the basket, raised on two pieces of intervening wood, has 
 been placed over the kettle with water kept boiling over the 
 fire. 4th. By suffocation in the gas from charcoal, which is 
 effected by simply shutting the cocoons up for a night in a 
 close room, wherein a pot of burning charcoal is placed. 
 This process is said to be the least injurious. 
 
PART II. 
 
 SERICULTURE. 
 
 THE SILKWORM— ITS EDUCATION AND REPRO- 
 DUCTION. 
 
 ADDRESSED ESPECIALLY TO BEGINNERS IN THE SILK BUSINESS. 
 
 Written by Felix Gillkt, of Nevada City, California. 
 
 SILK raising is indeed, from beginning to end, a work so 
 well suited to feminine fingers that in all countries 
 where Silk is raised and manufactured, and from the most 
 remote times to our days, that industry has been left almost 
 entirely to the care of women. See what the Chinese legend 
 says about the first efforts to make of that golden thread a 
 tissue for us to wear: "This great prince, Hoang-ti, who 
 reigned over China 2602 years before our era, was desirous 
 that Si-Ling-Chi, his legitimate wife, should contribute to the 
 happiness of his people. He charged her to examine the silk- 
 worms, and to test the practicability of using the thread. Si- 
 Ling-Chi had a large quantity of these insects collected, which 
 she fed herself, in a place prepared solely for that purpose, 
 and discovered not only the means of raising them, but also 
 the manner of reeling the Silk and of employing it to make 
 garments." 
 
64 Instruction Book in the 
 
 " It is through gratitude for so great a benefit," adds the 
 book entitled " Wai-Ki," " that posterity has deified Si-Ling- 
 Chi, and rendered her particular honors under the name of 
 the ' Goddess of Silkworms.' " 
 
 In the book " Li-Ki," which dwells on ceremonies and rites, 
 and written by Khoung Seu, or Confucius, in the fifth century 
 before Christ, we find the following : " During the last month 
 of Spring, the empress, after having fasted and gone through 
 the act of purifying herself, offers a sacrifice to the spirit, or 
 ' Goddess of the Silkworms ;' then she goes in the fields 
 towards the rising sun, and gathers the Mulberry leaves with 
 her own hands. She forbids the ladies of her suite and the 
 wives of noblemen to wear any jewelry, and she exempts her 
 waiting maids of any sewing or embroidery work, so that they 
 may be able to give all their time to the raising of silkworms." 
 
 In the same work the author says : " By means of charms, 
 are selected the ladies of the three palaces and the noble 
 ladies that are pure and surrounded by happy presages, and 
 they are then sent to the house of the silkworms, to feed 
 them and to take care of them." 
 
 In the book " Chou-King," one of the classic books of 
 China, we read : " On the first day of the moon, in the first 
 month of Spring (March), the prince's wife takes the silkworm 
 grain to the river, where she gives it a cold bath." 
 
 In the work entitled " Nong-Sang-Thong-Kioue," (year 48 
 B. C), we see : " The mother of the Emperor Youen-Ti used 
 to visit the house of the silkworms, and, accompanied by the 
 empress and the ladies of her court, she would pick leaves on 
 the mulberry trees for feeding the worms." 
 
 Under the Song dynasty (same work, and between the years 
 454 and 457, A. D.), the Emperor Hiao-Wou-ti had a silk- 
 worm's house constructed ; the empress herself was gathering 
 the mulberry leaves, after the rites of the Tsin dynasty." 
 
 The Chinese author keeps on citing numberless facts of that 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 6S 
 
 kind, taken from the history of the succeeding emperors down 
 to the years 968 and 976 of the Song dynasty, under which 
 he was living, and in this way trying to show the mass of the 
 people that from the most remote epoch to his time, the em- 
 press, to give the example to the whole empire, and foster that 
 noble industry, would herself raise silkworms. 
 
 I have taken the pains of giving the public those few ex- 
 tracts of Chinese authors because, in that country, silkworms 
 have been raised from time immemorial, the work being done 
 almost exclusively by women, and that industry, having ever 
 since been carried on successfully, adding immensely to the 
 prosperity of China and to the happiness of her people. 
 
 Now I would add a word of encouragement to the women 
 who are using their best efforts towards founding silk culture 
 on this side of this continent, so eminently adapted for it, and 
 in a way that will give unlimited employment to thousands of 
 women and children. Keep on with your noble work; do 
 not be discouraged by difficulties that may meet you in the 
 prosecution of the work. Do not expect too much in the be- 
 ginning — "great trees from little acorns grow ;" rely on your- 
 selves, and try your hand at the new industry, the raising of 
 silk. Giving all that precedes this as an introduction to my 
 subject, I will now describe 
 
 The Art of Raising Silkworms 
 In as clear and efficient a manner as an experience of fifteen 
 years in the business, and a thorough study of the question 
 will permit. But as this paper is written expressly to the ad- 
 dress of people totally ignorant in the business, people of small 
 means, and who cannot raise silkworms but on a small scale, 
 I will beg more enlightened persons in that art to take this 
 into consideration in perusing these letters, and not look them 
 through for such information on the carrying on of the busi- 
 ness on a larger scale, as would necessitate on the part of the 
 writer a more elaborate and lengthy paper. 
 5 
 
66 Instruction Book in the 
 
 I will first, for the better understanding of the business by- 
 inexperienced people, give them some explanations of terms 
 commonly and universally used in silk culture: — 
 
 Sericulture. — Silk culture ; the art of raising silkworms ; 
 from the Greek word seriko?i, silk : sericum, in Latin. 
 
 Senculiuiist. — A silk grower; a person who raises silk- 
 worms. 
 
 Cocoonery. — A magnanerie ; a house in which the worms 
 are reared or raised. No matter how small or large is the 
 house or room where silkworms are raised, it is a "cocoonery." 
 
 Education. — The act of educating or breeding or rearing 
 silkworms. A term of general use in silk-growing countries. 
 Examples : the education is getting along finely ; the educa- 
 tion commenced on the 15th day of April and ended on the 
 1st of June. The edu(;ation of silkworms comprises the feed- 
 ing and treatment of the worm, from its birth to the formation 
 of the cocoon. 
 
 Annuals. — Races of silkworms that breed but once a year. 
 Yield the finest and largest quantity of silk, everything being 
 equal. Annual races. 
 
 Bivoltine. — A race of silkworms that breeds twice during 
 the year. 
 
 Polyvoltine. — A race of silkworms that have several broods 
 a year. The silk of Bivoltine and Polyvoltine races is inferior 
 to that of Annuals, yielding a great deal less, and in this pro- 
 portion : Twelve pounds of Annual cocoons will yield one 
 pound of raw silk, while it requires from 18 to 25 pounds of 
 Bivoltine or Polyvoltine cocoons to yield a pound of silk.* 
 For that reason such cocoons sell so much per cent, cheaper 
 than Annuals. 
 
 Litter. — The accumulation on the paper or frame where the 
 worms lay, of debris of dried and partly consumed leaves, and 
 of the offal of the worms themselves. Thanks to our very dry 
 
 * This weight applies to fresh cocoons before they loose weight by choking. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 67 
 
 atmosphere, the litter has not to be thrown out so often in 
 California as in other silk-growing countries, where the atmo- 
 sphere is quite damp ; though it is of the greatest importance 
 to keep the worms in as clean a condition as possible. 
 
 Shifting. — It is a very simple operation, done either for 
 taking away the litter and spreading out or thinning out the 
 worms. It is done through muslin or gauze for the first two* 
 ages, and perforated paper, or leaves, or little twigs, for the 
 last three ages. As soon as the muslin, or perforated paper, 
 or twigs, are loaded with the worms, they are shifted or re- 
 moved to atiother shelf or tray. For spreading out the worms, 
 the operation has to be done in two different, but successive, 
 times ; or else two pieces of muslin or perforated paper have 
 to be laid upon the worms in such a way that each muslin or 
 paper will hold half of the worms to be shifted and spread out. 
 As soon as the muslin or perforated paper is laid upon th e 
 worms, some leaves have to be spread over muslin or paper, 
 so as to induce the worms to climb up through the holes of 
 the muslin or paper to the fresh leaves above. The worms of 
 one paper are thus spread out on two papers, occupying 
 double the space they did before the shifting operation took 
 place. A little practice will soon accustom any of our bright 
 children with this delicate but easy operation. 
 
 Shelves. — Trays or hurdles composed of boards (an inch to 
 half an inch in thickness), or of laths nailed sideways on cross- 
 pieces, and forming a kind of lattice-work. These shelves in 
 regular cocooneries measure five feet and four inches by 
 twenty-six inches. They are placed on cross-pieces fastened 
 to upright standards, and at a distsnce of two feet from the 
 floor, and sixteen inches from each other, making four tiers of 
 s'lelves in a room, with a ten to an eleven foot ceiling. The 
 upright standards are placed four feet four inches apart, twice 
 the width of a single shelf, so as to allow a double set of 
 
 * Mosquito netting preferable for the first stages. 
 
68 Instruction Book in the 
 
 shelves, the worms being thus fed from each side. A narrow 
 room may contain only a double set of shelves right in the . 
 centre of the rooms ; if wide enough, it may contain either a 
 double set of shelves in the micdle and a single set on each 
 side, with a passage all round, or else two double sets of 
 shelves with a passage on each side. 
 
 Moulting. — The time at which the worms accomplish their 
 changes. When ready to moult, they first fasten their hind 
 legs to anything they find on or round the litter, then cease 
 to eat and after having gone through that moulting sleep, 
 which lasts twenty-four to thirty-six hours, they cast off their 
 old skins. There are four moultings. 
 
 Ages. — Period between two moultings or changes. Silk- 
 worms moulting four times have, therefore five ages. If raised 
 at a high temperature (between 80° and 85° Fahr.), and fed 
 constantly day and night every four or five hours, silkworms 
 will live thirty-two days from the day of hatching to the 
 spinning of cocoons — the first age lasting five days ; the 
 second, four days; the third, six days; the fourth, seven 
 days ; the fifth, ten days, 
 
 Freze. — The time of great greediness of the silkworms ; it 
 comes on between the fifth and eighth day of the fifth age. 
 It is well to give the worms during that freze time some extra 
 meals, or, in other words, to feed them more frequently. 
 
 Chrysalis. — The form assumed by the worm inside the 
 cocoon after being done spinning, and preparatory to issuing 
 a moth or perfect insect. 
 
 Twin or Double Cocoons. — They are easily recognized by 
 their extra size and firmness ; they have from two to several 
 chrysalides inside. The silk obtained from such cocoons by 
 carding, for they cannot very well be reeled, is called Doup- 
 pions, and is mostly employed for the mannfacturing of sew- 
 ing silk, cords, trimmings, and the like. 
 
 Stained, Softened, Pointed and Unfinished Cocoons. — As all 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 69 
 
 those names indicate, such cocoons are defective in some 
 ways ; they have, therefore, to be set in a lot by themselves 
 when sorting the cocoons. 
 
 Grain. — Silkworm eggs. 
 
 Graining. — This comprises the selecting and coupling of 
 the moths, the laying of the eggs ; in a word, the general 
 management of the eggs. 
 
 Cartoon. — Cardboard, paper or cloth nailed on a . frame 
 14x10 inches, and on which the moths deposit their eggs. It 
 holds an ounce of grain. 
 
 Filature. — A reeling establishment. The house where 
 cocoons are reeled and turned into grege. 
 
 Basin. — A hollow vessel made out of copper, brass, iron or 
 terra cotta ; semi-spheric, of a depth of three to six inches, 
 wih a rather flat bottom and smooth surface. Basins are used 
 to dissolve the gummy substance that makes the silk of the 
 cocoon stick together. By throwing cocoons into the heated 
 water of the basin, and by stirring up with a little broom the 
 threads are caught and reeled out ; from five to seven cocoons 
 according to the fineness of the silk, are thus reeled into one 
 thread. 
 
 Gloss Silk. — The loose silk that envelops cocoons ; it is 
 carded and spun like cotten or wool. 
 
 Grege. — Raw Silk ; the Silk as it is reeled from the cocoons. 
 
 Tram. — Shute or woof; two or three threads of raw Silk or 
 grege twisted loosely two or four times to the inch. In 
 weaving, the woof has little or no strain upon it, and it fills up 
 the warp better by being soft and loose. 
 
 Organzine. — Thrown silk ; its organizes are the warps of 
 woven goods ; they have to receive tight twisting to induce 
 strength and elasticity; hence the finer and more regular 
 threads are taken for making organzines. 
 
70 Instruction Book in the 
 
 Keeping the Grain, and Hatching the Same. 
 
 Presuming that persons intending to raise silkworms have 
 procured in advance, and through the winter, the requisite 
 quantity of grain, I will first say a few words in regard to pre- 
 serving the same. The best place in which to keep silkworm 
 grain during the winter is in a room overlooking to the north, 
 and where the temperature never arises above 50 degrees. By 
 the i.st of March, or sooner, according to localities, or as soon 
 as the temperature of the room where the grain has been kept 
 arises above 50 degrees, the grain has to be removed to a 
 cooler place, say to a dry cellar, and out of the reach of rats, 
 mice, spiders and ants. Should the cellar be somewhat damp, 
 the grain then would have to be taken out once a week and 
 exposed for two hours, and in the shade, to the cool air of the 
 morning, freezing or very cool weather being preferable. Silk- 
 worm grain is not affected at all by moderate cold weather, 
 like 15 to 20 degrees ; on the contrary, it improves the grain 
 considerably to expose it during the winter to the cold in- 
 fluence of the atmosphere. 
 
 Before going any further, I would like to impress upon the 
 minds of our young or would-be sericulturists the importance 
 of having the education finished before the usual hot spell in 
 June. For, in California, even with her " splendid climate" 
 and *' wholesome food," a temperature at and above 88 degrees 
 is as mortal or prejudicial to the worms as it is in any other 
 country where silkworms are raised ; for such maladies as 
 jaundice and grasserie will surely break out among the worms 
 wherever the temperature ot the cocoonery is increased to 
 that degree. It is, therefore, of the first importance to com- 
 mence hatching as soon as the swollen buds of the mulberry 
 are bursting open, throwing out their first leaves. The suc- 
 cess of the whole education does, in fact, greatly depend upon 
 a good and early start ; this must be well borne in mind. 
 
 When hatching time is near at hand, and after having con- 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 71 
 
 suited the condition of the buds on the mulberry trees in 
 preference to the exact date given in treatises, the grain is 
 taken out from the cellar and placed temporarily and for only 
 a few days in any of the rooms of the house exposed to the 
 south, to be finally removed to the kitchen. The kitchen, 
 with the small Silk grower, may be in fact regarded as the 
 hatching place par excellence. The grain is placed on a shelf 
 or in a closet, out of the reach of mice, and at the farther end 
 from the stove, to be taken by degrees and every day closer 
 to the stove, though being kept at a proper distance from it. 
 When having much grain on hand it is well to keep some in 
 reserve in the cellar, in case of some accident happening to 
 the grain put to hatch in the kitchen, or of a sudden frost 
 killing the newly opened buds on the trees. The kitchen, be- 
 sides being the best place where to hatch the grain, is also 
 admirably adapted for raising the worms during the first, if 
 not second, age, they taking but little room during those two 
 ages. The worms that do appear on the first day are gener- 
 ally thrown away, on account of being so few ; they may be 
 called the forerunners of the hatching, and I would suggest to 
 keep them, for by having such an advance on the worms 
 hatched on the three succeeding days, they enable us to bet- 
 ter tell when moulting time is coming with the other worms. 
 Then they make the best grain, as being always the most 
 healthy and vigorous worms of the whole lot. On the sec- 
 ond, third and fourth day will the bulk of the worms be 
 hatched, the balance of the grain may then be thrown away. 
 All the worms hatched on the same day have to be kept apart 
 and placed simply on papers, say half of a single sheet of 
 newspaper or any paper that will hold them, with the date put 
 down on the margin of the»paper. It is very important to 
 keep separate, during the whole education, worms of the same 
 hatching, because of their changes or moultings, which are 
 not accomplished at the same time. 
 
72 Instruction Book in the 
 
 The moment the young worms make their appearance, they 
 at once look for food ; so, very tender leaves have to be placed 
 about the frame holding the eggs, and the little worms will 
 soon crawl on them. When the leaves are thus well covered 
 with worms, they are transferred with their precious loads to 
 a paper duly marked 1st, 2d, 3d or 4th day, and there they 
 are fed at the rate of four meals a day, say one meal every 
 four hours commencing at about 7 o'clock in the morning. 
 
 Feeding the Worms. 
 
 After the worms are all hatched, the education may be re- 
 garded as fairly started. During that first age, which gener- 
 ally lasts five days, the worms have to be fed with tender 
 leaves yet, such as the second and third ones of young sprouts; 
 but any variety of mulberry will do as long as the leaves are 
 tender, and it is mere nonsense to recommend at that early 
 period of the insect's life this or that variety. 
 
 Alway cut up the leaves for feeding young worms,* and use 
 a sharp, clean knife, being careful not to chop off with the 
 leaves the tip of your fingers. During the first age the leaves 
 have to be cut quite fine, less than }i of an inch ; during the 
 second age from ^ to I- of an inch, during the third age ^ 
 of an inch ; from the fourth age down to spinning time, they 
 are served entire, unless too large ; in that case the leaves are 
 cut from }4 of an inch to one inch. The object of cutting up 
 the leaves is to enable the educator to scatter them evenly so 
 that each worm will be sure to have its proportion of food ; 
 then by feeding the worms equally, they grow equally, too, 
 and accomplish their various moultings at the very same time, 
 which is a most important point, saving thereby a great deal 
 of labor and trouble; and it ca:tinot be impressed to much 
 upon the minds of our beginners. On the fifth day of that 
 first age, the little worms have to be closely watched ; an ex- 
 
 * The cutting of the leaves for young worms is very important. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 73 
 
 perienced eye will see at a glance whether they are ready or 
 not to " sleep," preparatory to casting off their skins. When 
 the worms are ready for that moulting sleep, they cease eat- 
 ing, keep still, and over their little black head appears a spot 
 like a half moon, the new head; this is the most remarkable 
 feature to announce that the worms are going through that 
 moulting sleep. While undergoing that change, they "must 
 not be fed at all ; it does not matter whether some of the 
 worms are not ready for it yet. The newly moulted worms 
 must not be given a first meal before all the worms are done 
 with shedding their skins. The worms must not be thinned 
 or spread out, or the litter thrown out — shifted, in a word — 
 when they are getting ready for their moulting sleep ; and it 
 must not be done, either, right after they are done moulting, 
 but next day. All those little points have their importance, 
 as a season's experience will show to any of our young seri- 
 culturists. All that is said for this first age of the insect's life 
 in regard to moulting, applies with equal force to the other 
 four ages. 
 
 No wet or damp leaves must be given to the worms ; if 
 rainy, the leaves may be gathered right in the morning and 
 put to dry on the floor of the cocoonery ; if too wet yet when 
 meal time comes on, they must be dried gently with a cloth, 
 before giving them to the worms. Otherwise it would cer- 
 tainly be better to give the worms on such a rainy day two 
 meals with dried leaves than four meals with wet leaves. It 
 must also be borne in mind that cleanliness, regularity in the 
 meals, evenness in feeding are most essential points to bring 
 the education to a successful close. It will take about forty 
 days for worms fed four times a day at four hours' intervals, 
 and at an average temperature, to be ready to spin their co- 
 coons ; it will take less time if the meals are more frequent, 
 and if the worms are fed night and day. A silkworm having 
 to absorb from hatching to spinning time a given quantity of 
 
74 Instruction Book in the 
 
 leaves, whether he absorbs it in 32, 40 or 50 days, it is im- 
 material, but he must have consumed that quantity of leaves 
 to spin a cocoon. Four meals a day, however, commencing 
 at 7 o'clock in the morning, come right so as not to hinder the 
 farmer's wife, who is supposed to superintend the education, 
 with her daily occupations, like dinner and supper, on the 
 farm. By commencing at 7 o'clock, the worms have thus to 
 be fed next at 1 1 o'clock, then at 3 o'clock, and 7 o'clock in 
 the evening. At that time of the year work crowds up a good 
 deal on a farm, hence the education of silkworms must be 
 made as light as possible. 
 
 Spinning Cocoons. 
 When arrived at maturity, the worm ceases to eat, gets 
 smaller, becomes transparent, and of a pale yellow, and finally 
 gives out its silk, which it spreads out here and there, raising 
 up its head at the same time, as if to reach something. All 
 this means that spinning time has come ; and as soon as some 
 of the worms give such signs and wander about in search of 
 some nook or corner wherein to spin their cocoons, then has 
 the time come, too, to provide them with a place where to 
 build their precious little nests. In regular cocooneries, they 
 use shelves made of strips of wood one-fourth of an inch by 
 five-eighths of an inch, nailed one and one-eighth inches apart, 
 sideways, on cross pieces five-eighths of an inch square ; and 
 on the other side, the same number of strips are nailed, in the 
 same manner, on the cross pieces, but so as to correspond 
 with the center of the space between two strips of the first 
 side, thus forming a triangle inside the strips of the shelf with 
 two sides one inch and one-half long, and the third side one 
 inch and one-eighth ; that is what is called " cocooning 
 shelves." They are the most handy and neat things of that 
 kind ever invented. The silkworm finding in that triangle 
 composed of three strips, three standings, just what it wants 
 to spin its cocoon, goes to work at once, without wasting any 
 
Art of Silk Culture, 75 
 
 more silk. Ladders, called " cocooning ladders," are made 
 on the same principle ; they are put in place every fourteen 
 inches, as soon as the worms are getting ready to spin, and 
 fastened with a little screw or a peg to the strip set at the 
 edge of the shelves, to prevent the worms from falling off the 
 shelves. The worms climb up the ladder to the upper shelf, 
 into the racks of which they spin their cocoons. Some of the 
 worms, weak or lazy, spin right into the racks of the ladder. 
 But with our beginners and small silk growers, who use 
 simply boards for shelves, something else has to be resorted 
 to. Sheaves of straw, wild mustard cut before the seed is 
 ripe, boughs of willow, twigs of white oak with the leaves on 
 and dried in the shade, bunches of wheat or rye straw, etc., 
 can very well be used, but they have to be kept in readiness a 
 couple of weeks before spinning time. 
 
 It will take four days for a silkworm to finish its cocoon, 
 and another three days to pass into the chrysalis state. So 
 they must not be gathered before eight days, and not before 
 twelve to fourteen days, if the cocoons are destined for grain- 
 ing. If to be sold for the silk, cocoons may be gathered on 
 the ninth day after the last worm has gone up to spin ; and 
 by exposing them for three or four days to the sun, the 
 chrysalis will be killed and pretty well dried up, and unable 
 to stain or injure the silk with the putrid matter of their 
 decayed bodies. Cocoons, when having to be kept a certain 
 length of time before being sold, have to be stored away out 
 of reach of mice and rats, and of moths, too, which would 
 perforate the cocoons with their larvae. 
 
 Graining. 
 This is the last and not the less important stage of the whole 
 education. For the purpose of graining, either for market or 
 merely to save eggs for the reproduction of the worms, the 
 cocoons have to be carefully selected. The best cocoons are 
 those that are hard to the touch, depressed on the middle — 
 
76 Instruction Book in the 
 
 that is, pea-nut shaped — firm at each end, of a light yellow 
 color, and of a rather coarse grain — that is, to the eye. If, 
 besides, the cocoons are large, so much the better; otherwise, 
 smaller cocoons with the above requisites would be preferable. 
 The floss, or loose silk, having been properly stripped from 
 the cocoons, they are then placed in hollow boxes of any size, 
 about three tiers in each box, and in a room where nothing 
 may disturb or injure the chrysalis soon ready to emerge from 
 the cocoon as perfect insects ; fifteen to twenty days, accord- 
 ing to the weather, after the cocoons have been commenced, 
 do the moths emerge out from their temporary tomb. They 
 always come out of the cocoons early in the morning, just 
 after sunrise, between six and eight o'clock. The male, which 
 is more active than the female, seeks at once the latter for the 
 purpose of reproduction. As soon as paired, they are taken 
 by their wings to sheets of paper spread on some of the shelves 
 for that purpose ; and those that are not paired are laid aside 
 by themselves on another paper and removed by the others 
 as soon as paired. They have to be coupled the whole day, 
 when between four and five o'clock in the evening they have 
 to be gently separated. The males are put temporarily in a 
 box with the cover punctured so as to admit air ; they acting 
 as a reserve for next morning in case of more females than 
 males hatching out. The females, after being separated, are 
 removed to a cloth nailed to the wall, where very soon they_ 
 will deposit their eggs. Cloth is preferable to paper, for the 
 eggs laid on cloth can be given a cold bath in February or 
 March, and the grain might be taken off, if desired, by dipping 
 the cloth in cold water and scraping off the eggs with a table 
 knife. The sound eggs will sink at once to the bottom of the 
 vessel used for that purpose, while the bad ones will float over 
 the water and be easily separated from the good eggs, which 
 are put on a cloth to dry right in the room. 
 The eggs laid just after separating the sexes are considered 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 77 
 
 the very best. The moths have to be kept in a rather dark 
 room, they being night butterflies, and during this moth life 
 they require no food. 
 
 Diseases of the Silkworm. 
 Flacherie, or blight, is the stumbling block of Silk Culture 
 nowadays. Everything seems to get along well with the 
 education ; hatching went through splendidly ; the worms 
 accomplished . their various changes simultaneously, without 
 the least trouble ; they kept on eating, moulting, growing as 
 nicely as could be expected, always in good health, and finally, 
 got through their last moulting in a body ; they now get 
 rapidly large ; they are now three inches long, fat, firm, 
 healthy, eating voraciously ; four or five days more, and they 
 will all be ready to spin. But, on a sudden, they commence 
 fading and withering without any apparent cause, and in a 
 very short time lay on the shelves, corpses ! It is the dreaded 
 flacherie, or " blight," the scourge of the cocooneries, and 
 which for the last twenty years has baffled the science, know- 
 ledge and intelligence of the most experienced sericulturists 
 of Europe. This terrible disease, which always breaks out 
 after the last moulting, during the fifth age, and just when the 
 silk grower is gone to reap the benefit of his trouble, com- 
 mences with a kind of numbness ; the worms cease to eat, 
 leaving the litter and wandering about as if to escape ; they 
 soon die, having yet every appearance of health. This 
 flacherie, which prevails to such a large extent among the 
 annual races of Europe, does not affect so much those more 
 hardy races of Japan, that is, on the first year, hence the reason 
 why Japanese grain is imported into those countries, though 
 the yield of silk from them is far below that of the precious 
 annual races of France and Italy. The quality of the food, 
 defective ventilation, atmospheric changes, and so forth, have 
 been, but wrongly, suspected to be the direct cause of flacherie, 
 and to-day that mysterious disease which causes such havoc 
 
78 Instruction Book in the 
 
 among all silkworms, is yet an unsubdued disease. Science 
 has given it up and left it to the practical sericulturist who 
 cling to it despairingly, hoping for something to turn up to 
 get rid of the scourge. Flacherie is regarded as an epidemic. 
 
 Pebrine. — This is a different disease altogether from flacherie. 
 Pebrine generally breaks out among the worms after the sec- 
 ond moulting, that is in the third age ; in that way it does not 
 prove so bad, for it saves us all the trouble and expense to 
 raise the worms to almost spinning time, as it is the case with 
 flacherie. Pebrine is indicated. by black spots on the worm, 
 and the caudal appendage looks like it had been burned. 
 Pebrina, an Italian word for pepper, is very expressive, indeed, 
 of the appearance of" the worms attacked by that disease; for 
 they look like having been " peppered " with coarse black 
 powder all over the body. The worms afflicted with that 
 malady have to be taken out and buried in the manure pile or 
 the ground ; sometimes all the worms have to be thrown 
 away. For twenty years have silkworms been decimated by 
 pebrine, but since the last ten years it has almost disappeared, 
 but to make place to a worse malady yet. Flacherie, or 
 blight, may, therefore, be considered as the prevailing disease 
 among the silkworms, and the direct cause of nine-tenths of 
 the failures all over the world. 
 
 Jaundice. — This is only an incidental disease, easily to be 
 prevented. The best way of preventing the breaking out of 
 jaundice is to " effect early hatchings." The cold weather and 
 atmospheric changes are not injurious to the worms, as long 
 as the heat is moderate ; but oppressive or excessive heat that 
 cannot be controlled, is the direct cause of jaundice. That 
 disease, like flacherie, generally breaks out in the last age,, a 
 few days before spinning time. The disease is first detected 
 near the thoracic rings of the insect's body, that is, near the 
 head, those rings swelling up and taking a light yellow tint; 
 it then spreads to the rings of the body, and in the same man- 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 79 
 
 ner ; and in two or three days the skin gets kind of shiny, 
 tight and yellow between the rings, at the stigma (little aper- 
 tures on the side of the body to admit air to the tracheae) and 
 to the legs. The worm so affected keeps on eating, however, 
 and to swell up until at last the skin will burst in several 
 places, and a yellow liquid flows out, staining the litter and 
 the healthy worms with that viscid yellow fluid. This malady 
 cannot be cured. The best way is to pick out all the worms 
 affected with it and throw them out to the chickens. When 
 caused by excessive heat, a change in the weather will check 
 it at once. 
 
 Grasserie. — Hypertrophy, or inal del grasso, as the Italians 
 call it; enlargement of the body caused by perturbations in 
 the perspiration of the insect. This disease breaks out at the 
 different ages, and before the last moulting. The worms 
 affected by it get kind of fatty, white, unctuous ; and in the 
 last two ages they still keep on swelling up, and move round 
 with difficulty. Some trouble in the transpiration of the in- 
 sect, caused by bad ventilation or bad air, is said to be the 
 direct cause of grasserie. This maladj^ has some resemblance 
 to jaundice. A thorough ventilation and change of air will 
 prevent the breaking out of the disease. 
 
 Besides flacherie, pebrine, jaundice, and grasserie, there are 
 other, but incidental, diseases that do affect the worms more 
 or less ; and which it is well for beginners to be also ac- 
 quainted with. An occasional worm may be affected with 
 consumption, its organs not being sufficiently developed. 
 Such maladive worms have to be taken away and thrown out. 
 
 Then there is what the Italians very properly call the Lus- 
 tnni ; as the name indicates it; worms so affected look kind of 
 glossy. They keep small and do not accomplish their moult- 
 ing in due time, some in fact not accomplishing it at all. 
 Such worms can also be well recognized by their little black 
 head, which, with the glossiness of the body, are the main 
 
80 Instruction Book in the 
 
 symptoms of that anomalous condition. They have to be 
 picked out and thrown away, for they never will spin a 
 cocoon. A pair of tweezers is the most handy thing to pick 
 out such little worms. 
 
 Worms that are unable to shed their skins must either be 
 helped out or thrown away. 
 
 Sluggards are not affected with any disease ; but they must 
 all be removed on separate papers ; and as many papers as 
 there are broods. 
 
 Ants, mice, lizards, spiders, and yellow jackets have also to 
 be guarded against, for they are all very fond of the fat, ten- 
 der, succulent silkworm. 
 
 The malady of the lustrini is generally caused by a too large 
 accumulation of worms on the shelves ; it is to say that the 
 worms have to be thinned or spread out at proper times. It 
 is also a very wrong and bad practice to raise in a room a 
 larger number of worms than the room permits. It is almost 
 sure to create such diseases as the lustrini, grasserie, jaundice 
 and others. 
 
 I will now, to render more complete and comprehensive my 
 description of the education and reproduction of the silkworm, 
 give our young sericulturists a handful of hints, suggestions, 
 facts and figures, bearing directly upon that subject, and that 
 will give theiii a fuller and clearer understanding of the whole 
 business, and of everything else pertaining to Silk and silk- 
 worms. 
 
 The mulberry is not very sociable ; it does not like the 
 proximity of other trees ; which means that it is better, wher- 
 ever it can be done, to have the trees planted by themselves, 
 and far enough apart. 
 
 Mulberry trees for silkworm feeding must not be planted on 
 swampy land, nor too close to water courses ; " the rocky sides 
 of the hills to the mulberry, and the wet soil of the valleys to 
 the poplar," says an old Chinese ode. In other words, the 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 81 
 
 mulberry must not be planted on the land best suited for the 
 poplar; and on hill-sides and poor land the mulberry will 
 yield the best and healthiest leaves. 
 
 The leaves of the mulberry must be free of dust when 
 served to the worms ; and when too dry, as is sometimes the 
 case with some varieties in summer, it is well to sprinkle them 
 slightly with water. 
 
 Let it be well borne in mind that silkworms will succeed 
 best in those light structures made of wood or still lighter 
 material, in the cane and bamboo shanties of China and Japan, 
 in the cabins of the Egyptians, in the open sheds of the Per- 
 sians, in the kitchens, hardly closed and smoky, of the French 
 and Italian peasant, than in comfortable houses or costly co- 
 cooneries furnished with the latest modern improvements. 
 
 A good start is of the very first importance ; to have a good 
 start, one must have good grain. Good grain is the corner 
 stone of a good education. The best grain is that obtained 
 from moths issued from the first cocoons spun, or from the 
 first moths hatched and those that are hatched between 3 and 
 7 o'clock in the morning. 
 
 The healthiest worms are those first hatched. Always cut 
 up the leaves during the first three ages, from very fine to fine, 
 and from fine to coarse, keeping up with the worms' growth. 
 After the worms have been fed for two days after hatching, 
 the cut leaf that has not been consumed will make as many 
 little hills, upon which the worms lie tgo close together, and 
 as they must never be allowed to crowd up, the litter has to 
 be carefully spread out, with the worms on it, so as to give the 
 latter more space. This is done at meal times, for the worms 
 have to be fed immediately after the operation, cut leaves be- 
 ing made to fill up the interstices, between the scattered litter. 
 This operation is repeated at the other ages whenever needed. 
 Never keep the worms too crowded or thick together on the 
 papers. After the fourth moulting one square foot must be 
 6 
 
82- Instruction Book in the 
 
 allowed to every hundred worms (but at that age the worms 
 occupy the whole space upon the shelves), overcrowding be- 
 ing liable to create disease. 
 
 Having once put the worms on hard food, that is, upon 
 well-matured leaves, the use of young and tender leaves must 
 never be reverted to again. 
 
 Silkworms are more in dread of hot weather than cold 
 weather ; if properly fed they can stand very severe cold 
 weather. When it is cold, however, the silkworm has less 
 appetite, three, or even two, meals a day would be sufficient ; 
 though the education will last so much longer. Never forget 
 to remove worms of doubtful health. 
 
 Give to the worms the freest possible ventilation. Silkworms 
 do not relish the sun's rays ; but air that gets into the room 
 through crevices will never create disease among them. For, 
 if the precious insect has need of a sort of shelter, particularly 
 in its young age, it must not be an " air extinguisher." In 
 China, at the Fall of the year, and before the Mulberry leaves 
 turn yellow on the trees, a certain quantity of them is gath- 
 ered, dried in the shade and pulverized. They are then pre- 
 served in a very dry room, where fire is generally kept during 
 the winter. They are used the ensuing year as food for the 
 worms, as follows : " After each moulting, and for four or five 
 meals, the flour of pulverized leaves is evenly sifted upon the 
 fresh leaves, which have been previously lightly sprinkled 
 with water and served to the worms. It feeds the latter well 
 and helps them to spin a heavy cocoon whose Silk thus ac- 
 quires a remarkable strength and elasticity. If heating the 
 silkworms' room when too cold and damp in the spring is re- 
 quired, it ought to be done at the time the worms are fed, the 
 fire being allowed to go out after they are done eating. — 
 Chinese precept. 
 
 Right after hatching, the worms weigh ^ of the weight of 
 the egg, leaving ^ of the whole weight for the shell. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 
 
 Japanese eggs weigh 
 or a metric ounce (the American ounce is 28 grams) of French 
 and Italian animals grain, contains 42,000 eggs, while the same 
 quantity of Japanese grain contains 60,000 eggs. 
 
 The worms that hatch from 30 grams of grain, will con- 
 sume during the ist age, 8 pounds of leaves ; 2d age, 24 ; 3d 
 age, 55 ; 4th age, 243 ; 5th age, 1,335 to 3,350 pounds. It is, 
 therefore, well to reckon upon an average of 2,335 pounds of 
 leaves for 30 grams of grain. 
 
 For the same quantity of grain, the worms give during their 
 life-time almost 500 pounds of offal, which constitutes the best 
 manure for Mulberry trees. 
 
 The thread of a fine French annual cocoon will measure as 
 much as 1,350 yards. Two hundred and thirty-four of first 
 quality French or Italian annual cocoons, will weigh, fresh, 
 before killing the chrysalis, one pound ; while it requires 342 
 Japanese annual cocoons to weigh that much. When diseases 
 rage among the silkworms, it requires twice as many cocoons, 
 so little Silk do they produce. 
 
 Perforated or pierced cocoons lose 80 per cent, of their 
 weight ; the chrysalis, thus, weighs four times as much as the 
 silky envelop, or cocoon proper. 
 
 Four pounds of Japanese green cocoons will give about one 
 pound of dried cocoons. 
 
 Female worms, cocoons, and moths, weigh ten per cent, 
 more than males. Before the epidemics that have been raging 
 for over thirty years, cocoons did yield one-tenth of their 
 weight in Silk of first quality ; twelve pounds of second class 
 cocoons were required for one pound of silk. Nowadays, the 
 best Japanese cocoons (the only kinds that can be raised in 
 Europe with some profit, on account of the reigning epidemic) 
 yield one-fifteenth of silk, and Polyvoltine races one twenty-fifth. 
 
 Bivoltine and Polyvoltine are easily transformed into An- 
 nual races, and vice versa. The best grain is that first laid. 
 
84 Instruction Book in the 
 
 The best female moth will lay from 400 to 700 eggs ; 1,350 
 eggs weigh one twenty-eighth of an ounce; 37,800 eggs, an 
 ounce; 618,800 eggs, one pound. 
 
 Good grain used to cost in France and Italy from forty to 
 sixty cents per ounce, that is before pebrine and flacherie had 
 broken out among the worms. Now, grain from Japan, the 
 only country that can produce grain able to stand against the 
 epidemic, sells at the rate of five dollars per ounce of twenty- 
 five grains. 
 
 The production of silk in dollars, before the epidemic broke 
 out in 1858, was reported as follows all over the world : — 
 
 Chinese Empire, |8i,ooo,ooo 
 
 Japanese Empire, 17,000,000 
 
 Corean Archipelago, 1,000,000 
 
 Turkistan (in China), 400,000 
 
 Turkistan (Independent), 1,400,000 
 
 Persia, 5,000,000 
 
 Asia Minor, 5,250,000 
 
 Syria, 1,900,000 
 
 Turkey in Europe, 7,000,000 
 
 Greece, Ionian Islands, 850,000 
 
 France 29,900,000 
 
 Italy, 39,800,000 
 
 Pontifical States, i ,300,000 
 
 Spain and Portugal, 3,250,000 
 
 Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, Mediterranean coast, 300,000 
 
 Basin of the Danube, Austria, Bavaria, Servia, Hungary, . 80,000 
 
 India, 24,000,000 
 
 America, 80.000 
 
 Total, $219,510,600 
 
 Since that year, 1858, the production of silk in all the 
 countries of Europe, in Asia Minor, Syria, and the whole 
 Mediterranean coast, America, and some parts of Asia, on 
 account of the epidemic, has fallen a great deal below the 
 above figures. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 85 
 
 Profit of Growing Silk. 
 
 How much money is there in it ; or, in other words, how 
 much could a small family expect by raising silkworms ? 
 That is the question — the main, fundamental requisite to make 
 of this State a silk-growing country, par excellence. Will the 
 business pay ? For, though the climate may be exceptionally 
 good, the food of the very best quality, still, if people cannot 
 find in it remuneration enough for their labor and outlays — 
 little as that may be — it would be useless, indeed, even to be- 
 gin, and on a small scale, to raise silkworms. In former let- 
 ters on this very subject, I have constantly warned our people, 
 if they would avoid disappointment, against indulging in too 
 fond and sanguine expectations regarding this silk business. 
 I advocated then, as I always did, and still do, the raising of 
 silkworms on a small scale ; that is, household silk culture. 
 I furthermore advised our silk-growers to give up the idea of 
 making money by the sale of silkworm grain, for the very 
 reason that California grain had been thoroughly tested in 
 years past, and also found wanting ; that is, unable, like all 
 the rest, to stand against the present epidemic, flacherie, 
 which to this day has baffled the skill of the most renowned 
 scientists and sericulturists. I said it yesterday, I say it again 
 to-day, I will repeat it to-morrow, in the hope that my feeble 
 voice may be heard and my advice heeded by those people 
 who are unknowingly deluding themselves in expectations 
 that cannot be realized, and which I consider the duty of the 
 better-informed people to dispel. I will therefore insist more 
 earnestly than ever on the folly of raising silkworms in the 
 hope of finding a ready market for the grain. Even supposing 
 that such a market could be found, how long would that grain 
 trade last? So I do assert, and without any fears of being 
 contradicted, that the only consistent way of founding this 
 silk industry in California, is to raise silkworms solely for the 
 
86 Instruction Book in the 
 
 silk. Let every one desirous of launching into the business 
 be thoroughly impressed with the truth of that assertion. 
 
 Thus is the question simply narrowed to this : If raising 
 silkworms for the Silk, how much can be expected from the 
 sale of cocoons, and where shall we find a market for what we 
 produce ? But this is a double question. Where shall we 
 find a market for our cocoons, is, however, the main question 
 of the two ; for whether we be more or less successful in rais- 
 ing silkworms, we must first have a market for our cocoons, 
 with prices more or less remunerative, or else we had better 
 give up the business, or never get into it. On the other hand, 
 to get remunerative prices for the cocoons we would raise, we 
 must certainly have a home market, cocoons being too bulky 
 and too fragile a merchandise to be shipped away with profit 
 to a distant market. Now, to have a home market for that 
 class of goods, I maintain that we must have a "home fila- 
 ture," oi reeling factory, where cocoons may be turned into 
 grege, or raw silk ; and, if an organzine mill be attached to 
 it, have the silk thrown into organzine, for which there is an 
 always ready market. Would people be satisfied with the 
 prices given for their cocoons by such filatures, then would 
 the problem be satisfactorily solved, provided that we would 
 be " successful " in raising silkworms — that is, French annuals, 
 the only paying kinds for us to raise; and I should not be 
 over-confident on that point, either, considering the general 
 failure all round with those fine races of silkworms since the 
 epidemic broke out. The first steps to be taken, ought, it 
 seems to me, to be toward the establishing of a filature in our 
 midst; short of that, our efforts, I am afraid, will be almost 
 futile. As a filature could not.be self-supporting at the start, 
 who will provide for its support till our farmers are ready to 
 supply it with the raw material or cocoons ? This is another 
 question for all parties interested to determine, A filature of 
 twenty bassins would require about 33,000 pounds of cocoons, 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 87 
 
 or the cocoons produced by 350 ounces of grain (French 
 annuals). Supposing now that we could have a filature in our 
 midst ready to buy our cocoons, the next question is : How 
 much will they pay for a pound of fresh cocoons ? how much 
 for a pound of dried cocoons ? Fresh cocoons would probably 
 fetch from fifty to sixty-five cents per pound, or 260 cocoons 
 of the French annual races, healthy, sound, firm cocoons, as 
 are hardly raised anywhere nowadays, always on account of 
 that everlasting epidemic, which, if it does not sweep away the 
 worms, at least renders them weak and unable to spin heavy 
 eocoons ; so much so, that it will be wiser to reckon on 400 
 cocoons to the pound. Dried cocoons would fetch in the 
 proportion of one to four ; that is four times as much as fresh 
 cocoons, since cocoons lose by drying eighty per cent, of their 
 weight; or from ^2.00 to ;^2.50 per pound (1.050 to 1,600 
 cocoons). 
 
 Pierced cocoons, if quite clean, will fetch ^1.25 to^i.5oper 
 pound for carding, right at the factory, not at the shipping 
 place. 
 
 A farmer's family may raise, according to its size and that 
 of the room alloted to silkworms, from ten to twenty thousand 
 worms ; or, if the education would be quite successful, from 
 30 to 70 pounds of fresh cocoons, which at the average rate 
 ot 60 cents, would fetch from ;^i8 to $42. I do not mean to 
 say that a farmer's family could not raise more than that ; I 
 have only reference to the average farmer. If, having a room 
 large enough for that purpose, a farmer's family may, of course, 
 raise easily from 50,000 to 75,000 worms, including the gath- 
 ering of the leaves. The above figures show that I was right 
 in my first estimates in putting down at from ^10 to ;g 100 what 
 any farmer's family could reasonably expect by raising silk- 
 worms. 
 
 Conclusion. 
 
 In this paper on the silkworm, how to succeed in founding 
 
Instruction Book. 
 
 upon this coast that beautiful industry, and what we have to 
 expect from this business, new to so many of us, I have told 
 the people, and in very plain language, too, all the truth about 
 it. Let nobody think for a moment that I have been grinding 
 it too fine. By following my advice, none will have to regret 
 it ; none will experience that bitter disappointment and loss of 
 money, as will surely be the case if going at it blindly, plant- 
 ing acres of Mulberry trees, raising silkworms in large quan- 
 tities, launching into the grain business — in a word, deluding 
 oneself. 
 
 To all those beginners that have not the least knowledge^ 
 or very little, in the art of raising silkworms, I say, go at it 
 slowly, feel your way first, plant only, for a start, a few Mul- 
 berry trees, and plant them where they may be an ornament 
 to your place, or where they will never be in the way after- 
 ward, in case that you would make up your mind not to raise 
 any more silkworms. Commence by raising but a few worms, 
 say from one hundred to two hundred ; learn, first, all those 
 little things about silkworms that cannot be properly learned 
 but by a little practice, and as soon as you have acquired an 
 inside knowledge of the business, then it will be time for you 
 to increase the quantity of grain to hatch and worms to raise, 
 but only as far as your means will allow, never going any 
 farther. And if by going into the business little by little, you 
 finally come to the conclusion that it does not pay you for all 
 your trouble, you will have then the satisfaction of having in- 
 curred no loss of money to speak of, or, what is better, not 
 experienced that bitter disappointment concerning your most 
 fond, but unrealizable expectations. 
 
PART III. 
 
 DIRECTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF A 
 COCOONERY. 
 
 By W. C. Kkhr, State Geologist, North Carolina, 
 
 I. Hatching. 
 
 THE eggs are usually kept at the temperature of ice until 
 hatching time. When removed from the ice, put in a 
 cool place two or three days, so that they may be brought 
 gradually to the temperature of the air. As soon as the Mul- 
 berry leaves have begun to open, spread the eggs on clean 
 white paper; an ounce will require a square foot of surface. 
 The temperature should be about 70°, and may be gradually 
 increased 1° or 2° a day, to 75° or 80*'. They will hatch 
 usually in five days, but the higher the temperature the 
 sooner the hatching. The worms will commonly hatch out 
 in the morning, for three or four successive days. When the 
 hatching begins, spread over them mosquito netting or per- 
 forated paper, and when the morning's hatch has crawled 
 through, remove to the (frame, or) platform, marking, and 
 keeping each day's hatch separate. Better use the net for the 
 first age, and the paper afterwards. 
 
90 Instruction Book in the 
 
 II. Feeding. 
 
 The worms should be fed as soon as hatched and removed, 
 by sprinkh'ng young and tender leaves over the net or paper; 
 repeat the feeding every two hours during the first age, and 
 afterwards every three or four hours. In general, give the 
 first feed at five o'clock in the morning and the last at ten or 
 eleven at night. Before each feeding spread a net or paper 
 over the worms and place the leaves on it. About every two 
 days, lift the net with the worms to a new frame and remove- 
 the litter. The space must be increased as the worms grow, 
 so as to avoid crowding. They will need double space the 
 second day. To accomplish this, in feeding, when about half 
 the worms have come through the net or paper, remove, and 
 place a second paper with leaves for the remainder ; in the 
 same way the space may be trebled by removing one-third at 
 a time. The leaves should be spread evenly, so that the 
 worms may get the same amount of food and keep together 
 in their growth, as it is important to have them moult together. 
 
 The leaves must be fed fresh and dry, 7iever wet or wilted ;- 
 leaves wet with dew are especially injurious. Gather the 
 leaves in the evening, for the next morning's meal, and when 
 rain threatens, gather a day ahead and keep in an airy, cool 
 place, stirring occasionally to prevent heating, and fermenta- 
 tion, which will ruin them. If only wet leaves can be had, 
 dry them by shaking up before a fire, or in a breezy place. 
 When food is scarce, lower the temperature of the room, and 
 the worms will eat less. 
 
 For young worms, gather only the small leaves. After the 
 second age, small twigs, or branches, may be cut with the 
 leaves. For this purpose use a knife, or better, clip with 
 pruning shears. Gather in a basket, or better, in a bag tied 
 about the waist. 
 
 The quantity of food consumed increases very rapidly. The 
 worms are said to consume their own weight of leaves daily. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 91 
 
 The worms from an ounce of eggs will require about one 
 pound of leaves the first day, two pounds the second, three or 
 four the third; after that the quantity diminishes as the time 
 of molting approaches. 
 
 After the second or third age, the net (or paper) and frame 
 may be discarded, and the leavy twigs or branches with the 
 worms, may be placed on the platforms directly. The suc- 
 cessive feedings of twigs are spread evenly on the old ones 
 until the mass is piled up four or five inches to the next tier 
 of pins or nails, then lay a new set of five bars or sticks, with 
 the food on these, and when the worms have ascended, drop 
 out the lower tier with its litter and remove. 
 
 In using a second or third tier over the first, as C, C, C, C, 
 Fig. I, {page py,) it is necessary to place beneath, on a couple 
 of bars, B, B, B, B, cloth or boards to catch the leaves and 
 litter from above. 
 
 The utmost cleanliness being necessary, the litter should 
 be removed often, especially during the last three ages, as 
 well as all dead and sick worms. The consumption of food 
 is enormous during this age, the hatch from an ounce of eggs 
 requiring about fifty pounds the first day, and by the fourth 
 one hundred and fifty, and double that amount the fifth, sixth 
 and seventh, after which the quantity falls to about one 
 hundred pounds for the eighth day, but the quantity depends 
 on the vigor of the worms, and the temperature. 
 
 During this last age the closest attention is necessary and 
 the amount of labor is greatly increased. During the earlier 
 ages a woman, or half-grown child can attend to the worms, 
 and a man or boy in one or two hours, two or three times a 
 day, can supply the leaves required for the worms from an 
 ounce of eggs ; and even during the last age, one person is 
 sufficient in the cocoonery, and one to gather the leaves for 
 the hatch of half-a-dozen ounces of eggs or more, with the 
 apparatus above described. 
 
92 Instruction Book in the 
 
 III. Moulting. 
 
 When the time for their sleep approaches, the worms lose 
 appetite and raise their heads with a waving motion. When 
 any of the worms of a batch are seen in this state, give a light 
 fresh feed to hurry up the tardy ones. During their torpor 
 they eat nothing. As soon as their skin is shed their activity 
 and appetite return. This process is usually over in about 
 thirty hours. No food should be given until about all of the 
 batch are through the moult and ready to make an even start ; 
 or, if the last are much delayed, give a light feed to the first, 
 and feed the last more copiously, and keep them warmer for 
 a day or so, that they may overtake the first. This rule need 
 not be observed after the fourth moult. 
 
 After moulting, the space will generally need to be doubled. 
 If the worms come out of their torpor in a feeble state, with 
 little appetite, especially in the younger ages, cut the leaves 
 for the first feed or two with a sharp clean knife, like shredded 
 tobacco. 
 
 IV. Spinning. 
 
 When ready to spin, which is eight or ten days after the 
 fourth moult, the worms cease to eat, become restless and empty 
 themselves, diminish in size, becoming transparent, beginning 
 at the head. When any of them are observed in this stage, give 
 a light fresh feed to bring forward the laggards. And as soon 
 as they begin to emit silky fibre, take the frames, Fig. 2, {page 
 g8,) that were used to hold the young worms, tie together two 
 and two, bottom to top, set upright on their edges, a, a, a, orb, 
 b, b, with the slats of one opposite the intervals of the other, 
 upon the platforms, among the worms. They will use these 
 as ladders and crawl up between the slats to spin. Or instead 
 of these, dry branching twigs, two or three feet long, or broom 
 corn or weeds may be used, setting them upright among the 
 worms, and inter-locking them in arches above. If any of 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 93 
 
 the worms fail to mount, remove them on the leaves or twigs 
 to which they are attached, lest they be soiled by droppings 
 from above them. 
 
 The spinning is finished in three days. As the worms begin 
 to spin, see that no two of them spin too near each other and 
 make double cocoons, which cannot be reeled. 
 
 To sum up, the points requiring special attention are : 
 I. Keeping the worms of a batch in a uniform state of pro- 
 gress so that they will all moult together. 2. Abundance of 
 fresh, dry food, except during the moult. 3. Plenty of room, 
 so that the worms shall not crowd each other. 4. Plenty of 
 fresh air, 5. Uniform temperature, as nearly as practicable, 
 and avoidance of sudden changes. 6. The utmost cleanliness. 
 
 V. Gathering and Sorting the Cocoons. 
 
 In eight or ten days after the commencement of the spin- 
 ning, the cocoons are ready to gather. Separate the frames or 
 arches of brush carefully. Remove first all discolored and 
 soft cocoons, keeping these seperate from the firm sound ones ; 
 if kept together the latter would be discolored and depreciated 
 much in value. Tear off the loose (floss) silk which envelopes 
 the cocoon. 
 
 VI. Choking, or Stifling the Chrysalids. 
 
 In twelve or fifteen days from the time the worm began to 
 spin, the moth will issue from the cocoon, and in the process 
 the strands of Silk will be cut and spoiled. To prevent this, 
 the chrysalis must be killed — stifled. This is commonly and 
 best accomplished by steaming ; but as that is troblesome, 
 and difficult without proper appliances, in our climate the 
 stifling may usually be effected by exposing the cocoons to 
 the hot sunshine from 9 o'clock till 4, for two or three days. 
 A longer time is needed if there is much air stirring, or the 
 sunshine is not strong. And the process is surer if conducted 
 
Instruction Book in the 
 
 in a shallow box under glass, with a crevice for the escape of 
 moisture. In either case, guard against ants. The stifling 
 should be attended to as soon as the cocoons are gathered, 
 lest cloudy weather should intervene. In this case (and per- 
 haps better in any case,) the result may be reached by pack- 
 ing the cocoons in a barrel carefully lined with paper, so as to 
 be nearly air-tight, with alternate sprinklings of camphor, 
 roughly granulated in the hand, beginning with camphor on 
 the bottom, then 3 or 4 inches of cocoons, again camphor, 
 and so on, finally closing the barrel for two or three days ; 
 using about a pound of camphor to the barrel. 
 
 COCOONS. 
 
 After three or four days, spread the cocoons on boards or 
 shelves to dry in an airy room or attic, stirring frequently the 
 first two or three days, and afterwards occasionally, for about 
 twb months, when they will be thoroughly dry and may be 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 9S 
 
 packed for market. Guard must still be kept against rats and 
 mice, ants and smaller insects, which will penetrate the chry- 
 salids and injure the Silk. The latter may be expelled by a 
 sprinkling of camphor or other insectifuge drugs, or by the 
 bark of sassafras root, or chips of red cedar, tobacco stems, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 VII. Reeling. 
 
 This process cannot be readily understood without instruc- 
 tion with a reel ot filature. The price of the Silk is doubled 
 by reeling, and as there are whole months of idle time of 
 women and children on an ordinary farm in a year, which 
 might be turned to good account in this way, it is very desir- 
 able that the machinery and the process should be generally 
 understood. 
 
 VIII. Egg Raising. 
 
 There is at present more profit in raising eggs for the markets 
 of France, Italy and this country, than in making cocoons of 
 reeled Silk. The female moth lays 300 to 400 eggs, and an 
 ounce will be produced by every 200 to 250 moths. The 
 worms from an ounce of eggs, which, as has been stated, will 
 yield from 35 to 40 pounds of dried or stifled cocoons, at from 
 90 cents to ^1.15 per pound. 
 
 IX. Markets and Prices. 
 
 There is a good market in this country for reeled silk, at 
 Paterson, New York, and elsewhere, and of cocoons and eggs, 
 if well tested as to quality. The Women's Silk Culture As- 
 sociation, 1328 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, will take all that 
 are sent them, and pay regular market rates for same. Eggs, 
 however, must be received at the owner's risk of hatching, as 
 after April 1st they are in daily risk of hatching, and, if not 
 sold, the association are not responsible. 
 
96 Instruction Book in the 
 
 GENERAL INFORMATION. 
 
 I. The Silkworm. 
 
 . I. The Egg. — An ounce of eggs contains 40,000, and this 
 number of worms will produce 100 to 120 pounds of fresh 
 cocoons (or one-third of that weight of dry.) An ounce (or 
 even a quarter of an ounce) is sufficient for a beginner for an 
 experiment. They are readily sent by mail. The cost is 
 about five dollars an ounce. 
 
 2. Ages. — The silk caterpillar casts its skin four times, at 
 intervals of 5, 4, 6, 6 and 8 days, after a short sleep or rest; 
 this change of skin is called moulting, and the interval between 
 two moults an age ; the life of a worm, from hatching to 
 spinning, is about thirty days, a few days more or less, 
 according to the decrease or increase of temperature and 
 supply of food. 
 
 On the approach of the sleep or torpor, the worm ceases 
 to eat, and becomes motionless, with raised head. 
 
 II. Food. 
 
 The silkworm eats and thrives on a great variety of food ; 
 the leaves of the lettuce, common (or black) mulberry, the 
 osage orange, etc., but the white (often miscalled " English ") 
 mulbery furnishes the best silk. 
 
 III. Room. 
 
 Any sort of house or room may be used as a cocoonery, 
 for hatching and raising silkworms, provided it is well- 
 lighted, well-aired, and can be kept tolerably uniform in tem- 
 perature by a stove ; fire will be needed on cool nights and 
 rainy days. Direct sunshine should be excluded, which may 
 be done by tacking white paper or cloth over the sash on 
 the sunny sides of the room. For a small crop, a room on 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 
 
 97 
 
 the north side of the house is better, for avoiding excessive 
 heat. Ventilation should be secured from the upper part of 
 the room, to avoid direct drafts upon the worms. A close 
 hot air is injurious, and any sudden or great change of tem- 
 perature. Cleanliness is very important. Rats and ants 
 must be excluded, as they are very fond of the silkworm 
 larva. The odor of smoke and tobacco are fatal. 
 
 IV. Apparatus. 
 
 Both room and apparatus should be arranged to secure, as 
 nearly as may be, the same conditions which the worm finds 
 on the tree. Any frame, or platform, or structure, therefore, 
 which will allow the freest circulation of air, from below, as 
 well as on all sides, and the ready removal of litter and stale 
 leaves, will answer. Perhaps the best appliance in use for 
 this purpose is that represented by the accompanying diagram, 
 Figure i. For information about this improvement I am in- 
 debted to Mr. E. 
 \n Fasnach. It has 
 
 been recently adop- 
 ted extensively in 
 France, from the 
 Italian silk cultu- 
 rists of a little pro- 
 vince (FrioulJ on 
 the North Adriatic 
 near Trieste. To 
 the floor and ceil- 
 ing (or joists) are 
 fastened a succes- 
 sion of parallel sets 
 of five uprights, 
 bars or sticks 
 (which be i}^, 2 
 
 
 Fig. I. 
 
98 
 
 Instruction Book in the 
 
 or 3 inches thick) ; two of these sets are represented as touch- 
 ing the floor at 1,2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, 7, etc. The uprights are 
 about one foot apart in the sets, and the sets running the 
 length of the room, about five feet apart, and the whole 
 should be not less than two feet from the wall. The uprights 
 have sloping pins or nails driven into them 4^ or 5 inches 
 apart. On these, as at A, A, A, A, and C, C, C, C, are laid 
 a series of five bars or sticks, and across these little rods or 
 straight twigs ; the first of these platforms may be five or six 
 inches from the floor, and the next, C, C, C, C, say two or 
 three feet above that, and so on, as high as one chooses to 
 go ; but two are as many as can be easily managed without 
 steps. On these platforms are placed the papers or frames 
 containing the young worms, up to the third (or fourth) age, 
 and after that the twigs or small branches of mulberry 
 leaves with the worms. Note that all the timber of both 
 room and apparatus must be seasoned. 
 
 The papers containing the young worms may be laid on 
 these platforms directly, but it is perhaps better to use frames 
 like that represented in Fig. 2. The bars A A and B B are 
 „ three-quarters of an inch thick, the cross 
 slats or laths, a b, are half an inch thick, an 
 inch (or less) wide, and an inch apart. It 
 is better to make these 
 frames two and a half feet 
 by five, so that two of 
 them will occupy, cross- 
 wise, one platform of Fig. 
 I. 
 
 The only additional ap- 
 paratus needed is perfora- 
 in Fig. 3, and netting 
 
 Fig. 2. 
 
 ted paper, as seen 
 
 (mosquito or other) about the size of the 
 
 frames, for the younger stages of the worms. 
 
 Fig. 3' 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 
 
 The paper should have some strength and stiffness, so that it 
 can be lifted with the worms on it- without huddling them. 
 A good quality of merchants' wrapping paper will do. The 
 perforations of the size and distance apart shown in Fig. 3, 
 may be made rapidly by a common belt punch, by folding 
 the paper ten or a dozen thicknesses. 
 
 V. The Mulberry. 
 
 The white mulberry is easily propagated. It flourishes best 
 in light sandy or gravelly soils. One full-grown tree will yield 
 200 to 300 pounds of leaves. Two hundred trees may be 
 planted on an acre of land. In three years they will yield, 
 under fair conditions of soil and cultivation, ten to twelve 
 pounds of leaves each, or more than two thousand pounds to 
 the acre. Eighteen hundred pounds suffice for an ounce of 
 eggs; that is, will produce 100 to 120 pounds of fresh co- 
 coons. At seven or eight years the yield will be ten fold. 
 Trees suitable for transplanting and cuttings, can be had from 
 The Women's Silk Culture Association, and also from many 
 nurseries. 
 
PART IV. 
 
 :Ei:Ej^jEi,XJsrG- the siXiKz^woiaiM: 
 
 THOSE who wish to engage in the culture of silk, though 
 not extensively, need not incur the expense of building a 
 cocoonery. The worms may be fed in a shed, barn, out- 
 house, or any place where they will be protected from the sun 
 and rain. A free circulation of air, and entire cleanliness in 
 their apartments, are absolutely requisite. They will not 
 prosper near to decomposing animal or vegetable bodies, nor 
 in an atmosphere rendered impure by any cause whatef^er ; 
 and the smoke of tobacco is peculiarly offensive to them. 
 The wood-cut in this number {pao;e no) represents the inter- 
 nal arrangements of our cocoonery, and by a glance at it, the 
 reader may obtain a better knowledge of its structure and fix- 
 tures, than from any written description which could be given. 
 We are not advised that any more convenient edifice has any- 
 where been constructed for the purpose to which it is applied. 
 It is 100 feet long by 30 feet wide, and two stories high, with 
 large sliding windows on both sides, and at each end suffi- 
 ciently capacious to contain four rows of shelves in each story, 
 having plenty of room to pass between them to change the 
 hurdles, etc. There are five shelves in each row, as represented 
 in the wood cut, three feet in width, four in length, and four- 
 teen inches apart. Two millions of worms may be reared in 
 a building of this size and construction. 
 
102 Instruction Book in the 
 
 The proper time to hatch the eggs of the silkworm depends 
 somewhat on the state of the foliage of the mulberry tree. It 
 is soon enough when the weather becomes regularly warm, 
 and when the leaf of the tree has attained to a considerable 
 size. Spread the eggs thin on paper in a warm room, when 
 the temperature is at 70° or 75° Fahr. The room must be 
 well lighted, but the sun should not shine directly upon the 
 ^SS^- I" six or seven days the worms will appear, and must 
 be removed to the shelves, where they are to be fed. A little 
 food now suffices, and that little they must constantly have. 
 The leaves should be cut fine before they are given to the 
 worms. The life of the worm is divided into five ages, and 
 these ages are marked by four intervening moultings. During 
 these moultings no food should be given them, but unusual 
 pains be taken to keep the air salubrious throughout the co- 
 coonery. When litter begins to accumulate, it must be re- 
 moved. The old method of effecting this was to place some 
 leaves on one side of the shelf, and when the worms had 
 crawled to and begun to feed on them, that side of the shelf 
 which they had left was brushed, then again the leaves and 
 jvorms, together, were removed to the place where the filth 
 had been taken away, and both sides of the shelf were thus 
 made clean. When many worms were fed, this portion of the 
 labor was tedious and disagreeable, and not very conducive to 
 the health and growth of the insect. This practice prevailed 
 in Europe for ages ; and the amount of labor required for 
 keeping the shelves clear of litter and filth, was nearly equal 
 to the picking of the leaves. The invention of the hurdle has 
 effected a vast reduction of toil in this branch of the business. 
 It is a net work of strong cotton cord, with meshes an inch 
 in diameter, spread on a light wooden frame three or four feet 
 in size, which is large enough to contain a thousand worms. 
 The wood cut delineates the hurdle lying upon the shelf. 
 Place the hurdle with some leaves on it over the shelf of 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 103 
 
 vvorms, aud they will immediately crawl up and fasten on those 
 leaves — now remove the hurdle till the shelf can be cleansed, 
 then restore it to its place. Repeat this operation as often as 
 necessary. In this way two men will keep a million of worms 
 free of litter ; but without the hurdle, and according to the old 
 system, it would require the best exertions of one hundred. 
 The use of the hurdle is attended with another improvement 
 of nearly as much consequence to the Silk culturist as the 
 saving of labor effected by it. Those worms which do not 
 immediately make their way to the fresh leaves on the upper 
 hurdle when placed over them are diseased and defective, and 
 must be thrown away, which will prevent the spreading of 
 sickness among those which are healthy, and thin out all the 
 inferior insects, so that every cocoon will be large, perfect, 
 and valuable. The three first weeks the worm consumes but 
 little food. Its Silk vessel begins to form at the commence- 
 ment of the fourth age, when it will eat with much avidity, 
 and must be fully supplied, or the quantity of Silk will be 
 much diminished, and the quality greatly deteriorated. The 
 worm usually lives six weeks, but the length of its life may 
 be modified somewhat by circumstances. If well fed it comes 
 to maturity sooner than when illy provided for. It is well to 
 feed four or five times a day — but when the worm becomes in- 
 active from cold, no food is required. 
 
 Leaves should not be gathered or fed to the worms when 
 wet with dew or rain. A supply for two days or more should 
 be kept in a cellar where they will not soon wilt, so that the 
 worms may have dry leaves in stormy weather. When the 
 worm is ready to spin its cocoon it changes its color, dimin- 
 ishes in size, and wanders in search of a place to make its 
 ball. The spinning frames are made of narrow pieces of lath, 
 nailed to two cross pieces at each end, three inches apart. 
 This frame is placed over the hurdle, as seen in the wood cut, 
 and also the ladder on which the worm ascends and winds its 
 
104 Instruction Book in the 
 
 ball. Here again a great labor-saving improvement has been 
 introduced. Formerly bushes were set upright on the shelves 
 on which the worms would fasten their cocoons ; and the 
 labor required to prepare and place the bushes, and to collect 
 the silk was no inconsiderable item of the expense of produc- 
 ing the article. Nineteen-twentieths of this work is avoided 
 by the introduction of the spinning frame above referred to. 
 Those cocoons which are intended for market or for reeling 
 should be steamed in a tight box for one hour, which will de- 
 stroy the chrysalis. This should be done within six days from 
 the time the cocoon was formed. If the moth is permitted to 
 perforate the cocoon, it will nearly destroy its value. When 
 there are a large number of cocoons, steaming is the most 
 speedy and economical means of effecting the destruction of 
 the chrysalis ; but baking the balls in an oven slightly heated, 
 or exposing them for a few hours to the rays of the sun, will 
 kill the moth. The cocoons should be thoroughly dried after 
 being steamed before they are stowed away. We shall speak 
 more particularly on this subject hereafter. Before steaming, 
 however, select the best and fairest cocoons for seed. It is a 
 law of nature that the offspring shall inherit the diseases of 
 the parent, and to this law, of course, the silkworm is not an 
 exception. If diminutive cocoons are reserved for propaga- 
 tion, the miller will be feeble, lay bad eggs, and the worms 
 prove sickly, and no subsequent care will ever repair the in- 
 jury. We repeat, for it is of the utmost consequence, that 
 the eggs must be good, or the worms will never prosper. 
 Place the silk balls thus selected in a warm room, and spread 
 them so that one shall not lie upon another, and within twelve 
 or fourteen days the millers will make their way out of the 
 cocoons, and must be removed and placed on cotton muslin, 
 where within forty-eight hours the females will each deposit 
 from four to five hundred eggs. The eggs and mushn should 
 be carefully folded and kept together in glass jars, or tin 
 
Art of Silk Culture. lOS 
 
 boxes, in a cellar until spring, when they should be put in an 
 ice-house, that the eggs may not hatch until wanted. 
 
 There is no part of the labor pertaining to the business that 
 is wearisome or disagreeable, but every stage of it is calcu- 
 lated to please, instruct, and charm. To the admirers of 
 nature it unfolds one of the most interesting and curious ope- 
 rations in all its wonderful and infinitely diversified phenomena. 
 
 We append a few extracts from a " History of Silk Cul- 
 ture," translated from the Chinese, the oldest silk raisers in 
 the world. They are useful for general knowledge, and are 
 doubtless reliable : — 
 
 {^Translated from the Chinese.^ 
 
 The silkworms naturally love repose, and fear loud cries ; 
 therefore their house should be quiet and exempt from all 
 noise. They love the heat and fear the damp ; their apart- 
 ments should therefore be constructed of boards. In a quiet 
 and retired house they will not be troubled with the cries and 
 clamor of men. In a close house they will be sheltered 
 from the sudden south winds. In a house constructed with 
 plank they will be sheltered from the exhalations and damp 
 vapors of the earth. 
 
 WOU-PEN-SIN-CHOU. 
 
 The house of the silkworms ought to be distant from all 
 impurities, and everything that exhales a disagreeable odor, 
 such as stables, cows, etc. Care must be taken during the 
 night that no light may penetrate the windows, or suddenly 
 be shown in the dwelling of the silkworms. Do not extin- 
 guish in the silk-room paper matches, such as emit a great 
 deal of smoke. 
 
 When the worms are newly hatched they fear the dust 
 
106 Instruction Book in the 
 
 made in sweeping. They are disturbed by crying and weep- 
 ing ; they do not like persons to come into their apartments 
 who are not perfectly clean. 
 
 NoNG-S ANG- Pi- Kioue. 
 
 The art of raising silkworms begins with the choice of the 
 eggs, and the preservation of the cocoons. Select in the 
 cocoon room, the cocoons that are turned towards the light 
 (that is to say, those from the top of the cocoon room), such 
 as are brilliant, neat, and of a firm texture. 
 
 The moths which come out the first day, are called miao- 
 ngo (viz : grass moths). The latest of all are called mo-ngo, 
 (that is to say : the last butterflies). Neither of them ought 
 to be kept. Only those which come out after the second day 
 must be taken. The sheets of the paper must be spread upon 
 the cases of a shelf, then the males and ferpales come close 
 together and copulate. When the evening comes, the male 
 butterflies must be taken away, and the females must be placed 
 on sheets of paper, leaving an equal distance between them. 
 The eggs which are found in lumps ought to be thrown out. 
 When the females have laid a number of eggs, they must be 
 left on the sheets where they are deposited, and covered from 
 three to five days. When the sheets are hung up, the. eggs 
 ought to be turned outward (read : in-ward) for fear the wind 
 may cause them to perish. 
 
 The success in raising silkworms depends on the precau- 
 tion which is taken in the beginning, and subsequently, not 
 to expose them to any danger. If the silkworms do not 
 revive all at once, from their first sleep, or moulting, it proceeds 
 from their not having changed color, and not hatching all at 
 once. If they do not change color, and do not hatch all at 
 once, it is because the rules presciibed to preserve the eggs 
 haue not been strictly followed, 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 107 
 
 HO-PI-SSE-LOUI. 
 
 When the silk worms lay down and remain motionless, that 
 repose is called moulting. During the time of moulting they 
 do not eat either the mulberry leaves or leaves of the tree, 
 tche. At the end of one day and night they shed their skins. 
 
 There are some silkworms which have three moultings, and 
 others four. 
 
 What Hoang-sing-tseng Says. 
 
 "From the hatching of the silkworms to their third moult- 
 ing cut leaves ought to be continually given them. When 
 the ardent silkworms are fed, that is to say, Autumn silk- 
 worms, they must be carefully watched. As soon as they 
 have eaten their leaves give them more, for they will fall sick 
 if they breathe the heat of the silk-room fasting." 
 
 Manner of Feeding the Newly-Hatched Silkworms. 
 
 The leaves of the mulberry must be frequently cut in very 
 fine shreds, and lightly spread over them with a sieve. The 
 food ought to be distributed without interruption. In the 
 space of one hour (two of our hours) four meals must be given 
 them, which makes forty-eight repasts in the space of one day 
 and night. 
 
 Food must be given to the silkworms without fail during 
 the day and night. If their repasts are multiplied it will ne- 
 cessarily result that they will soon arrive at maturity ; but if 
 their meals are rare, and not numerous, they will attain their 
 growth slowly. 
 
 When the silkworms attain maturity in twenty-five days, 
 one frame or hurdle will furnish twenty-five ounces of silk. 
 If in twenty-eight days, only twenty ounces can be obtained. 
 If the time be one month, or forty days, one hurdle will fur- 
 nish but ten ounces of silk. 
 
108 Instruction Book in the 
 
 Those persons who feed silkworms ought to endeavor not 
 to sleep. Laziness has serious inconveniences. 
 
 Method of Diminishing the Food and Hastening the 
 Moulting. 
 
 When the silkworms are disposed to sleep (to moult), their 
 food must be diminished in proportion to the degree of yellow 
 or white which their skin assumes ; the leaves destined for 
 their food must be cut in fine shreds, and frequently spread in 
 light layers. 
 
 When the silkworms are completely yellow they ought to 
 be transported in succession to other hurdles, without caring 
 whether the sky be dark or serene, if it be in the morning or 
 the middle of the night. When they have been transported 
 to other hurdles the feeding must be suspended until they 
 have all recovered from their moulting, when they maybe fed 
 again. This is called diminishing the food and deciding the 
 moulting. Thest two expressions imply that the nourishing 
 of the silkworms which are disposed to moult must be dimin- 
 ished (care must be taken not to cover or overload them with 
 leaves), and on the other side the silkworms must be abund- 
 antly fed (which are not disposed to moult), in order that they 
 may quickly moult. Not only will they all moult together, but 
 they will be exempt from diseases caused by the accumulation 
 of leaves, and the internal heat which consequently follows. 
 
 Nong-sang-thong-kioue. 
 
 The silkworms may be found in ten different situations : 
 They may be cold or hot, starved or satiated, sufficiently far 
 apart, or too near together, asleep or awake ; they may eat 
 slowly or with appetite. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 109 
 
 An Estimate of Silk Culture in 1840, from "The 
 American Silk Culturist." 
 
 From an investigation, which I prosecuted last winter to 
 some considerable extent, I ascertained that Silk could be 
 manufactured and raised cheaper than cotton or flax. At least 
 I satisfied myself on the subject. Children and aged people 
 can perform most of the labor of procuring the raw Silk, 
 which is the principal part. Let us make an estimate : 
 
 In one acre there are 43i56o square feet, 
 1,210 trees in one acre, 6 feet by 6, 
 4,840 " « «< i;^ feet by 6, 
 Each tree, (Italian Mulberry, six years), will produce six pounds of leaves. 
 50 pounds of leaves, (some say 36), will feed 1000 worms 
 300 cocoons will weigh one pound. 
 3000 cocoons (10 pounds) make one pound of Silk. 
 
 30,000 trees, 6 years old, will produce 180,000 pounds of leaves, which will feed 
 (at 45 pounds per thousand) four millions of worms. Allow 3000 to a 
 pound of Silk ; this, at $3 per pound, will amount to $3,999. Reeled Silk 
 is, however, oftener valued at five or six dollars the pound than three. 
 
 The above calculation is made on the white Mulberry. 
 
Art of Silk Culture, 
 
 ^ 
 
 We here present our readers with an engraving representing 
 an interior view of a cocoonery. The building is lOO feet in 
 length, and 30 feet in width, and of two stories. The height 
 of the lower story, which is the only one that we shall feed in 
 the coming season, is nine feet, and contains, as will be seen 
 by the plate (No. i), four rows of feeding shelves, and five 
 shelves in each row rising one above the other. They are 
 cheaply constructed and will answer the purpose for which 
 they were designed equally as well as more costly ones. Be- 
 tween each row is a railroad upon which is placed a car of a 
 sufficient size to contain, on its platform, numerous baskets of 
 leaves and the ''feeder^' and on each side of the platform is a 
 step raised high enough to allow the feeder to supply the 
 worms on the top shelf with leaves with the greatest facility. 
 The object of the railroad and car is to economize labor and 
 
112 
 
 Instruction Book, in the 
 
 do away the use of a ladder, for, by the present arrangement, 
 the feeder can pull himself along as far at a time as is required, 
 and can do more and better work than can possibly be done 
 under the system generally practised. 
 
 The shelves are three feet in width and are made of 1-2 inch 
 boards, the upper side smoothed, and are fourteen inches apart. 
 The standards, which reach from the lower to the upper floor 
 are placed at equal distanee from each other, four feet, and are 
 one inch in thickness and six inches wide, and are in the cen- 
 tre of the shelves. 
 
 
 5*i5titit>*tztzt;t55t: 
 
 ^♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦t*t*t^ 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 113 
 
 Plate No. 2, is the hurdle which is 3 feet 11 1-2 inches long, 
 the frame being made of " inch stuff" and the meshes of the 
 netting 3-4 of an inch square. The method of feeding the 
 worm upon hurdles we consider most important. By the use 
 of it the shelves are . easily and quickly cleared without 
 recourse being had to touching the worm with the fingers. 
 When necessary to remove the litter from the shelves, it is 
 readily done by placing a hurdle over the one in use, and 
 strewing some fresh leaves over its surface. The worms (at 
 least all that are healthy,) will immediately mount on the hur- 
 dle placed, and such worms as do not mount are thrown away 
 with the litter, being considered as worthless. If the plan is 
 adopted all the unhealthy worms will have been removed be- 
 fore the commencement of the 4th age, and consequently 
 before the heaviest part of the expense will accrue in feeding. 
 In the common method of feeding upon boards great quanti- 
 ties of filth accumulate, there is but little chance, if any, for 
 a free circulation of air, and the worms are obliged to be 
 moved separately by hand which, as is well known, is 
 highly injurious to them. 
 
 Under the shelves and attached to them are thin pieces of 
 rough lath 3 inches distant from each other, placed for the 
 purpose of allowing the worm to form its cocoon with but 
 little waste of silk, (see plate No. 4.) When the worms are 
 ready to spin, a cheaply constructed ladder made of 1-2 inch 
 sticks and wound around with Cotton cord, (see plate No. 3,) 
 is placed above the hurdle in the manner shown by an en- 
 graving in the first number of this publication. 
 
 For the accommodation of those fed upon the top shelves 
 laths must be raised between the joists overhead. 
 
 The light and current of air are graduated by means of 
 stationary blinds, with moveable slats, which have been found 
 to answer the purpose. 
 
 We are aware that there are almost as many minds in re- 
 8 
 
114 Instruction Book in the 
 
 gard to the construction of a cocoonery, as there are indi- 
 viduals, and that it would be a difficult matter to bring all 
 Silk Growers to think alike upon the subject, and it will re- 
 quire more experience than is yet possessed by the American 
 public, to bring the building, fixtures and management under 
 the control of a proper system. Improvements are daily 
 making, and as our countrymen have to compete with the 
 laborer in Europe, whose pay for his work is merely nominal, 
 it becomes us to adopt such plans as will be the most economi- 
 cal and judicious. 
 
 STIFLING THE COCOON OR CHRYSALIDE. 
 
 Were it convenient to reel the silk from the cocoon imme- 
 mediately after it is spun, it would be the best possible mode ; 
 but where it is not convenient, the insect contained in the 
 cocoon must be stifled within about ten days after the cocoon 
 is completed, otherwise it will perforate the cocoon, which 
 would thus be rendered of little value. 
 
 In many climates the power of the solar rays is found to be 
 sufficient to destroy the chrysalide in the cocoon. This is an 
 excellent mode, and is found effectual in India, in Italy, and in 
 America. In 1838 as far north as Burlington, Vt, it has been 
 tried by Mr. Stacy with the most perfect success. The cocoons 
 are exposed fully to the scorching rays of the sun in a cloud- 
 less day from 10 o'clock in the morning till 4 in the afternoon, 
 when they are to be closely wrapped in dark cloths which 
 have undergone a like exposure to the sun's intense heat. 
 Thus exposed during three days, to a degree of heat equal in 
 the sun to 88°, their destruction becomes effectual, as may be 
 ascertained on trial. Cut open a cocoon and prick the chrysa- 
 lide with a needle; if living, it will then show signs of life. 
 There may be no better mode, and cocoons thus managed, will 
 appear remarkably bright and fine. 
 
Art or Silk Culture. IIB 
 
 In more temperate climates, or in some parts of France, 
 ovens are used for destroying the insect. The cocoons are 
 placed in oblong, shallow baskets covered with paper, and 
 over this a cloth, and these are placed in an oven, the heat of 
 which should be very Jiearly that of the oven after the bread 
 is drawn. Thus wrapped up and exposed during half an hour 
 or an hour, the chrysalides taken from the centre of the basket 
 will be found dead. On removal from the basket, they are 
 covered closely with blankets for a few hours, and then dried 
 in the sun. Steam of boiling water is a mode of destroying 
 equally effectual. Boiling water is poured into a large wooden 
 trough or vessel to the depth of two feet. Over this the 
 cocoons are placed in a basket of the same form and size : 
 this is covered close with woolen cloths, and the basket is 
 lowered to within an inch of the surface, that the steam may 
 pervade the whole mass — new quantities of boiling water 
 being added to keep up the steam, in two hours the chrysa- 
 lides will be found dead. The cocoons are then removed and 
 covered close with woolen cloths, and afterwards spread in the 
 sun to dry, 189° to 200° is the heat usually prescribed for 
 killing the chrysalides, either in the oven or by steam. 
 
 Stifling by steam, observes M. Amans Carrier, injures the 
 lustre, particularly of the white silk. And Monsieur Baume, 
 the celebrated chemist, has also remarked, that in the modes 
 usually adopted for the destruction of the chrysalides, the 
 cocoons were rendered harder, and more difficult to reel than 
 where no artificial heat had been applied ; and that the lustre 
 is also injured in the process o( baking. His mode consisted 
 in placing the cocoons in large boxes, in layers six inches 
 deep ; on these .spirits of wine were sprinkled from a watering 
 pot, and equally distributed over the whole cocoons, in the 
 proportion of half a pint to every superficial foot of surface. 
 On these another layer six inches deep was placed, and a like 
 proportion of spirits of wine distributed over the whole ; and 
 
116 Instruction Book in the 
 
 so continuing till the box was filled. All being covered dur- 
 ing 24 hours, a spontaneous heat ensues, which is sufficient to 
 evaporate the spirit, which penetrates the cocoon with power 
 to destroy the chrysalides ; the cocoons are afterwards spread 
 to dry, and are then ready for reeling, with no aid from hot 
 water. M. Beaume states that silk thus managed, not only 
 exhibits a greater degree of lustre, but that the proportion of 
 the silk reeled will be one ninth part greater than when the 
 cocoons have been subjected to the heat of an oven. 
 
 By enclosing the cocoons in tin boxes, and, after sprinkling 
 with spirits of wine, closing up the box and placing it in the 
 sun, the chrysalides are in like manner speedily destroyed. Or, 
 by closing them in a large wooden box, with a few small per- 
 forations in the top, and admitting at the bottom the steam of 
 boiling whiskey or New England rum, the same effect is pro- 
 duced. Camphorated spirits are still more powerful and effec- 
 tual. When these are used, the boxes containing the cocoons 
 should be closed for a time, and placed near the fire ; such co- 
 coons are ever after secure from the attacks of moths. 
 
 The reeling should commence as soon as the first cocoons 
 are completed, and should continue uninterrupted. These co- 
 coons which become spotted in destroying the chrysalides, 
 must be separated. and reeled immediately. 
 
 By whatever process the chrysalides have been destroyed, 
 it will be necessary to dry them thoroughly, either in the sun, 
 or in rooms expressly appropriated to this use, which are 
 called cocoonieres, and may be provided with a stove. These 
 rooms are provided with shelves placed in tiers two feet asun- 
 der, and formed of laths. The legs of the supporters and the 
 whole being insulated and secure from rats and mice, which 
 are immoderately fond of the chrysalides. Air is continually 
 admitted, and the cocoons which are spread to the depth of a 
 few inches, are continually watched and turned every day, till 
 dry. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 117 
 
 TRANSPORTING COCOONS. 
 
 Cocoons when sent to market, or to the filatures at a dis- 
 tance for reeling, must be put up with a suitable degree of care. 
 Particular attention is necessary in handling and packing, that 
 they be not dented or flattened, as this would be highly inju- 
 rious. The cocoons when perfectly dry, are to be packed in 
 tight and perfectly dry boxes, or barrels, and sufficiently 
 pressed down to prevent chafing, but not so hard as to alter 
 their form. Thus managed they may be safely transported to 
 any distance by water or by land. Pierced cocoons can be 
 closely packed, without detriment to the cocoons. 
 
 REELING. 
 
 In silk countries, an establishment for reeling is called a fila- 
 ture, and the winding of the cocoons is generally conducted 
 as a separate business, distinct from that of raising silk worms, 
 and the silken balls become an article of traffic, as soon as the 
 chrysalide within has been destroyed. 
 
 Everythhig, it is claimed, depends on reeling. So important, 
 indeed, is this branch considered, that an essential portion of 
 the profit depends on it being properly performed. If the 
 reeling has been but indifferently performed, the silk may not 
 sell for more than four dollars a pound, but if well reeled and 
 skillfully executed, it may bring from six to seven dollars, 
 possibly more, according to the demand at the time ; and it is 
 stated by Count Dandolo, as a well known fact, that of two 
 reelers, each reeling- seven and a half pounds of cocoons of 
 the same quality, while one will be able to obtain but six or 
 six and a half ounces, another will obtain eight ounces. 
 
 The filaments of the cocoon are cemented together by a 
 gum ; to dissolve this gum requires the aid of hot water. This 
 
118 Instruction Book in the 
 
 gum is very important, and is not separated till the silk is 
 twisted into tram or organzine ; the gum serves to unite and 
 combine the individual fibres while winding, and as a cement 
 uniting the ends of the continuous thread which is formed by 
 the continual additions of new filaments to replace those of 
 the exhausted cocoons. It is important also, that the reel 
 should be moved with a suitable degree of speed, that the fila- 
 ment may unite while warm and adhesive. Also, it is an 
 essential requisite to the production of good silk, that before 
 the silk touches the bars of the reel, it should have lost by 
 drying and by cooling, a good part of this adhesive quality. 
 For this reason, the reelers of Piedmont are obliged by law to 
 allow the distance of thirty-eight French inches between the 
 guides and the centre of the reel. This, and the slowly-traver- 
 sing movement of the layer which winds spirally over the 
 reel, backwards and forwards, and the circulation of the air, 
 caused by the motions of the reel, dries the gum sufficiently 
 to prevent the adhesion of the threads. 
 
 Whoever would acquire the art of reeling silk, must first of 
 all be provided with an appropriate and well constructed silk 
 reel. Such an one may be either purchased or made at a trif- 
 ling expense. 
 
 The use of the reel requires a dexterity which is easily 
 acquired by practice. The cocoons being cleared of floss, are 
 thrown by handfuls into basins of pure soft water, placed over 
 small furnaces of charcoal fires. There is a certain kind of 
 kerosene furnace which can also be used, but care must be 
 observed not to soil the silk with smoke from the oil heater. 
 The city gas can be used, but as this is not accessible in the 
 country, any simple mode of hot water application can be 
 made with water boiled on a stove, yet uniformity of heat 
 must be kept up to facilitate the reeling of the cocoons. 
 When the water is almost at boiling point, sink the cocoons, 
 with a whisk of broom corn, under water for two or three 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 119 
 
 minutes, to soften the gum and loosen the fibre. Then moving 
 the whisk very lightly and softly, the filaments will adhere to 
 it, and may be drawn up till the flossy silk is unwound, and 
 the fine silk comes off. When a sufficient number of the fila- 
 ments are collected to form the thread, it is passed through 
 one of the holes of the iron or glass plate connected with the 
 guide and traversing bar, and tied to one of the bars of the 
 reel, and the reeling begins. 
 
 If the cocoons bound upwards, out of the water, it shows 
 that the gum is not sufficiently softened ; the reel must be 
 slacked, and hot water added, or its temperature increased : 
 but if the silk comes off in lumps of burs, this shows that the 
 silk is yielded from the cocoon faster than it can be received 
 on the reel, and that the water is therefore too hot ; cold wa- 
 ter is added, and the motions of the reel are quickened. 
 
 Each reel carries two or four compound threads, and it has 
 been recommended that the second thread be wound two or 
 three times round the other thread, previous to being passed 
 through its guide, and secured to the reel ; this crossing and 
 friction makes a rounder and smoother thread. 
 
 Stir the cocoons very lightly ; if struck roughly, the silk 
 comes off in burs, which will rise up to the guides, and ob- 
 struct the reel, instead of coming off singly. When a greater 
 number of filaments are taken up by the whisk than are re- 
 quired, they are suffered to remain on it till wanted, a hook 
 being provided on the reel to which it may be hung when not 
 in use. 
 
 The cocoons are put in as fast as wanted, but no faster ; for 
 if they remain too long in hot water, the gum, by being too 
 far dissolved, causes the silk to come off unequally. 
 
 The filaments as they are wanted, are lightly thrown upon 
 the thread that is winding, and being gently rolled with the 
 thumb and finger, a union is effected. The skin of the fingers 
 should be smooth, or made so by rubbing with sand paper. 
 
120 Instruction Book In the 
 
 It is of some importance that the water employed for reel- 
 ing, should be what is usually called soft water, as this more 
 readily dissolves the gum, and prevents the breaking of the 
 filaments. It should be either rain water, water from slow 
 streams or from ponds. 
 
 If the water be too hot, the lustre of the silk will be injured, 
 particularly of the white silk ; so says M. Benezech in his in- 
 structions to M. Amans Carrier. Nay more ; if the water be 
 too hot, the thread will prove dead^^s, it is technically termed, 
 and without firmness. Therefore the proper temperature of 
 the water is not of more consequence to the facility of the 
 reeling, than to the good quality of the silk. But should the 
 heat of the water be deficient, the ends of the filaments will 
 not be well joined, and the silk will be harsh. 
 
 Sometimes the whole thread is broken, by knobs obstruct- 
 ing its passage through the guides, or by an irregular and 
 jerking movement of the reel. But in this case the silk must 
 never be joined by a knot, it is sufficient that the parts be 
 brought together, and united by slightly twisting. 
 
 Silk may be wound of any size, but it is difficult to unite 
 more than thirty filaments in one thread. The art consists in 
 preserving as even thread ; a thing only to be attained by 
 practice, since in the same cocoon the fibres diminish, grow- 
 ing continually finer to the end ; and the united thread which 
 is formed of three new and two half-wound cocoons, is con- 
 sidered equal to the silk of four cocoons. With the exception 
 of the silk formed of two cocoons, other silks are not dis 
 tinguished, other than as silk of three to four, or four to five, 
 or five to six cocoons. Those of larger size are not so nicely 
 defined, and are called from twelve to fifteen, or from fifteen 
 to twenty cocoons. The quality of silk thread most desirable 
 in the silk market, is that composed of five cocoons, care 
 being taken to keep it uniform, by adding new cocoons when 
 one is exhausted. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 121 
 
 Whether twenty cocoons are united to form one single 
 thread, or whether the same number of filaments are employed 
 in the production of four skeins, provided both are wound with 
 an equally even thread, the amount of labor is about the same 
 in both cases. 
 
 The weight of silk which can be reeled in any stated time, 
 depends on the activity of the reeler : there is a degree of 
 dexterity required in adding fresh ends, for broken or ex- 
 pended cocoons, which can only be acquired hy practice. Yet 
 there are very few reelers who are capable of giving the re- 
 quisite attention to more than three or four skeins at the same 
 moment of time. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 123 
 
 THE NEW SILK REEL. 
 
 The cut on opposite page represents a reel manufactured for 
 the Women's Silk Culture Association. It is a beautiful 
 piece of machinery, made of metal, and running smoothly, 
 turned by hand. This can be done by a child of ten years. 
 
 This reel can be bought without the copper pan, 
 
 for ;?5o oo 
 
 With the copper pan and copper table, tinned over, 65 00 
 
 With tin pan, copper bottom, and zinc table, . 58 00 
 
 Extra reel or wheel, 12 00 
 
 The Association have now on exhibition a wooden 
 reel, much less expensive than the above, and 
 which does admirable work ; which can be 
 sold complete for* . . . . . 20 00 
 
 Five cocoons makes the average commercial thread, and a 
 good reeler can reel half a pound a day. 
 
 ■ This reel will be run at the Louisville (Ky.) Exposition, opening Sept. s, 18S2. 
 
124 Instruction Book in the 
 
 DIFFERENT QUALITIES OF COCOONS. 
 
 The cocoons, designed for producing silk are divided by 
 culturists into different qualities. Much more silk may thus 
 be reeled in a day, if the cocoons are properly classed. The 
 breaking of the single filaments arises from the use of ill 
 formed or ill assorted cocoons, which require different degrees 
 of temperature in the water into which they are immersed to 
 dissolve the gum with which they are cemented in the ball. 
 
 Previous to reeling, the outer floss is separated. This i^ 
 expeditiously performed by opening the floss at one end, 
 when the hard, compact cocoon is readily protruded. 
 
 Cocoons are classed as follows : — 
 
 1. Good Cocoons. These are firm, free from spots, both 
 ends round, and capable of resisting the pressure of the thumb 
 and finger. These are again subdivided, and the pure white 
 are separated from the yellow of every shade. These last are 
 indebted for their greater weight and yellow color wholly to 
 the excess of gum which they contain. Pale cocoons preserve 
 a better and purer white, and take a better pale blue dye. 
 
 2. Pointed Cocoons. These approach to a point at one ex- 
 tremity : they afford but little silk, and, after being partly 
 wound, the filament breaks continually at the point, where the 
 thread is always weak, and they can be reeled no further. 
 
 3. Cocalons. These are larger in size than cocoons of the 
 first quality, but contain no more silk, being less compact in 
 their texture. These are separated in reeling from other good 
 qualities, because they require immersion in colder water ; 
 the fibres being more easily disengaged from the gummy 
 cement. By expert reeling, they produce silk of the first 
 quality. 
 
 4. Dupions or Double Cocoons. These usually amount to 
 not more than a hundredth part of the whole. These are 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 128 
 
 reeled by skilful reelers, in water boiling hot, and usually 
 without difficulty. These being formed by the united labors 
 of two silkworms, many of them are so intertwined that they 
 break frequently in reeling, and sometimes they cannot be 
 wound at all. The floss must be carefully separated, also any 
 loose silk which may accumulate on the reel. The silk which 
 these afford is not so fine as that of the perfect cocoon, but it 
 serves to form sewing silk of the second quality. 
 
 5. Soufflons. These are very imperfect cocoons, the texture 
 loose, even to a degree so great as to be transparent. These 
 can never be wound, but by a particular process they are con- 
 verted into fleuret* 
 
 6. Perforated Cocoons. These are the cocoons from whence 
 the miller has escaped and are never reeled. Rev. Mr. 
 Swayne was the first to discover that not a filament is broken 
 but rather entangled. He has proved that half of them may 
 be reeled. Yet it is doubtful whether it will ever be done to 
 profit*. 
 
 7. Good Choquettes. — :These are unfinished cocoons, or those 
 in which the insect dies before the completion of their labor. 
 On being shaken, the chrysalide is not heard to rattle, as it 
 adheres to the side. The silk is as fine as that of the first 
 quality, but it is not so strong nor so brilliant. They are 
 liable to furze in winding, and must therefore be wound sepa- 
 rately. 
 
 8. Bad Choquettes. These cocoons are defective or spotted : 
 the silk which they afford is foul or bad, of a blackish color. 
 
 9. Calcined Cocoons. These cocoons are so highly esteemed, 
 that in Piedmont they sell for half as much again as other 
 good cocoons ; but large parcels are rarely to be obtained. 
 
 * Macerated floss, made by removing the chrysalis and passing through hot potash baths, 
 well rinsed in fresh water and dried ; then passed through a macerating process, until all be- 
 comes a mass of soft silk floss, like fine wool. Machinery is the best agent, but it can also be 
 done, when the quantity is not too large, by any individual. 
 
126 Instruction Book in the 
 
 In these, the silkworm, after having completed its labor, is 
 seized with a peculiar disease, and becomes either petrified or 
 reduced to a white powder. They are known by a peculiar 
 rattling noise when shaken. The quality of the silk is equally 
 excellent, and the quantity even greater than that produced 
 by the healthy silkworms. 
 
 In reeling good cocoons, a thread composed of hMtfive or six 
 fibres, is said by M. Benezech to be preferred to one composed 
 of eight. Good choquettes are seldom wound finer than from 
 seven to eight cocoons at a time. Dupions, for ordinary sew- 
 ing silk, are wound fifteen to twenty filaments to a single 
 thread. Bad choquettes are usually wound from fifteen to 
 twenty filaments to the thread. These, and other inferior 
 cocoons, which are wound forty or fifty fibres at once, form a 
 thread for the filling of coarse fabrics, or for sewing silk of 
 coarser quality. 
 
 The water in which dupions and choquettes are wound, 
 must be changed four times a day. But it is deemed sufficient 
 that the water be renewed but twice a day, when good cocoons 
 are reeled. Yet if the water is suffered to become foul, it 
 injures the lustre and fine gloss of the silk. 
 
 In Cevennes, a district of France, famous for the excellence 
 of its silk, the cocoons are not entirely wound off; as the 
 latter part of the cocoon being exceedingly fine, and abound- 
 ing with knots, is liable to break. Therefore, in reeling fine 
 silk, when seven-eighths of the silk is wound off, the cocoon 
 is thrown aside and replaced by another. 
 
 These pellicles are occassionally taken out with a ladle and 
 opened, and the chrysalide separated and thrown aside with 
 that which was separated in the beginning, as of inferior 
 quality ; for these partly finished cocoons must on no account 
 be permitted to remain in the basins, as they would thicken 
 the water, and injure the color and the lustre of the silk. 
 rendering it fit only for receiving the dark colors. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 127 
 
 As to the cocoons which can never be reeled, the soufflons 
 are boiled half a hour; the pierced cocoons which produce 
 the best silk, are boiled longer. These are first dried, and 
 then pounded to separate them from their chrysalides, which 
 are reduced to powder. They are then opened by drawing 
 them out at arm's length, and placed on the distaff and spun. 
 The silk thus produced is called fleuret. But if after boiling 
 and drying, and beating, the cocoons are carded, the flouret 
 will be more bright and beautiful, and command a higher 
 price, owing to the greater waste of materials, and the far 
 greater amount of labor. 
 
 In every large establishment there should be supernumerary 
 reels, to be detached from the reeling apparatus. When the 
 suitable quantity has been wound on the reel, it is to be 
 rubbed gently with a handful of clean coarse silk which has 
 been dipped first in cold water and gently squeezed ; it is 
 afterwards rubbed gently and smooth with the palm of the 
 hand. Then opening the windows, turn the reel with the 
 greatest possible velocity for about ten minutes, which will 
 effectually dry the silk. This plan is resorted to only in large 
 filatures. 
 
 Disbanding the Reel. 
 
 The individual fibres, of which the silken thread is com- 
 posed, will unavoidably suffer different degrees of tension 
 during the process of reeling. This may arise from the in- 
 equality of the size of the filaments, or from their being un- 
 equally steeped in the water or from other causes. The fibres 
 thus unequally stretched while wet, would be liable to con- 
 tract, unequally, thus destroying the union and diminishing 
 the strength of the compound thread. 
 
 To prevent such an occurrence, the skein must remain on 
 the reel for six or eight hours, until the fibres are all firmly 
 united in one compact thread. Those fibres which have 
 suffered less strain in reeling, and those which have suffered 
 
128 Instruction Book. 
 
 a greater strain, will be brought to an equal length by the 
 prolonged and forcible state of union which they undergo in 
 the process of drying and shrinking on the reel. This drying 
 must be effected in an airy place, but not in the sun. 
 
 When the skein is dry, tie a mark to the end of the thread 
 which might otherwise be lost in the skein, and become ex- 
 tremely difficult to find. First squeeze it together gently on 
 the bars all around which will loosen it ; then with a string 
 of refuse silk, tie it on the place which bore on the bars of the 
 reel ; then carefully slide it from the reel and make another 
 tie on the opposite end of the skein. After this it is doubled, 
 and tied near each extremity, and laid by, for sale or for use, 
 in a dry place. 
 
 The value of silk when ready for sale depends on the ab- 
 sence of knobs and of knots which occasion it to be called 
 foul. To judge if silk be clean, or free from imperfections, is 
 an art very easily attained. It is only necessary to stand with 
 your back to the window, and to open the skein, and looking 
 down in the direction of the light, any foulness which may 
 exist, is readily perceived by the practised eye. But the fine- 
 ness of the thread is determined by a certain known ad- 
 measurement of the circumference of the reel and skein, the 
 number of threads, and the weight. A given number, usually 
 a skein of 400 revolutions, is removed from the reel and ac- 
 curately weighed. 
 
PART V. 
 
 SYRIAN SILK CULTURE, 
 
 From the pen of J. Barton Hay, late Consul General in Syria. 
 
 EARLY in the month of February the leaves of the Leba- 
 non Mulberry put forth, and the mites of silk worms 
 issue by thousands from the eggs, and are immediately placed 
 in small, round flat baskets covered with clay, where they are 
 forthwith supplied with the tender leaves. Day by day the 
 leaf increases in size, so the silk worms rapidly grow in propor- 
 tion, till from almost being invisible mites, and then the size of 
 ants, in the course of a week they attain to nearly half an inch 
 in length, and have to be transferred to baskets double the 
 size of the first ones. Meanwhile the peasant and his wife have 
 had no sinecures. While the former has been busy in remedy- 
 ing what damages the khooks may have received during the 
 winter, the latter aided by her children, has gathered at inter- 
 vals the necessary supply of food for the worms ; being careful 
 first that the leaves should be perfectly dry, because one drop 
 of dew amongst the leaves would be fatal to a whole basketful 
 of worms. The khooks referred to, are long, narrow, slight 
 structures of twigs and leaves intertwined, and supported at 
 intervals by stout stems of old, useless mulberry trees ; while 
 the roofing is composed of thick layers of rushes, so plentiful 
 in the marshy lands, which are impervious to rain ; for, on the 
 9 
 
ISO Instruction Book in the 
 
 one hand, whilst the worms must be effectually protected from 
 rain or dews, on the other hand, they require a free circulation 
 of air, a point which is attained by the net-work structure of 
 the sides of the khook. The interior consists of a number of 
 shelves on either side, which are made of a species of slit-reed 
 mat-work, and rise one above another in tiers from three 
 to four, according to the size of the khook, the lowest being at 
 least two feet from the floor, and the uppermost about a foot 
 from the roof These shelves are called batoors, and accord- 
 ing to their number is reckoned the wealth of the proprietor, 
 and the quantity of silk they will produce ; thus, in speaking 
 of any particular mulberry plantation the natives, in bargain- 
 ing, regulate the worth by saying : "Oh, it has only so many 
 batoors, and can therefore only produce such a number of 
 rotolos of silk ; the rotolo being equivalent to five and a half 
 pounds English. 
 
 To the khooks, after the expiration of two weeks or so, the 
 worms are removed and spread upon the batoors, above alluded 
 to, which have been carefully and thickly lined with mulberry 
 leaves, to prevent the worms from falling through. Soon after 
 this final transfer of the worm, begins that strange phenome- 
 non of apparent utter lifelessness, which lasts for forty-eight 
 hours, during which interval the creature is changing its first 
 skin, having outgrown its India-rubber capacities. The natives 
 call this the first soanie, or fast. During the soames which are 
 three in number, at intervals of about a fortnight each, the 
 worms require no food. As they approach maturity, the appe- 
 tite becomes prodigious, and early and late has the peasant to 
 labor, lopping down huge branches of the mulberries, till what 
 was a verdant and beautiful plantation becomes a wilderness 
 of leafless branches. But so congenial is the climate and so 
 fertile the soil, that in less than a month afterwards, fresh 
 sprouts are covered with tender leaves, so that in autumn so 
 thick is the foliage, so stout the branches, that the stranger 
 
Art of Silk Culture. ISl 
 
 would never guess how recently they had been lopped. When 
 the first leaves of winter fall, then are the trees again denuded 
 of their foliage. This time, however, the branches are spared, 
 and the leaves gathered by hand, and stored up against winter, 
 when with the manure of the worms, they serve as fodder for 
 the oxen, which would otherwise starve. The branches 
 lopped off at first form a plentiful supply of firewood for the 
 peasant's family. 
 
 The third or last soame, or fast, is the signal for the peasant 
 to procure as much brushwood as he can, which, when dried 
 in the sun, he throws lightly upon the batoors, or shelves. 
 During this interval, the worms have become of a transparent 
 golden color, and the moment they wake up again for the first 
 time in their lives assume a migratory disposition. They se- 
 lect a fitting spot amongst the twigs for their cocoons. And 
 now, whilst the little industrious worms are hard at work 
 weaving, the peasants are not one whit less busy preparing for 
 them a cruel death. 
 
 Huge wheels, which have been hidden for the last twelve 
 months, are brought to light again and brushed up, the reser- 
 voir of water fresh lined with clay, and the whole apparatus 
 set up against the first day of reeling. One peasant turns the 
 wheel ; another feeds it with the worms ; another stirs up the 
 worms being reeled with something like a schoolmaster's 
 birch-rod ; a fourth feeds the fire ; a fifth supplies the basin 
 with water as it becomes exhausted ; a sixth renovates the 
 basket with fresh cocoons ; whilst near by, seated on a mat, 
 are two or three occupied in picking the stuff from off the out- 
 side of the cocoons, and this material is known as cotton-silk or 
 floss. They labor hard and long, but with good-will; during 
 the first week after the cocoons are formed, since they obtain 
 30 per cent, more silk now than they will after that date, because 
 then the cocoons have to be stifled to prevent the moths — into 
 which they are rapidly being converted — boring through the 
 
IPS Instruction Book in the 
 
 cocoons, and so rendering them utterly valueless and un- 
 available.* 
 
 The process of stifling is with the cocoon as simple a's the 
 process of reeling. Spread out upon mats, the cocoons are 
 exposed to the fierce heat of the mid-day sun for a day or two, 
 being carefully turned at intervals during the process, and this 
 answers quite as well as the ovens so indispensable in less 
 congenial climes where the silk worm is reared. After this 
 process, the silk-reelers take it more easily. They know now 
 that were they to work ever so hard, they cannot abstract one 
 thread more of silk from the suffocated cocoons, and there is 
 no fear of the moths boring their way through. Day by day the 
 scene becomes more picturesque, as golden festoons of newly 
 reeled silk are suspended from branch to branch to dry, and 
 set off the beautiful foliage of the orange and lemon trees. By 
 this method of reeling, they are supposed to obtain o?ie pound 
 of silk from evejy Jive and a half pounds of live cocooiis, and 
 just half that amount from those that have been stifled. 
 
 Of late years improvements have been made in the quantity 
 and quality of Syrian silk, by the erection of European fac- 
 tories, and introduction of steam for motive power in them. 
 
 The cocoons left for seed, are perforated by the beautiful, 
 short lived, white, velvety-looking moths, into which the silk- 
 worm has been converted. The females deposit on linen 
 spread for them, an incredible amount of eggs, which constitute 
 the peasant's supply of seed for the next season. 
 
 When these are perfectly dry, they are carefully scraped off 
 into a linen bag, and suspended from the ceiling of the 
 peasant's hut, where they remain undisturbed for a twelve- 
 month to come. 
 
 March, 1882. 
 
 *This plan is pursued when the reeling is done very hurriedly, or immediately after the 
 cocoon is perfectly formed, and before it is stifled. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 138 
 
 The following letter is from Mr. Werner Itschner, of Phila- 
 delphia, an extensive manufacturer of ribbon and silk goods, 
 and who was one of the judges for the awarding of the 
 Strawbridge & Clothier premiums ; and at our solicitation he 
 gives his views of the chief points to be observed in rearing 
 good cocoons : — 
 
 Philadelphia, February 7, 1882. 
 
 To THE Women's Silk Culture Association. 
 
 Your request, that I should make a few remarks about the 
 testing of the cocoons may be best answered, by the following 
 statement : — 
 
 It is generally understood that the worms take a great deal 
 oi room, attention, cleajiing and feeding. It will naturally be 
 necessary to find the kind of cocoon that gives the most silk, 
 p7'ovided the. article obtained is of a good marketable quality, 
 by which I mean than it has proper strength for working the 
 thread, and good uniform color and lustre. 
 
 We, as judges, have therefore given the first three premiums 
 to the cocoons of which the smallest number have given the 
 largest amount of silk, and the very first premium we have 
 awarded to the cocoons, amongst these three, which have at 
 the same time given the strongest, cleanest, and most valua- 
 ble silk for commerce, and we hope the producer of these 
 cocoons has the chance of getting the seed again for himself 
 and others, and I would also advise the ladies of the Associa- 
 tion to publish for the benefit of the others, the observations 
 which can be obtained from the producer of the best cocoons, 
 because the good result may have not depended on the quality 
 of the seed alone, but may have been owing to the way of 
 feeding, and to other details in taking care of the worms. 
 
 Most of the silk obtained from the twenty-six lots of co- 
 coons, I have found to be beautiful, but rather fine in size for 
 reeling, say 25,500 yards to the ounce, which is hard to work 
 
1S4 Instruction Book in the 
 
 up. This condition arose from the thread coming from too 
 few cocoons in the reeling — probably three or four instead of 
 five or six. Five cocoons is considered in reeling to make 
 the most desirable thread for commerce. 
 
 The cocoons to which the second premium is awarded 
 come so very near to those of the first premium, that nothing 
 more need be said of this lot except that the observations 
 obtained from this producer may also be profitably used again. 
 
 The third premium was awarded to cocoons raised partly 
 from Osage orange leaves* They are of small size, but have 
 given a very extraordinary amount of good silk from the four 
 ounces of cocoons reeled up, and this way of feeding is to be 
 regarded of great consequence in this country where the 
 Osage is so abundant. 
 
 I, however, would not encourage feeding 07tly on Osage, 
 because I doubt if the silk would be as good. 
 
 The other awards and honorable mentions were given to the 
 next best cocoons, taking always into consideration the result 
 in weight of silk, and the quality of the silk obtained, but I 
 must say that, with the exception of only two or three lots, 
 there was no bad silk. 
 
 There were some very lai'ge cocoons which contained almost 
 no silk, which may have been the result of poor feeding. The 
 necessity of feeding the worms with as much as they can eat, 
 which alone gives them power to produce silk, may in these 
 cases,' not have been well enough known. 
 
 It is not enough to keep the worms only alive. 
 
 It is easy to see that it must be more profitable to get one- 
 and-a-half ounces of silk out of 150 cocoons, than to get the 
 same amount of silk out of 300 cocoons, or even 'only one 
 ounce of silk out of 350 cocons, of which we had some cases. 
 This can be done only by &vi\^\oy'w\g first good seed, second by 
 
 * This same gentleman wove for the Association, twenty yards of scarlet ribbon from six and 
 a half ounces of Osage orange cocoons, having from this amount y% oz. waste. 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 133 
 
 great attention to the comfort of the worm, and by giving him 
 all the leaves he can eat, because the worm is short lived, and 
 must make a very long thread out of the food furnished to 
 him. 
 
 If he only gets enough to live on he will only leave behind 
 him an empty shell, in place of a cocoon full of silk. 
 
 The test which was made by taking one quarter of each 
 pound of cocoons, and having this quarter pound reeled — 
 counting the cocoons — giving very carefully the amount of 
 silk obtained is a very excellent one. Another year it would 
 be still further improved by having these skeins reeled off and 
 made into yarn, and having them dyed all into one uniform 
 color, and have premiums awarded to those that prove the 
 best in all the processes. All this can be done here in Phila- 
 delphia. Respectfully, 
 
 Werner Itschner, 
 
 The thanks of the Association are due to Mr. Itschner for 
 this valuable letter, which puts in a plain, business-like man- 
 ner, a {Q'ff facts useful to silk culturists, and shows the need 
 of careful attention to the prominent points of good seed, 
 cleanliness and free feeding, with the right kind of food, which 
 is mulberry. Osage orange will do for experiments, may 
 entirely do for silk of commerce, but when food must be 
 planted we urge the mulberry. 
 
136 Instruction Book in the 
 
 Letter from one of the Ladies who received a Premium 
 AT THE Silk Exhibit of 1882. 
 
 Camden, February 20, 1882. 
 
 To the Women's Silk Culture Association of the United 
 States, in Philadelphia. 
 
 Agreeable to your request and my promise, I will give you 
 a few items from my observation of many years experience in 
 raising silk worms. First. I base the quantity and quality of 
 silk produced upon the quantity and quality of food from the 
 hatching to the spinning. The selection of the best tender 
 leaves during the first ten days or till after the second moult, is 
 of great importance ; even though it may be when the tree 
 first puts forth its leaves, there is a choice of leaves for the in- 
 fa nt worms. After the second moult, the worms are able to eat 
 leaves a little thicker and each day shows their ability for 
 stronger food. After the last moult, use the thickest and best 
 leaves the tree produces. If the leaves are very thick, and in 
 picking show a rich, milky juice, they are the very best for 
 the last week's feeding for quality and quantity of silk. From 
 the hatching to the spinning give them all they can eat, feed- 
 ing them early in the morning and through the day as often 
 as they consume the food, and as late as ten o'clock evening, 
 observing the days of moulting when they require little, as di- 
 rected in C. V. Riley's book, at the Agricultural Department 
 at Washington. 
 
 Never use wet leaves, if the leaves are dusty they should be 
 wiped with a soft cloth. Wilted leaves will not produce much 
 silk. I usually gather leaves for the day in the morning, while 
 they are cool from the night atmosphere and find them to keep 
 fresh in the cellar through the day ; at sunset gather for the 
 morning feed, never had any inconvenience from dew, (perhaps 
 low, bushy trees might have dew on them.) Morning and 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 1S7 
 
 evening is the most available time to have farm-help to assist 
 in gathering leaves, and we always practiced this way with a 
 good result. Temperature for worms requires attention, and 
 a thermometer is the standard test and a regulator for persons 
 inexperienced. Temperature as noted in C. V. Riley's book, 
 probably is correct. I think if carried out fully, would be 
 practical (I have never used a thermometer for this purpose.) 
 
 Worms need air in the room, but avoid a draft on them, 
 especially when small. 
 
 For convenience I have found it a good way to place the 
 worms just hatched in open paper boxes, about two inches 
 high, this rather protects them from a draft of air ; they may 
 be kept till two weeks old in this way in the sitting-room, 
 where they will be little trouble and pretty sure to have atten- 
 tion. To keep each day's hatching separate is well suggested 
 by C. V. Riley , . . Choking cocoons. The steam pro- 
 cess I have not tested ; should think it good. 
 
 I put mine in paper boxes, about three layers of cocoons, 
 and set them in the oven on slats of wood, the slats prevent 
 the heat from scorching the cocoons ; watching carefully not 
 to have them overheated from the top, in fifteen or twenty 
 minutes removed them, as all sound and motion ceased and 
 life extinct, then spread them in a room for the dead chrysalis 
 to dry, great care that ants do not get to them as they will 
 pierce the cocoon. 
 
 If the cocoon remains a long time in an oven, the silk dries 
 together and does not reel freely. This method requires 
 thought and judgment as to the heat and time to destroy life, 
 and no positive rule can be given. While by steaming it may 
 be easier to follow a prescribed direction. Forty years ago it 
 was the practice to reel as soon as the cocoons were completed. 
 Reason given ; they reel more freely before they dry. But, 
 if any had to be choked it was done by putting them in the 
 sun in tin pans, upon a scaffold against the south side of a 
 
138 Instruction Book. 
 
 building, where they received great concentrated heat from 
 nine o'clock A. M. till three P. M., and this generally was 
 sufficient. Of course, they were spread thin and stirred occa- 
 sionally and a still day, was desirable. 
 
 Reproduction of eggs. We always select the firmest, best 
 color, finest looking silk, and every way the best cocoons. 
 Yours Respectfully, 
 
 Mrs. H. M. Button. 
 Camden, March 1882. 
 
CONCLUSION. 
 
 In closing this revised edition of the Book of Instruction in 
 Silk Culture, we appeal to the public for their kind considera- 
 tion in behalf of its imperfections. Our desire has been to 
 give various, plain, simple processes for the use of the people, 
 unvarnished by sentimentalisms and technicalities, or compli- 
 cated by foreign expressions and botanical terms, so frequently 
 occurring in the books of instruction copied from foreign 
 authors. We hope it may convey the plain, simple facts, re- 
 quired to give aid to intelligent minds, and to help the simple 
 folk into intelligent comprehension of vi^hat they must do, to 
 carry on successfully this most interesting and instructive 
 home industry. We desire to guard the people against any 
 false statements, of profit and gain, as well as against the 
 fallacy of silk culture as a city industry. Reeling silk may 
 eventually become so, yet it is desirable that reeling shall con- 
 stitute the winter work of this home industry in the country. 
 True, it is urged, that reeling should be done, while the co- 
 coons dixe fresh, (immediately after the cocoons are formed), 
 and thus avoid the process of choking or killing the chrysalis ; 
 this can be done, when hurredly packed and sent to the steam 
 filature, or reeling mills, but as no such establishments exist 
 as yet in our country, we recommend the home reeling. From 
 the agent of the largest Chinese silk house, in New York, we 
 have been assured, that hand-reeled silk is preferred for the 
 highest grades of manufacture, Ti7ne will be required to 
 perfect this part of the industry, as in every new undertaking 
 of an industrial character. Patience will be needed, but 
 
140 Instruction Book in the 
 
 we earnestly urge silk reeling at home. We would invite 
 agricultural schools to teach a process of silk reeling, that the 
 young may learn this delicate, but easily taught branch of 
 silk culture. It could hardly be expected that a few women, 
 even if bent on a benevolent project, could attempt to teach 
 silk reeling throughout the States. It would require much 
 outlay in the Association, and expenditure by those living at 
 a distance in travelling expenses ; the true place to propagate 
 this branch of the industry, is in our technical and agricul- 
 tural schools and colleges. We are supported (and illy) by 
 voluntary contributions, have feeble means, but have demon- 
 strated the facts of the case fully — have put before the public 
 a .simple reel — which, can be ordered through the Association, 
 either of metal or wood, at prices within the reach of families. 
 The Metal reel is a neat, attractive piece of machinery, as 
 per illustration on page 122, and can be sold for — 
 
 Plain Reel, without pan ^50 oo 
 
 " " with copper pan and table, . . . 65 00 
 
 " " " tin pan and table, . . ' . . 58 00 
 
 Extra wheel or reel, 12 00 
 
 The wooden reel is less complicated, reels just as good silk, 
 (would probably not be quite as durable in wear and tear) but 
 effectual for all the purposes of reeling the best commercial 
 silk. Can be sold for ^20.00. Orders will be received through 
 the Association at 1328 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. 
 
 In closing these few remarks, we earnestly urge the intelli- 
 gent portion of residents in small country towns to aid in do- 
 mesticating silk culture throughout their neighborhood among 
 their poorer classes, small agriculturalists especially ; not to 
 be discouraged if first expeHments are not entirely successful, 
 time and experience are needed to the perfection of any work. 
 Sericulture has been for centuries an industry of the old world, 
 but, during the last thirty years, it has been in decadence 
 
Art of Silk Culture. 141 
 
 owing to the prevalence of disease among the silk worms, and 
 in the face of this fact, added to a growing demand among all 
 the peoples of the world, and a home market consuming up- 
 wards of ^ 1 5 ,000,000 worth of raw silk annually, increasing at 
 a ratio of 2,000,000 per year, I heartily recommend this in- 
 dustry to the teeming thousands of our own land. With an 
 emigration to our shores which the fiscal year up to June, 
 1882, foots up at 800,000, it behooves us to plant new agricul- 
 tural industries, that these crowds of new comers may develop 
 our vast plains into fertile farms, and not crowd our teeming 
 cities to the dangers of a surplus of consumers with a deficit 
 of creators. With best wishes for the success of Sericulture as 
 a home industry among the women and children of our vast 
 country, and a hope that ere long, the thousands of humming 
 looms of our country will weave nought but the golden 
 threads raised by our own people, dividing among them the 
 treasure now carried to other lands, I am your earnest co- 
 worker and friend. 
 
 Mrs. John Lucas, 
 
 Preside7it of the WomerCs Silk Culture Association of the United 
 States, Office, IJ28 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. 
 
 June, 1S82. 
 
INDEX 
 
 Page. 
 
 Preface, 3 
 
 Introduction, 5 
 
 PART I. 
 
 Remarks on the Cultivation of the Mulberry for the Food 
 
 OF Silkworms, , 7 
 
 Morus Tartarica, Moretti Elata, Morus Japonica, 9 
 
 Morus Alba, lO 
 
 Morus Alba Rosea, Morus Alba Nana, il 
 
 Morus Multicaulis, Remarks, I2 
 
 To obtain the Seed, 1$ 
 
 Time of Sowing, Manner of Sowing, l6 
 
 Subsequent Culture of the Seed Beds and Seedlings l^ 
 
 Sowing Broadcast, Transplanting, l8 
 
 The Secd-Bed, The Nursery, The Hedge, 19 
 
 The Dwarf Orchard, 21 
 
 The Hedge Plantation, 22 
 
 Plantation for Standards, Pruning, Suckers, Cultivation of the Multicaulis, 24 
 
 Layers, 27 
 
 The Osage Orange, State of Leaves proper for Feeding, , . 28 
 
 Important to Silk-Growers, 30 
 
 The Rearing of the Silkworm, 32 
 
 The Cocoonery, 33 
 
 Hatching, 34 
 
 The Passes, 37 
 
 The Grasserie, the Yellows, The Tripes, or Mort Blanc, 38 
 
 Enemies to the Silkworms, Space Statistics, 39 
 
 Rearing the Worms — First Age 43 
 
Index. 
 
 143 
 
 Page, 
 
 Development, ^^ 
 
 Second Age, ^' 
 
 Third Age, 49 
 
 Fourth Age, 5^ 
 
 Fifth Age, 54 
 
 General Remarks on the Fifth Age, 5^ 
 
 Sixth Age, 58 
 
 Seventh Age, 59 
 
 Preservation of the Eggs, "° 
 
 Stifling the Chrysalids, ^' 
 
 PART II. 
 
 The Silkworm, its Education and Reproduction, 63 
 
 The Art of Raising Silkworms, "5 
 
 Keeping the Grain, and Hatching the same, 7° 
 
 Feeding the Worms, 7^ 
 
 Spinning Cocoons, 74 
 
 Graining, '5 
 
 Diseases of the Silkworm, 77 
 
 Profit of Growing Silk, ^5 
 
 Conclusion, 7 
 
 PART III. 
 
 Directions for the Management of a Cocoonery— Hatching, ... 89 
 
 Feeding, 9° 
 
 Moulting, Spinning, 9^ 
 
 Gathering and sorting the Cocoons; Choking or stifling the Chrysalids, . 93 
 
 Reeling, Egg Raising, Markets and Prices, 95 
 
 General Information— The Silkworm, Food, Room, 96 
 
 Apparatus, 97 
 
 The Mulberry, 99 
 
144 Index. 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 Pack. 
 
 Rearing the Silkworm, - loi 
 
 Extracts from the Chinese; Wou-pen-sin-chou, 105 
 
 Nong-Sang-Pi-Kioue, 106 
 
 Ho-pi-sse-loui; What-Hoang-sing-tseng says; Manner of Feeding the 
 
 Newly-Hatched Silkworms, 107 
 
 Method of Diminishing the Food and Hastening the Moulting ; Nongsang- 
 
 thong-kioue 108 
 
 An estimate of Silk Culture in 1840, 109 
 
 Interior view of a Cocoonery, 1 10 
 
 Stifling the Cocoon or Chrysalide, 1 14 
 
 Transporting Cocoons ; Reeling, 117 
 
 The New Silk Reel, 123 
 
 Different Qualities of Cocoons, 124 
 
 Disbanding the Reel, 127 
 
 PART V. 
 
 Syrian Silk Culture, 128 
 
 Letter from Werner Itschner, 133 
 
 Letter from Mrs. H. M. Button, 136 
 
 Conclusion; 139 
 
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