BANCROFT 
 LIBRARY 
 
 o 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
A TREATISE 
 
 SERICULTURE 
 
 COMPILED FROM SOME OF THE BEST AUTHORS EXTANT; 
 
 BEING A GOOD TEXT BOOK FOR THE NOVICE 
 
 AND FIRST BEGINNER. 
 
 BY DANIEL GRAVES, 
 // 
 
 PROVO, UTAH COUNTY. 
 
 PRINTER AT STAR BOOK AND JOB OFFICE, 
 SALT LAKK CITY. 
 
 1880. 
 
COPYRIGHT SECURED. 
 
5 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 BCc^L N the compilation of the following Tratise on Seri- 
 KOpr culture, I have been careful to avoid all extraneous 
 matter, making it so plain that a child or illiterate 
 person can understand its contents, and be enabled 
 to manipulate the silk-worm in all its varied stages. I have 
 selected from the most reliable authorities on the subject, and 
 have added some notes coming under the notice of persons en- 
 gaged in sericulture in this Territory. The treatise contains : 
 1st a synopsis of the early and present history of silk cul- 
 ture ; 2nd the variety of trees; 3rd various kinds oi silk- 
 worms; 4th their diseases, with causes and remedies; 5th 
 the concoonery, hatching, feeding, etc.; preservation of eggs 
 and cocoons. 
 
 DANIEL GRAVES. 
 
 Q 
 
INDEX 
 
 Synopsis of History 4 
 
 Cultivation and Variety of Trees, 11 
 
 Various Kinds of Silk-worms, 16 
 
 Diseases of Worms Causes and Remedies, 21 
 
 Feeding, Cocoonery aud Hatching, 24 
 
 Preservation of Eggs and Cocoons, 41 
 
 Notes, ..41 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 SYNOPSIS OF THE HISTORY OF SERICULTURE. 
 
 IT is stated in the oldest books of the Sanscript that the 
 culture of the silk-w*orm commenced first in China in the 
 reign of Houng-to, third emperor of China, and known in his- 
 tory as the Emperor of the Earth, B. C. 2700, being cotempor- 
 ary with Joseph, the son of Jacob, while sojourning in Egypt. 
 Houng-to conceived the idea of bringing into use the insects, 
 which were indigeneous and fed on the leaves of the wild 
 mulberry tree in that region, and requested his empress, 
 Siling-chi, to prepare a place and collect them together, and 
 feed them. It appears she did this, and not only fed them, but 
 spun the silk and made it into garments; the Empress Siling- 
 chi is defined as the "Goddess of Silk-worms," for the great 
 boon so given to her county, and at the present time, as has 
 been done from time immemorial, the Empress, with the 
 ladies of the Court and ministers' wives, go in the spring- 
 time to the fields east of the city, purify and worship the 
 goddess ; they are not allowed to wear costly apparel, or work 
 in embroidery, during the time for the cultivation of the silk- 
 worm. At the present time it is one of the greatest employ- 
 ments of that people, who export millions of pounds uf raw 
 silk annually, as well as millions of dollars, worth of eggs- 
 From China it extended to India, Japan, Arabia and other 
 nations of Asia, Europe, and lastly to America. At the pres- 
 ent day the silk-worm is becoming one of the greatest sources 
 of wealth to those contries in which it is cultivated. 
 
6 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 It was not known to the ancients from what silk was ob- 
 tained until Aristotle conjectured that it was unwound from 
 the pupa of a caterpillar. 
 
 In the reign of the Emperor Aurelian of Rome, A^ D. 
 280, an attire of silk was considered too great a luxury for 
 even an empress to wear, being worth its weight in gold. The 
 mode of producing and manufacturing silk was not known 
 in Europe until the sixth century, when two monks of the 
 order of St. Basil arrived at the court of the Emperor Justina 
 at Constantinople, on their return from a mission to China, A. 
 D. 556, who brought with them in their casques, seeds of the 
 mulberry and the silk-worm. 
 
 Its culture soon commenced in Greece, and the Venetians 
 were soon able to supply the whole west of Europe. It was 
 soon introduced into Spain, Portugal and Sicily, and in 1540 
 it extended to Piedmont and through Italy, where it soon 
 ranked with the best of Asiatic origin. In France, near 
 Aragon, in 1340, mulberry trees were being planted ; in 1499, 
 it was introduced in Alan, but was not thoroughly established 
 until 1603, when Henry of Navarre encouraged it. The Hu- 
 guenots were largely engaged in the silk business during the 
 reign of Louis XIV, but owing to the Edict of Nantes being 
 revoked in 1685, nearly 400,000 were driven into exile, and as 
 many more perished and were slain. This almost annihilated 
 the silk manufacture in France. In Lyons, 18,000 looms were 
 reduced to 4,000, and in Tours from 10,000 to 12,000 looms 
 were % destroyed ; its mills were reduced from 800 to 70. 
 Weavers could not be found for them. Over 100,000 Hugue- 
 not refugees fled to England. 
 
 M. Mavet asserts, in his history of the silk trade, that the 
 first mulberry tree was brought to France during the crusades 
 of Guipage of St. Aubon, and planted three leagues from 
 Montmeliart. This tree was said to be living in 1810, when 
 M. de la Tours de pay le Chaux, caused a wall to be built 
 around it, forbidding its leaves to be gathered. The cut- 
 tings and descendants of this tree now cover the soil of France 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. / 
 
 and produced to the state in 1810, more than 100,000,000 Ibs. 
 of raw silk, and more than 400,000,000 francs in this industry 
 only, and the amount has greatly increased since that time. 
 Cou nt' Delia 22 i . 
 
 The consumption of silk in France in 1873 was quoted 
 at 1,600,000 Ibs., and the production in 1812 was 987,000 
 Ibs. of raw silk, and a like quantity was imported. Dr. Lard- 
 ner, Count de Hazzi, states as follows : "This single' branch 
 industry in 1836 was estimated at 40,000,000 florins; a tenth 
 of which was obtained from the production of its raw mate- 
 rial, and the remainder from its manufacture. The kingdom? 
 from recent statistics, derives from its silk products 23,000,000 
 francs per annum, and 84,000,000 francs from its fabrication ; 
 whereby the capital brought into circulation amounts to 
 108,560,000 francs, and now it has become one of the greatest 
 industries. In 1865 the value of silk goods produced was 
 estimated at 106,000,000 francs, of which 26,500,000 francs' 
 worth of raw material was imported. The home consumption 
 was 35,000,000 Ibs.; expoit 71,000,000 Ibs. ; silklooms employed 
 225,000, giving food to half a million persons. One-third of 
 these products was brought to the United States; this country 
 paid France for her silk goods, $9,900.000. Finizio, the cel- 
 ebrated manufacturer of Naples, makes and sends to the New 
 York market 3,000 Ibs. of sewing silk per week. Silk C-ul. 
 vol xvi, p. 133. 
 
 "Turkey," says Dr. Landey, "supplies England with a 
 considerable quantity of silk ; the imports from that country 
 averages over 333,000 Ibs. annually. It also supplies 3,000 Ibs. 
 of sewing silk annually. In Turkey its productions are con- 
 fined to large cities and towns, and in their neighborhood the 
 mulberry trees are raised by the farmer, who carries on a 
 lucrative business by gathering the leaves and taking them 
 to market every morning during the season of feeding the 
 worms. The principle place in Asia Minor for silk is Broosa, 
 about ninety miles south of Constantinople, which, in favora- 
 ble years produces from 7,000 to 8.000 bales of raw silk. At 
 
8 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 the beginning of the season every family clears out all the 
 rooms but one, in their houses, in which they live. 
 
 Mr. Russell, in his interesting volume on Ancient and Mod- 
 ern Egypt, says : "In the valle} 7 of Tumulate, the ancient land of 
 Goshen, is established a colony of about five hundred Syrians, 
 for the purpose of cultivating the mulberry tree and raising 
 silk worms, in the beautiful province of Fayoum, forty miles 
 south of Cairo, on the west side of the Nile." 
 
 The average amount of silk annually exported from Italy 
 is computed to exceed $17,500,000. Count Dondolo on Silk 
 Culture, vol. i t p. 15. 
 
 About the year 1605, James I encouraged the raising of 
 the mulberiy tree and silk worm, but the climate was found 
 to be unhealthful for the insect, arid he turned his attention to 
 the Colonies. In 1622 the Virginian Company was urged to 
 promote the cultivation of the mulberry tree and the raising 
 of the silk-worm, and instructions were given to the Earl of 
 Northampton to urge the cultivation of silk in preference to 
 that of tobacco. He wrote to the governors to compel the 
 planting of mulberry trees, which met with the concurrence of 
 the Assembly in 1623, and every land owner was compelled to 
 plant at least ten trees for every one hundred a^res of land he 
 possessed, or pay a fine of ten pounds of tobacco. In 1646, an 
 act was passed, describing silk culture as the most profitable 
 industry in the country. The King, having worn the Virgin- 
 ian silk, told Sir William Berkely, then governor, that it was 
 not inferior to that of other countries. 
 
 In Georgia, in 1732, a piece of ground was given by the 
 government for a mulberry plantation and nursery, and a na- 
 tive of Piedmont sent to instruct the people in this branch of 
 industry. In 1735, eight pounds of raw silk was sent from 
 Savannah to England, where it was woven and sent to the 
 Queen. In 1749, to encourage the growth of colonial silk, it 
 was exported free of duty, and an Italian gentleman was en- 
 gaged to instruct the Colonies in the Italian method of man- 
 agement. In 1758 the weight of silk cocoons received at the 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. U 
 
 filature was 1,052 pounds ; next year 7,540 pounds ; the follow- 
 ing year, 10,000 pounds, and at that time the raw silk from 
 Georgia, sold in London from two to three shillings per pound 
 more than that from other countries. In 1768 the business 
 was greatly increased, when a serious disaster befel it. The 
 storehouse took fire and consumed a large quantity of raw 
 silk and about 8,000 pounds of cocoons. The last parcel of 
 silk brought for sale at Savannah in 1790, upwards of 200 
 pounds, was purchased for exportation at from eighteen to 
 twenty-six shillings per pound. 
 
 The silk culture in South Carolina commenced about the 
 time it did in Georgia, in 1732, and became a fashionable em- 
 ployment for the ladies of Carolina, as it should be with 
 others. The celebrated Sir Thomas Lombe said that the qual- 
 ity and excellency was equal to any produced in Italy. In 
 1768, Dr. Franklin recommended to the American Philosoph- 
 ical Society of Philadelphia, a filature of raw silk at Philadel- 
 phia, which was built by private subscriptions in 1770. The 
 following year 2,300 pounds of raw silk was brought to reel, 
 and in 1828, by order of Congress, a work was published 
 which says that in 1771, silk culture commenced in Pennsyl- 
 vania and New York, and continued with spirit for several 
 years. 
 
 In 1770, Mrs. Susanna Wright at Columbia, Lancaster 
 County, made a piece of matua, sixty yards in length from 
 her own cocoons, which was afterwards worn as a court dress 
 by the Queen of Great Britain. Grace Ischen, about the same 
 time, made a considerable quantity of silk stuffs, a piece of 
 which was presented by Governor Dickinson to the celebrated 
 Catherine Maccerly. Many ladies, prior to the Revolution 
 wore silk dresses of their own fabrication. At a large meeting 
 of silk growers in the hall of the Franklin Institute, January 
 7, 1839, Dr. Mease presented several specimens of silk woven 
 and dyed about the time before mentioned, which was highly 
 creditable, and the venerable speaker facetiously remarked, 
 
10 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 though not so splendid as that now manufactured, noth with- 
 standing it would make a very fine show in a country church. 
 
 In 1760, Mr. N. Aspinall planted the white mulberry tree 
 and introduced the eggs of silk worms in the town of Mans- 
 field, Conn., and New Haven, and Dr. Eyra Styles obtained 
 a bounty from the legislature to encourage the raising of mul- 
 berry trees and raw silk. 
 
 In 1789, 200 pounds of raw silk was produced; in 1793, 365 
 pounds. In 1810 the sewing and ra^w silk of New England, 
 Windham and Tollard were valued by the United States mar- 
 shal at $2,850, exclusive of the amount of domestic fabrics, 
 and double that amount in 1823. So popular indeed had the 
 silk products become at this period that they were readily 
 taken and paid there as a circulating medium. In 1839 the 
 New England States were more or less engaged in the culture 
 of silk and its manufacture, which was encouraged by the 
 bounty given by the legislature to encourage the silk enterprise. 
 
 From 1780 to 1823-4, the amount of silk made in the 
 United States was not very great. It had been more of a dom- 
 estic manufacture in several districts; many families made 
 there from five to fifty pounds annually, and an enthusiastic 
 worker brought her produce from eighty to one hundred 
 pounds. This domestic produce was more common in Con- 
 necticut than elsewhere, but was quite common in New Jersey 
 and in a few other states. 
 
 During the War of 1812-13, Samuel Chidsey, of Cayuga, 
 New York, sold sewing silk annually to the amount of $600, 
 from silk raised by his own family. 
 
 In 1875 the United States paid $28,540,369 for raw silk. 
 At the present time the silk industry of the United States is 
 making great strides, and bids fair to compete with the other 
 silk growing and manufacturing countries. In many of the 
 old tobacco growing states they are plowing up their fields and 
 planting mulberry trees. 
 
TRP;ATISE ON SERICULTURE. 11 
 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ON the class and order of trees, with the Genus Morus, commonly called the 
 mulberry tree, of which there are five species, namely: The Alba or 
 White Tartarian; Nigra, or Black; Rubus, or Red; Tinctoria, or Fustic- 
 wood. 
 
 Species 1. Alba, white; China; leaves slightly cordate, equal at the base, 
 ovate orlobed, unequally serrated, smooth, consisting of ten sub-varieties. 
 
 Species 2. Tartarica, Tartarian, Tartary; leaves slightly cordate, equal at the 
 base, ovate, or lobed, equally serrated, smooth. 
 
 Species 3. Nigra, black, or common; Italy; leaves cordate, ovate, or loed, 
 unequally toothed, scabrous. 
 
 Species 4. Kubia, red; North American; leaves cordate, ovate, accuminate 
 or three lobed, equally serrated, scabrous, soft beneath, fine spikes, cylin- 
 drical. 
 
 Species 5. Tinctoria, Fusticwood; West Indies; leaves oblong, unequal at the 
 base, spines auxilary, solitary. 
 
 Morus Tinctoria is a tall branching tree, with a fine head, 
 smooth leaves, and oval shaped solitary spikes. The whole 
 plant abounds in a slightly glutinous milk, of a sulphurous 
 color. The timber is yellow, and a good deal used in dying, 
 for which it is imported under the name of fusticwood. 
 
 Morus Multicaulis, which has been highty recommended 
 by Mr. Hugg, of California, and others, is entirely condemned 
 by the United States Silk Association. (See History Silk In- 
 dustry, published 1876, chapter 6, page 38. The Morus Mul- 
 ticaulis Mania.) It was easily raised from cuttings. Gideon 
 B. Smith, of Baltimore, is said to have owned the first tree in 
 the United States, which was planted in 1826; bul Dr. Felix 
 Pascalis, of New York, was the first to make known to the 
 public the remarkable growth and supposed excellence of the 
 
12 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 tree, and so opened the Pandora's box, from which so many 
 evils followed. The excitement grew slowly until 1839, when 
 it progressod so rapidly as to cause ruin to its cultivators. The 
 young trees or cuttings which were sold in 1834-5 for $3 or $5 
 per hundred, were worth $25, $50, $100, $200, and even $500 
 per hundred. 
 
 In the spring of 1839, when Mr. Whitmarsh and Dr. 
 Stebbin, of Northampton, were rejoicing over the purchase of 
 a dozen Multicaulis cuttings, not more than two feet long and 
 of the thickness of a pipe stem, for $25, exclaimed the Doctor 
 in enthusiasm, "they are worth $60." A nurseryman, who in 
 1835 had sold small quantities to nurserymen in several of the 
 Massachusetts cities, whilst at work, determined to make a 
 push for a speculation ; he took and dressed himself up and 
 went to all thpse he had sold to formerly, and others that had 
 any of said trees. Arriving at Newport they offered fifty 
 cents each for ajl he had. The nurseryman thought a mo- 
 ment, and then raising up his head, said: "I do not think I 
 want to sell what few I have ;" and he went from place to 
 
 place. "I came back," said Mr. , "and you could not 
 
 have bought in any of the towns I visited for a dollar apiece, 
 although a week before they would have been satisfied with 
 25cts. each for them." After having imported from France 
 and multiplied his cuttings, and from the success he had 
 made, so enormous were his sales, that in the winter of 1838-9 
 he sent an agent to France with $80,000 in hand, with orders 
 to purchase one million or more trees, to be delivered in the 
 summer and fall ; but the crisis had come before their arrival 
 and the bubble had bursted ; so great was the panic that no 
 purchaser could be found. Thus was the great mania and 
 downfall of the raising of silkworms in the states, the ruin of 
 many, for hundreds of acres were planted with trees which was 
 of little account. Supposing the Morus Multicaulis was what 
 has been claimed for it by some, it would not suit this north- 
 ern clime, being too tender to stand our winters. 
 
 The Morus Alba is the hardiest of all the varieties, and is 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 13 
 
 said to contain more silk than any of the other classes ; but 
 there are many sub-varieties of the first named, for by sowing 
 seed, they, like many other things, do not produce their like. 
 As in other fruits, the best way is to raise by layers, as cuttings 
 do not succeed well. 
 
 CHAPTER II. PREPARING THE GROUND FOR 
 PLANTING. 
 
 1. Plow or dig -deep, making furrows and filling them 
 up with good rotten manure before planting trees or cuttings, 
 and when planted press the soil tightly to and around the 
 roots. Compost leaf, mould, and rotten stable manure are 
 suitable. 
 
 2. In sowing the seed make a rich bed facing the south, 
 with good composts, similar to the former, only mixing sand 
 to make it light; keep the soil moist; the time of sowing is 
 from the 1st of April to the 1st of May, but in some seasons 
 until the 1st of June. It is computed, says a writer in the 
 first volume of a silk manual, that one ounce of seed properly 
 sown will produce 5,000 young trees. Judge Compstock says 
 from one pound of seed may be realized 100,000 trees. He 
 also says there are about 322,700 seeds in a pound ; this there- 
 fore allows one seed out of every three to vegetate. Count De 
 Hazzi says: "From 9,600 to 10,000 seeds weigh one ounce of 
 our Bavarian weight." Judge Compstock says : "Before sow- 
 ing, the seed should be steeped in water about blood warm for 
 from twenty-four to thirty-six hours," according to an actual 
 trial made on the 9th of February, 1839. Let the plowing or 
 digging be done the previous winter and leave it rough ; 
 should the weather be dry, water every other evening; water 
 with liquid manure or soap suds once a week. Sow in drills, 
 stirring the ground between the drills prior to watering with 
 
14 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 the liquid manure or soap sujjs. The first winter protect the 
 young plants by mulching them with litter or straw, first lay- 
 ing across some large willows so as to keep the litter or straw 
 from pressing too heavy upon them, as soon, or before there 
 comes a black frost. 
 
 3. Setting out a mulberry orchard. Says Mr. Goodrich, 
 president af the Hartford Silk Association : "I advise to set 
 the rows eight feet apart, and in the rows two feet apart, which 
 will take 2,700 trees to an acre, and when they are too thick 
 to take out every other one so as to plow between the rows," 
 and he also says, "plant potatoes between the rows until the 
 roots and' tops begin to spread too far, the ground being well 
 manured." 
 
 In India and Persia the dwarf orchards are not allowed 
 to rise above eight feet, being so pruned that a man standing 
 upon the ground may be able to leach the top. Begin to 
 prune the young trees the first year after having set them out, 
 to three eyes, and so on each year, the young twigs being used 
 to feed the worms. Let no leaves grow below two feet from 
 the ground. Mr. Bonafout, the celebrated writer on silk cul- 
 ture, the disciple of Count Dondolo, and the director of the 
 Royal Gardens of Paris, and also Dr. Tinally, D. C. S., Univer- 
 sity of Paris, says: "This method is generally adopted in 
 Italy and the plan of hedgerow planting is done with less ex- 
 pense and more profit than standard planting." 
 
 CHAPTER II. PLANTING. 
 
 The planting of Morus Alba in the hedge form will be 
 found the most advantageous ; the same quantity of land will 
 thus produce at least 80 per cent, more leaves than from 
 standard trees, and the labor for gathering full one-half less. 
 Count Dondolo says: "The mulberry tree should only be 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 15 
 
 stripped once a year, and that crop should be gathered so as 
 to allow time for the leaves to shoot before the cold weather 
 sets in, or the tree will shortly die. The planting out of a 
 mulberry orchard is one thing and the raising of silk another; 
 for, as in France, Italy, Brooza, Turkey or Persia, the orchards 
 are farmed out and the leaves brought to the cities, (where the 
 worms are raised by women and children,) and sold every 
 morning. But here in Utah, where nearly every family have 
 a small piece of ground by their dwellings, trees may be set 
 by their fences, so as to let the children pick the leaves and 
 feed the worms. This is what may be termed cottage culture, 
 whereby every family of four or five children, in about six 
 weeks can earn more than all the clothes they wear would 
 cost. Let them be planted from the fence two feet and apart 
 three feet. 
 
 Several years since a farmer in the vicinity of Mansfield, 
 Connecticut, purchased a farm on which was planted twelve 
 mulberry trees, of full growth. Knowing nothing of the 
 business of making silk he supposed them to be of no more 
 use than the ordinary value of forest trees for fuel. A neigh- 
 bor, however, 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 trees were 
 as good to him as $200 at six per cent, interest per annum. 
 
 A writer to the Silk Cultunst, inquires whether a 
 farmer cannot plant trees, and let them out to poor families, 
 to make silk on shares. The answer given is as follows 1 
 "There are but few farms but what might be fourfolded, and 
 by adopting this course would give an opportunity to the in- 
 dustrious poor, not only to provide for the present wants of 
 their families, but to lay up something in store for the day of 
 adversit} r . 
 
 NOTE. In gathering the leaves, be sure to leave leaves at 
 the top ends of every twig to be preserved to draw the sap, 
 and preserve the life and vigor of the tree. And in gathering 
 
16 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 the leaves be sure not to strip by drawing the hand down- 
 wards, for by so doing you may destroy the germ or bud at the 
 root of the leaf, but be careful to pass the hand upwards. 
 
 CHAPTER L GENUS, SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF 
 THE SILK WORM. 
 
 The silk- worm, or Bom by x Mori, is one of the various 
 families of caterpillars that pass through several transforma- 
 tions into their final state, the moth or butterfly ; order, lepid- 
 optera, being four flaked wing insects and are silk producing 
 The silk secretion of the caterpillar of the Bombyx Mori 
 is said to be provided with glands, by which the juices 
 of the mulberry leaf are discussed and secreted so as to supply 
 the different organs without any admixture of other ingredi- 
 ents. Without this, the silk would not be of the quality and 
 texture in which it is found. According to Randohr, these 
 secretors consist of two transparent membranes, between which 
 flows a yellow, limpid jelly. The longer the secretors, the 
 greater is the quantity of silk expended by the insect in the 
 construction of its cocoon. When the larva of the Bombyx 
 Mori attains its full size, it ceases to eat and instinctively pre- 
 pares and encloses itself in three coverings: 1 with floss; 
 2 with silk ; and 3 with gum ; with which last it lines the 
 inside of the cocoon, except at one end, which it only partially 
 closes ; and at that end where it will have, from the position 
 of its body, neither inconvenience nor obstruction when the 
 period arrives for it to make its egress. 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 17 
 
 The cocoon being constructed, disengages itself from its 
 fourth skin and enters its chrysalis state ; after throwing off 
 the above skin, it makes a new one, which hardens into a 
 leathery hide. In ten or twelve- days the chrysalis swells, 
 bursts, and the moth struggles out of its leathern envelope into 
 the chamber of the cocoon, and makes its way out as a moth 
 with wings to float in air. Spectacle de la Nature; Count 
 Dondolo and others. 
 
 The worm commonly employed in the production of silk, 
 is by Count Dondolo called the silk-worm of four moultings, 
 of which he mentions two varieties: 1st. That which makes 
 a straw-colored cocoon, and that which produces a deep yellow 
 one, and gives the preference for the former, the small 
 silk-worm of three moultings. *The eggs of this species weigh 
 one-eleventh less than the eggs of the common silk-worm 
 39,168 of the latter weighing one ounce ; while 42,260 of the 
 former are required to make that weight. The silk is of a fine 
 quality and takes 400 cocoons to make one pound, whilst 240 
 cocoons of the common silk-worm weighs that amount. 
 
 2nd. The large silk-worm of four moultings, the eggs of 
 which species the Count obtained from Friuli, is rather objected 
 to on account of the coarseness of the silk. 
 
 3d. The worms that produce white silk: In respect to 
 this species the Count says: "I have raised a large quantity 
 of them, and found them equal in all respects to the common 
 silk-worm of four moultings, that producing white silk pre- 
 ferable to any other. If I raised silk-worms for my own 
 spinning I would only cultivate the silk-worm of three moult- 
 ings, and the white preferable to all others ; and every year 
 I would choose the whitest and finest cocoons, to prevent the 
 degeneration of the species." This kind was introduced into 
 France about the year 1783, and is there highly esteemed. 
 It is supposed to be that which is known under the name of 
 the "white worm," which produces two crops in one season. 
 
 * This means when green. 
 
18 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 To the species enumerated by Dondolo it will be neces- 
 sary to add : 
 
 4th. The dark drab colored worm: This is very com- 
 mon in the United States.. They are commonly called the 
 "black worm." They live longer and make a greater quan- 
 tity of silk than the large white worm. 
 
 5th. Silk worms of eight crops : There are two varieties, 
 according to a statement of Lord Valencia; he found one at 
 Jungpore, Bengal, which was supposed to be indigeneous, and 
 is called *"Dacey ;" and another variety he called f'China" or 
 "Manrassa," which yields eight crops. 
 
 6th. The mammoth white silk-worm, which is said to be 
 a veiy superior species, makes a large cocoon and silk of a 
 fine texture as well as very strong. 
 
 The distinction between one, two, three, &c. crop of eggs 
 is not by some well understood. It means this: The eggs of 
 the one crop can be hatched successfully from the eggs of 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 first hatching of the season. 
 
 The three crop eggs will hatch successfully from the sarrid 
 season's eggs, in so many repeated times. 
 
 The eggs of the one crop will not produce worms until 
 the following season. 
 
 To the species enumerated above may be added others 
 that are either yet wild and too rarely seen, which produce 
 from other trees. 
 
 1st. The Pennsylvaniaii silk -worm. This kind was found 
 by the Rev. S. Tullin. He says he discovered the aurelia of a 
 caterpillar, and on examination it was found not inferior to 
 
 "Travels in India, 1802, 1806; vol. i, p. 78; London 1809. 
 
 tThe last may be the kind mentioned by Arthur Young, who says he ob- 
 tained a silk- worm from China which he reared, and in twenty-five days he had 
 cocoons; and by the twenty-ninth day he had a new progeny feeding in his 
 trays. He remarks that "they would be a mine of wealth to those who would 
 cultivate them." Annals of Agriculture, vol. xxiii, p. 235. 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 19 
 
 the silkworm in the quality of its silk. The cocoons were 
 three inches and a quarter in length, one inch in diameter, 
 nearly resembling a dried bladder, of a reddish-brown color; 
 weight twenty-one grains; it was covered with floss. Though 
 perforated by the moth it unwound in hot water by which it 
 was tested. British Annual Register and the Silkculturist. 
 Mr. Chambers, of Uniontown, foun'd it on an elder bush, the 
 cocoon being as large as a goose egg. The editor of the Silk- 
 culturist says naturalists call it the "Attacus Cecropia of Lin- 
 naeus," and it feeds on the current, elder, barbery, wild cherry 
 and other trees. The foregoing is confirmed by G. B. Smith, 
 Esq., in the SilJcculturist for October, 1837. Mr. Smith was 
 not very successful with those he tried. They would not feed 
 kindly, and the moth flew away as soon as it escaped from the 
 cocoon, and the silk could not be reeled. 
 
 2d. The Virginian silk-worm. Mr. Sheppard, of New 
 Haven, says the editor of the Sitkcultwrist, p. 19, presented us 
 with a speciman of the Bombyx Virginicanus, or the native 
 'silk-worm of Virginia. It was found in great numbers on the 
 plantation of J. B. Gray, Esq., Stafford County, and is capable 
 of enduring the most rigorous winter. The cocoons are found 
 suspended to the red cedar, and yield a beautiful white silk of 
 a strong thread. 
 
 3d. The Tusser or Bughy silk-worm, a native of Bengal, 
 exceeding in size the common silkworm. The silk is found in 
 great abundance in Bengal and adjoining provinces. From 
 time immemorial it has supplied a durable, though coarse silk, 
 which is much worn by the Brahmins and other castes of 
 Hindoostan. When full grown it is about four inches long, 
 bulky, of a green color, lateral strips of yellow edged with red. 
 When ready to spin it envelopes itself in two or three leaves 
 of the jujube tree, the same on which they feed. These leaves 
 form an exterior envelope, which serve as a basin to spin the 
 cocoon in, which is then suspended by a thick silk cordfrcm the 
 branch of the tree. It remains nine months in the pupa, or 
 chrysalis state, and three months in the eggs or caterpillar. 
 
TREATISE OIS 7 SERICULTURE. 
 
 The moth measures from the extremities of its wings, five or 
 six inches; the female eight inches. It immediately escapes. 
 Mr. Latrelle says it is the same kind as the wild one of China. 
 
 4th. The Arrindy silk-worm. This is the Bombyx 
 Cyncthia of the naturalist; it is peculiar to Bengal, and feeds 
 on the castor oil leaf. The silk from them can only be spun, 
 and when made up can be washed only in cold water, as hot 
 water will destroy the fabric. 
 
 5th. The Jarrao silk-worm. This variety is found in 
 India; the cocoons are spun in the coldest months ; the silk is 
 of a dark color. The males, when hatched, fly away, and the 
 females remain upon the asseen tree, (the terminula alata 
 glabra Roxburgh.) They are not impregnated by the males 
 bred with them, but in ten or twelve hours another flight of 
 males arrive, and the females afterward deposit eggs on the 
 branches. 
 
 6th. The Emperor moth is deserving of attention on 
 account of the beauty of its cocoons. It feeds on fruit trees or 
 willows, and spins a cocoon in the form of a Florence flask. 
 The silk is strong, closely woven, well gummed, and the ap- 
 pearance is of damask as to softness, and is as pliable as 
 leather. The tortrix chlorana, gypsy moth, cream spot, tiger 
 moth, dock weevil, puss moth, and- many others, spin cocoons 
 which cannot be reeled, but make a very fine and elastic silk 
 when spun. 
 
 7th. The Bombyx Chrysorrhoea spins in company with 
 ibree or four hundred round the ends of two or three twigs 
 and leaves, leaving space for them to retire and shut them- 
 selves in, covering it with layers of silk so strong as to stand 
 against wind and rain. 
 
 8th, 9th. Tsouenkien and Tyankien, silk-worms of China.* 
 
 *Du Halde mentions in the province of Chanboug a species of silk is found 
 on trees in great quantities, which is spun and made into stuffs called kient- 
 chou. The silkvjf the first is a reddish grey, the other darker, very durable, 
 and washes like linen. History of China, vol. iii, p. 359. Historie des Science 
 les Acts des China par Maillatorn 2, p. 4H4, note 38. Madam Lottius' Treatise 
 on Silkworms, Paris 1757. Annals of Botany 2d, p. 104. 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 21 
 
 10th. The Social Silk Nest Spinner of South America: 
 Don Louis Nee saw growing on trees in Chrysaneingo, Tixtala, 
 in South America, ovate nests of caterpillars, eight inches long, 
 which the inhabitants make into stockings and handkerchiefs. 
 
 llth and 12th. Chinese wild silk-worms of the fagara 
 and ash tree, and the Chinese wild silk-worm of the oak. 
 
 The memoirs of M. P. d'Incarville speak of three kinds 
 of the wild silk-worm ; one feeding on the fagara or paper tree 
 and ash tree, and another on the oak. 
 
 There are two kinds of ash tiees in China the tcheon- 
 tchun and kiang-chun the former the same as our ash. 
 
 These worms moult four times. The cocoons are said to 
 be as large as an egg, and are not reeled but carded and spun. 
 
 In the first volume of the American Philosophical Society 
 of Philadelphia is a paper of the late Moses Barnham, in 
 which is recorded experiments made with caterpillars. 
 
 
 CHAPTER I. DISEASES OF WORMS. 
 
 1st. Pattre is known, 1st by yellow tinge of worms; 
 2nd lengthened spine, shape and wrinkled skin ; 3rd from 
 its shape and stretched feet; 4th it eats little and languishes. 
 
 CAUSE. Is said to be excess of heat during the dormant 
 state, and pressure of litter. 
 
 REMEDY. Remove them to a healthy place; feed a due 
 supply of tender leaves and preserve a uniform temperature. 
 
 2nd. Grassenie or fat. This disease generally appears 
 about the second moulting, rarely later and is scarcely known 
 
22 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 in the fourth age. Symptoms : 1st eat but do not digest the 
 food ; 2nd swell and become bloated ; 3rd their bodies be- 
 come opaque and of a greenish color ; 4lh around the breath- 
 ing aperture becomes of a citron or dirty white color; 5th 
 their skins tear from the least touch ; 6th they are covered 
 .with an oily humor; 7th they appear disposed ID obtain re- 
 lief from distension and stretching their feet; 8th acrid 
 humor proceeding from it. The last stage of this is death to 
 any worm it comes in contact with. 
 
 CAUSES.- Said by Mr. Nysten and Mr. Roberts to be too 
 glutinous and substantial food, occasioning indigestion in the 
 young worm. La Browse says it is neglecting to dry the 
 leaves when wet by rain or dews, and a lack of fresh air. 
 
 REMEDY. Remove to a distinct place, give less quanti- 
 ties of nourishment, poorer leaves and keep a moderate tem- 
 perature. 
 
 3rd. Lidsette to Shine. Few worms are attacked with 
 this until after the fourth moulting. S3 r mptoms are 1st 
 shining; 2nd a clear red changing to a dirty white; 3rd 
 it observed, a vicious humor drops from its silk tubes; 4th 
 its body becomes transparent. 
 
 CAUSES. By negligence of feeding. Symptoms proved 
 by Mr. Nysten, reseherces in Malardus, des verf a soie par R. 
 N. Nysten, Paris, Des Vers a Soie, par te Reynard, Paris, 3 824. 
 
 REMEDIES Count Dondolo and M. La Brouse suggest 
 instant removal ; supply food gradually ; increase slowly until 
 perfectly restored. 
 
 4th. Yellows. About fifth age. Symptoms: 1st when 
 about to spin body swells j enlargement of rings; the feet have 
 the appearance of being drawn up from the tumesience of the 
 adjacent parts ; 2nd appear of a yellowish color ; 3rd ceases 
 to eat and runs about leaving stains of a yellow fluid ; 4th 
 the yellowness first appears around the spiracula, and is dif- 
 fused over the surface; 5th becomes soit and bursts; 6th 
 the humor issuing becomes fatal to all worms it touches. 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 23 
 
 CAUSES. Sudden exposure to great heat, also to moist or 
 damp weather. 
 
 REMEDIES. Instant removal' as before or change of air; 
 fires if necessary ; oak leaves have been given 'with success. 
 
 5th. Muscardine numbness, appears in fifth age. Symp- 
 toms: 1st black spots in different parts of body; 2nd 
 become yellow and finally red or crimson color all over the 
 body . 3rd becomes hard and dry. 
 
 CAUSES. Continuance of hot, dry and close air. 
 
 REMEDY. Remove and purify the air by fumigation, and 
 promote active circulation by ventilation. 
 
 6th. The Tripes was first discovered by M. Regand de 
 Lisle, of Crest. Symptoms: When dead they become placid 
 and soft, and preserve a fresh and healthy appearance. 
 
 CAUSE. Rainy weather. M. N3 7 sten's experimental proof 
 says rapid exhalations from the litter of an unclean cocoonery. 
 
 REMEDIES. Dry air; flash fires in stoves, keeping at 
 proper temperature. The discovery and remedy of this dis- 
 ease is ascribed to Mr. G. B. Smith, of Baltimore. Chloride of 
 lime as a fumigator put in an earthern pan or cup. 
 
 CHAPTER II. COCOONERY. 
 
 A cocoonery jnay be made of any dimensions, according 
 to what the culturist may require. 
 
 It is necessary, before entering into sericulture, that some 
 place or building should be prepared for rearing and feeding 
 the worms; also for the spinning and making of cocoons. To 
 the novice, or those who wish to commence on a small scale, I 
 would recommend the fitting up of a small room, or corner of 
 a room, that is well ventilated, with shelving made as follows: 
 A frame 4x2 feet, with laths nailed across at a distance apart 
 of half an inch. The cocoonery may be built any dimensions, 
 with either adobe, brick or lumber, according to the number 
 
24 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 of worms to be fed. It would be better not to build too large 
 a room, but as the business increases, erect adjoining places, as 
 it would be better to have two small rooms than one large one. 
 It is estimated that a room fifty-four feet long, twenty-two feet 
 wide and ten feet high, would be large enough to raise over 
 twelve ounces of eggs. 
 
 The way to fit up said cocoonery is to make three rows of 
 frames for shelving all along, the posts to be placed four feet 
 apart, each way, divided iri the middle so as to make the 
 shelving four by two, and placed one above another, fourteen 
 inches apart, commencing at least one foot from the floor, and 
 at a suitable distance from the pitch. The frame work should 
 be made of scantling, planed for uprights, two by four. The 
 room should not be full of windows but well ventilated at the 
 sides, near the bottom, and a ventilator on the top; it should 
 also be fitted up with a stove in a case. After the hatching 
 out of the young worms the temperature of the. room should 
 not be allowed to go down below 65, or it will chill the worms 
 and thereby cause sickness or disease. Let it, if convenient, 
 be built upon rising ground, removed from stagnant pools of 
 water, or any stench, and care should be taken that no refuse 
 is allowed to remain in the cocoonery, that tobacco smoke or 
 any other offensive matter is kept away, and that a thermom- 
 etre is kept to regulate the heat, which will be treated upon in 
 one of the succeeding chapters. 
 
 WM W5L 
 
 CHAPTER L ON FEED FOR THE WORMS. 
 
 There are five different substances in the mulberry. 1st 
 the solid or fibrous; 2d the coloring matter; 3d water; 
 4th saccharine; 5th resinous. 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 25 
 
 The fibrous substance, the coloring matter and the water, 
 excepting that which composes the body of the silk- worm, can- 
 not be said to be nutritive to that insect. The saccharine mat- 
 ter is that which nourishes the insect, and that enlarges it and 
 forms its animal substance. The resinous substance is that 
 which, separating itself gradually from the leaf, and attracted 
 by the animal organization, accumulates to itself and insensi- 
 bly fills the two reservoirs and silk vessels which form the 
 integral parts of the silk-worm. Therefore, from the different 
 proportions of elements which compose the leaf, it follows that 
 cases may occur in which a greater weight of leaves may yield 
 less that is useful to the silk-worm. "T^hus the leaf of the black 
 mulberry, hard, harsh and tough, produces an abundance of 
 silk, the threads of which are very strong, but coarse. The 
 leaf of the white mulberry tree, planted in highlands, exposed 
 to cold, dry winds, and in light soil, produces a large quantity 
 of strong silk, of the purest and finest quality. The leaf of 
 the same tree, planted in damp situations, in low grounds, or 
 in stiff soil, produces less silk, and of a quality less pure and 
 fine." The less nutritive substance the leaf contains, the more 
 the worm must consume to complete its development; in con- 
 sequence, the worm, from its fatigue, by taking less nutritive 
 substance in a greater amount of leaves, would be more liable 
 to disease than the worm which feeds on a more nutritive 
 kind. The same may be said of those leaves which contian 
 sufficient nutritive matter, but less of resinous substance ; in 
 this case the insects would thrive and grow, but probably 
 would not produce either a thick or strong cocoon, proportion- 
 ate to the weight of the worm. 
 
 State of Leaves for Feeding. All silk growers have rec- 
 ommended the feeding with dry leaves free from both dew and 
 rain. Nothing is so obnoxious to the insect as wet leaves- 
 Count Dondolo, one of the greatest experts on the silk-worm, 
 remarks : "These insects would be injured by eating leaves 
 moist with either dew or rain." p. 39. "The stripping of the 
 leaves should not be begun before the disappearance of the 
 
26 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 dew, and ought to be concluded before the setting of the sun ; 
 it is all important to have always a supply oi dry leaves."- 
 Count de Hazzi, p. 65-07. "The preservation of the health of 
 silk-worms depends essential!}' on the leaves being perfectly 
 dry when given to them. Wet leaves invariably produce a 
 diarrhea. Manuel published by order of Congress in 1828, 
 p. 128. 
 
 It it needless to multiply authorities on this subject. The 
 worst leaf that can be given the silk -worm, and which has 
 always injured it, is that which is termed "manner," and 
 which arrives from the diseased state of the trees. The 
 blighted or rust spotted leaves do not injure. The worm will 
 eat this leaf, carefully avoiding the spots. 
 
 Preserving the Leaves. To avoid these accidents, and to 
 supply a resource for many days, a stock should always be 
 kept on hand, sufficient for two or three days, which may be 
 kept without injury in cold places, sheltered from the light, 
 but not too dry, such as cellars, storehouses, back floors, &c. 
 They would lose their dampness in too dry a place and should 
 not be in one too damp. They should not be heaped up to- 
 gether too much, so as to promote fermentation. 
 
 Mode of Gathering Leaves.. Count Nerrie recommends 
 the passing of the hand from the lower part of the branch to 
 the top, and to strip the trees of its leaves upwards and not 
 downwards, as the latter would injure the buds. This should 
 be particularly enjoined on children and others who are em- 
 ployed in picking. 
 
 CHAPTER II. HATCHING. 
 
 The hatching should not be attempted until the leaves of 
 the mulberry are fully developed, so as to promote an abund- 
 ance of foliage. It is always safer to be a few days late than 
 a day too soon. The method in hatching of eggs pursued at 
 Brooza, says Mr. Rhind, is: "The temperature of the chamber 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 27 
 
 or cocoonery, or any other place used for the purpose, should 
 be 63 to 64 ; this is effected by the increasing of the fire or re- 
 ducing by opening the windows, etc. This temperature should 
 be carefully maintained for two consecutive days, and on the 
 thiid increased to 66; -fourth to 68; fifth to 70; sixth to 
 72; seventh to 75; eighth to 77 and ninth to 81. This 
 goes to show that it is not mere precision that is here essential 
 to success, but rather a gradual elevation of temperature to 
 that maximum of heat which a transition from the egg to the 
 larva requires. When the eggs are carefully exposed to heat 
 in the manner described, they will show signs of vitality from 
 the seventh to the ninth day. Count Dondolo, says :, "The 
 following are the signs of the speedy vivification of the silk- 
 worm. The ash-grey color of the egg grows bluish, then pur- 
 plish ; it then again grows grey with a cast of yellow, and 
 finally of a tingey white. The young larva resembles a small 
 black worm, and generally appears from sunrise to ten o'clock 
 in the morning. It is important to keep each day's hatching 
 by itself, by placing leaves over it. They may be easily separ- 
 ated from the eggs and put upon the hurdles or tables where 
 they are meant to be raised, and kept apart, if one day's 
 hatching, so as to be together through the season. Never 
 should the worms of two consecutive days' hatching be put 
 together, on account of their various stages of moulting. At 
 times they will travel far, if kept with food. The silk-worm, 
 if not properly attended to, is subject to disease. The congres- 
 sional report on the silk-worm enumerates eight causes of dis- 
 ease in them, viz: 
 
 1. Errors in hatching of eggs and in the treatment of 
 very young worms. 
 
 2d. Unwholesome air of the district in which they are 
 bred. 
 
 3d. Impurity of the air in which they are kept, arising 
 from imperfect ventilation or from the exhalation of the litter 
 and foces of the worms, which have been permitted to ac- 
 cumulate. 
 
28 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 4th. Too close crowding, owing* to which cause* their 
 spiracles or breathing orifices are vented. 
 
 5th. The quantity and quality of food. 
 
 6th. Improper change of food. 
 
 7th. Peculiar constitution of the air in certain seasons, 
 against which no precaution can avail. 
 
 8th. Frequent changes cf temperature in the rooms in 
 which they are kept. 
 
 Before proceeding any further it would be well- to speak 
 of the many enemies to which the silk-worm is subject. The 
 hurdles or shelves or tables should not be put near the wall, 
 and the walls of the room should be swept clean and kept 
 free from cobwebs, as the spider is very destructive to the 
 worm in its earliest stages, as are also ants, mud wasps, mice, 
 birds, toads, poultry, and many other insects. 
 
 CHAPTER III. FIRST STAGE AFTER HATCHING. 
 
 Rearing and Feeding, Vowi Dondolo, in giving his 
 precept as to the successful rearing of the silk-worm to the 
 cocoon, says : "I must suppose that the silk-worms are kept 
 until the first moulting at 75 of temperature, between 73 
 and 75 until the second moulting, between 71 and 73 until 
 the third, and lastly, between 68 and 71 until the fourth 
 moulting. One of the foundations of the art of rearing the 
 silk-worm is to know the various degrees of heat in which the 
 silk-worm should live; if this precept be not enforced, nothing 
 can be performed with exactness." It is asserted in Mr. Ros- 
 coe's course of agriculture, that it is not relative to heat suit- 
 able to the condition of these industrious insects. It cannot 
 be said that silk-worms are injured by any degree of heat in 
 this climate, however considerable it may be. But a sudden 
 change from moderate to violent heat, or the reverse, is in- 
 jurious. On feeding Mr. Compstock says: "Though we have 
 not much faith in arbitrary mathematical rules, yet as they 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 29 
 
 * 
 
 may be - of some probable use to the culturist in. ascertaining 
 the amount of food for his family of worms, we give them in 
 such extracts from the manual published by authority of Con- 
 gress in 1828. In doing this we will give the prescribed 
 amount on each consecutive day of their life, with regard to 
 the day of their respective ages : 
 
 It is stated by Dr. Lardner that it takes hurdles of eight 
 square feet of space in the first age of the worms hatched from 
 one ounce of eggs; and in the second age, fifteen square feet; 
 third age, thirty-five square feet; fourth age, eighty-three 
 square feet; and in the fifth or last age, one hundred and 
 eighty -four square feet; the worms having four moultings. 
 Having completed their growth in about thirty-three days 
 the. hurdles should be numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., and each day's 
 hatching kept separate, and fed as follows: First day, at in- 
 tervals of two hours apart, three-quarters of a pound of 
 chopped leaves cut very fine and sprinkled on the new hatched 
 worms, which are one-twelfth of an inch long." "Give them 
 plenty of room, feed them regularly four times a day," says 
 Count Dondolo, "if you wish to have strong and healthy 
 worms." Second day, give one pound and a quarter of chopped 
 leaves ; feed them at four different interval?, dividing the time 
 equally, and giving the smallest quantity at the first feeding, 
 and so increase gradually. Third day, give four meals, con- 
 sisting of three and one-fourths pounds, cut fine as before named; 
 they will now begin to turn a sort of hazel color, and have 
 the bristly appearance of varnish. When viewed through a 
 convex lens, their surface looks something like mother of pearl 
 transparent. Fourth day, as the worms approach moult- 
 ing, a diminution of appetite occurs ; let the first meal be 
 about three-quarters of a pound and one pound and a quarter 
 divided at the other meals ; give them plenty of room whilst 
 moulting, so as to avoid them sleeping in a crowded state, by 
 gently separating and spreading them some. At the beginning 
 of this day the first appearance of change is indicated, the 
 worms begin to shake their heads and thus express uneasi- 
 
30 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 ness at the increasing tension of their skins, some scarcely 
 eating any, keeping their heads in an elevated position ; their 
 bodies appear transparent; those nearer the moulting- time, 
 when seen against the light, are of a livid yellow tinge, but the 
 greater number at the close of the day appear torpid and cease 
 to eat. Fifth day, the young leaves chopped as before ; about 
 half a pound should be scattered thinly over them at four, 
 and several times towards the end of the day ; as a general 
 thing the worms are torpid, and begin to revive. After this 
 moulting they should be cleansed from their debris, so as to 
 keep them healthy and strong after they have recovered. Be 
 sure to use the young leaves only in this stage. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. SECOND AGE. 
 
 About fifteen feet square of hurdles will be required for 
 this numerous family during the second age until after their 
 moulting. The temperature should be kept through this age 
 at from 73 to 75. The insects should not be lifted from their 
 litter until they have all recovered ; then lay a few leaves over 
 them to crawl upon, and so distribute them on the shelves or 
 hurdles. This will give them plenty of room to grow and 
 they will jiot crowd each other. Sixth day give now two 
 pounds of young tender shoots and leaves, cut a little coarser 
 than before, at intervals as before named, and after removing 
 them to clean shelves or hurdles, thoroughly cleanse those from 
 which they have been removed. Experience has proven that 
 the silk-worm likes the tender boughs so much that they re- 
 main covered on them even when the leaves are 'consumed. 
 Eighth day, give now, well chopped and picked, six and one- 
 half pounds of leaves distributed at intervals as before, letting 
 the two first meals be the largest, as some will begin to show 
 symptoms of the second moulting, by the usual prognostics of 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 31 
 
 rearing their heads and declining to eat. Ninth day, give one 
 pound six ounces of picked, tender leaves, chopped small, and 
 distributed as in the moulting before, lightly over them ; on 
 this day is again discovered the period, through their restless- 
 ness of change, and sinking under a stupor. The next day their 
 old wardrobe is disposed of and they becomes as eager, or more 
 so in their third life than in the first. Their color has now 
 become of a light grey; the hair has become so much shorter 
 as to be hardly perceptible to the eye. The muzzle, which in 
 the first age was very black, hard and scaly, became immedi- 
 ately on moulting white and soft, now again becomes black, 
 shining and scaly as before; and as the insect becomes older 
 at each moulting, its muzzle hardens, because it needs to saw 
 and bite larger and older leaves. 
 
 CHAPTER V. THIRD AGE. 
 
 Tenth day give six pounds of tender shoots and six 
 pounds of leaves, chopped small ; at the close of this age they 
 may be chopped more coarsely. The worms that have ac- 
 complished this age should not be removed from their shelves 
 or hurdles until they are nearly aroused, for part will arouse 
 on the ninth and part on the tenth day. No injurious conse- 
 quence will occur if the part tfrat has revived should wait 
 twelve or fifteen hours until the rest are ready. A never-fail- 
 ing sign that they are all revived is the undulatory motion 
 they display with their heads horizontally thrown over the 
 shelves, so as not to foment, which would cause noxious evap- 
 orations and disease. The worms should now be removed as 
 before, and will occupy thirty-five feet square of shelves or 
 hurdles. Eleventh day give at separate meals eighteen 
 pounds of chopped leaves ; the first meal should be the least 
 the worms will explain the reason themselves, as in the latter 
 
O^ TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 part of the day they are voraciously hungry. Twelfth day 
 nineteen and one-half pounds of picked leaves will be wanted, 
 chopped and divided ; and the usual meals being given, to- 
 wards evening their hunger begins to abate therefore the last 
 meal should be the least. The worms will now grow fast, their 
 skins become whiter, their bodies semi-transparent, and their 
 heads longer; they will make various contortions as their 
 change approaches. Thirteenth day ten and a half pounds 
 of leaves will be sufficient, chopped as before; give the usual 
 number of meals, the largest first and the smallest last, feeding 
 only those that require it. Should a great number be torpid > 
 whilst others require food, give only a slight meal without 
 waiting for the stated hours of feeding, in order to satisfy them 
 that they may sink into torpor speedily. Care of this kind is 
 important, and intermediate meals, given with discretion, will 
 prove beneficial. Fourteenth day five and one half pounds 
 of leaves picked and chopped will be sufficient, in ordinary 
 cases more or less, as the case may require. Indications of 
 silk now begin to appear from the occasional depositions of the 
 insects. The worm now manifests inclinations to solitude and 
 free space to slumber in. It either climbs the edge of paper, 
 the elevated stalks of leaves, or failing in that, on the litter ; 
 it rears its head, expresses its uneasiness, and immediately on 
 the v.erge of the change it avoids all gross, excrementitious 
 matter, the only fluid remaining in the worms. This is that 
 which, prior to their change, gives them a yellowish-white 
 color, like amber. Whilst the worm thus prepares for the 
 moulting, sufficiently clear the air of the cocoonery by moder- 
 ate ventilation. Fifteenth day on this day the arousing of 
 the worms js an indication of the completion of the third age- 
 The muzzle of the worm during this age has maintained a 
 reddish color, it is no longer shining and black as it appeared 
 in the first age, but now becomes more lengthened and prom- 
 inent; the head and body are much enlarged since the casting 
 of the skin, or before they have eaten at all, a proof that they 
 were strengthened in the skin they have cast ; and being now 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 33 
 
 unconfined, the natural specific density or rarefaction of their 
 substance has expanded them' at the ordinary rate of atmos- 
 pheric pressure. At the completion of this age the body of 
 the worm is more wrinkled, has become of a yellowish-white 
 or fawn color, and without a glass no hairiness is visible in 
 this age. A peculiar hissing noise is heard. This noise does 
 not proceed from the action of the; jaw, but the continual mo- 
 tion of the feet that sounds not unlike a shower of rain, until 
 they fasten on the wood, when it ceases. 
 
 CHAPTER VL FOURTH AGE. 
 
 The worms with proper care, surviving from. one ounce 
 of eggs, require space equal to eighty-three square feet, and 
 should be equally distributed, as already prescribed, The 
 temperature should not be less than 68, nor more than 71, 
 according to Count Dondolo; but when it xises, as at this sea- 
 son it inevitably will, higher compensating means must be 
 sought by the instant removal of all litter liable to fermenta- 
 tion ; give due circulation and ventilation throughout the 
 cocoonery. After the third age be careful not to lift the worms 
 from the hurdles until nearly all are aroused. It is, how- 
 ever, advisable to place the early roused in the coolest part 
 of the building. The one pajt waiting a day or a day and 
 a half for the other, as said before, is not injurious. Place 
 the last roused in the warmest part of the building. Be it 
 remembered that a moderate increase of heat sharpens the 
 appetite and accelerates the growth of the worm, and vice 
 versa. If the above rules are observed they will advance the 
 maturity of the fourth age. Sixteenth day give seven and a 
 half pounds of the young shoots, and twelve pounds of picked 
 leaves, coarsely chopped with a large blade. When the mo- 
 ment arrives for removing the worms from the hurdles, only 
 
34 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 one or two hurdles at a time should be covered with young 
 shoots. These shoots, when loaded with worms, are afterwards 
 put upon the empty shelves, and removed as in the first 
 moulting. Many may remain upon the hurdles, who as yet 
 have not strength to climb the young shoots, whilst those re- 
 moved will have eaten all the leaves off the shoots; of neces- 
 sity those remaining want to be fed a portion of the twelve 
 pounds of leaves before named. At the end of this day the 
 worms begin to evince renewed vigor. As they become more 
 nimble, they lose their ugly color and become slightly white, 
 and assume more animal vivacity. Seventeenth day thirty- 
 three pounds of leaves slightly cut up will now be wanted. 
 The first meal should be the lightest, the last most copious. 
 The worms now begin to grow fast, and their skins continue 
 to whiten. Eighteenth day forty-three pounds, slightly cut. 
 The first meals of the day to be the most plentiful. Nine- 
 teenth day fifty-one pounds, cut as before ; the worms now 
 begin to grow rapidly and reach one and a half inches long. 
 Twentieth day reduce to twenty-one pounds of the picked 
 leaves, as the appetite diminishes; let the first meal be the 
 largest and gradually lessen until the last; several are begin- 
 ning to become torpid, with discrimination, only as they are 
 wanted. The worms are now one and three-fourths inches 
 long. Twenty-first day of picked leaves give seven pounds, 
 which are sufficient for this day. They now begin to decrease 
 in size they lose part of their substance before they sink into 
 torpor. The greenish color of their rings becomes changed. 
 and their skins are now wrinkled. Twenty-second day the 
 worms rouse on this day and accomplish their fourth age. In 
 about the seventh day the worms have accomplished their 
 fourth moulting. The insects are now assuming a darker 
 color, or greyish with a red tinge. When the cocooneries are 
 kept clean the air of the cocoonery is preferable to the ex- 
 ternal, from the odor of the fresh leaves. 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 35 
 
 CHAPTER VIL FIFTH AGE. 
 
 This age of the silk-worm is the longest and most decis- 
 ive. As'they grow in this age they are liable to three evils : 
 1st the quantity of fluid they disengage every day is occa- 
 sioned by transpiration and evaporation of the leaves. 2d the 
 mephytic exhalations daily emitted from the excrernentitious 
 matter of the insects. 3d The damp, as well as the hot state 
 of the atmosphere of the cocoonery. The combination of 
 these adverse circumstances may inflict injury upon the in- 
 sects ; the skin of the worm, by these means, is liable to relax- 
 ation and to lose its elasticity ; they will also cause languor, 
 decrease of appetite, and, unless the course be arrested, will 
 cause sickness and death. The quantity of vital principle in 
 the air is lessened by the increase of vegetable fermentation 
 and foetid exhalation, aggravated by the heat of the season. 
 Therefore, it is very necessary to keep the cocoonery free from 
 all vegetable and foetid matter, so as to keep the worms 
 healthy. 
 
 Twenty-third day. At this time nearly all the worms are 
 aroused, or have accomplished their fourth moulting. The 
 cocoonery should be kept at a temperature of about 68 or 70 
 degrees. The worms should occupy about 102 square feet. 
 Feed them eighteen pounds of the young shoots, or of com- 
 mon size leaves, not sorted, and also eighteen pounds of picked 
 and sorted leaves. The eighteen pounds of shoots or other 
 leaves are the ones on which the worms are to be removed ; 
 after they are all removed, the other eighteen pounds should 
 be fed in four different meals. 
 
 Twenty-fourth day. There will be required on this day 
 fifty-four pounds of asssorted leaves, divided into eight meals 
 the first to be the least and the last the most plentiful. 
 
 Twenty-fifth day. The worms will now require eighty- 
 four pounds of assorted leaves, divided into eight meals, the 
 same as on the previous day. 
 
36 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 Twenty-sixth day. The worms will now require one 
 hundred and eight pounds of leaves, fed as before. The vora- 
 cious period of the worms is now rapidly advancing; some 
 are two and one-half inches long. 
 
 Twenty-seventh day. One hundred and sixty-two pounds 
 of picked leaves will be wanted. It will be necessary for the 
 worms to have intermediate feeds, when the regular distribu- 
 tion of leaves are devoured in less than an hour and a half. 
 Otherwise, the worms need not receive any until the regular 
 feeding time, which is every three hours. 
 
 Twenty-eighth day. Give one hundred and ninety 
 pounds of well assorted leaves the first meal to be the largest 
 fed as before. Some of the worms will be now three inches 
 long. 
 
 Twenty-ninth day. Give one hundred and eighty pounds 
 of well assorted leaves first meal to e the largest fed as be- 
 fore named, and diminished gradually. The extremities of 
 the insects are now of a shining hue. 
 
 Thirtieth day. The appetite diminishes this day, so that 
 only one hundred and thirty-five pounds of leaves will be re- 
 quired, given in eight meals. The yellowish hue now extends 
 from ring to ring, and they are gathering to the edges of the 
 hurdles, which indicates their advancement to maturity. 
 
 Thirty-first day. Their wants now diminish and they re- 
 quire only ninety-nine pounds of leaves, to be distributed with 
 care and discretion, as wanted. 
 
 Thirty-second day. During this day the fifth age will be 
 terminated, and the rising begins. Everything should now 
 be cleansed and kept clean. They are now being perfected, 
 which will be known by the following signs , 1st instead of 
 eating they get upon the leaves put upon the hurdles, raising 
 up their heads ; 2d when looking at them horizontally they 
 appear of a whitish-yellow, transparent color ; 3d when they 
 fasten to the inside of the edges of the hurdles; 4th when 
 they leave the centre of the hurdles, and crawl and try to 
 reach the edges of the hurdles and crawl up them ; 5th when 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 37 
 
 their rings draw in and their greenish color changes to a deep 
 golden hue; 6th when their skins become wrinkled about 
 
 o 
 
 their necks and their bodies feel like soft dough ; 7th when 
 taken in the hand and looked through, the body of the worm 
 .assumes the appearance of a transparent, ripe yellow plum. 
 These signs are prognostic of their rising. In preparing for 
 them to spin, the usual plan is to put small oak or other 
 boughs for them to crawl upon, and in places small pieces of 
 paper, screwed up ; but in the cocooneries of Europe they are 
 fitted up with racks, as may be seen in Mr. Schettler's cocoon- 
 ery in Salt Lake, and mine in Provo. The spinning is now 
 fairly commenced. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 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. 1st To gather cocoons. 2nd To choose the cocoons 
 which are to be preserved for their eggs or seed. 3rd Pres- 
 ervation cf 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. 
 
 In gathering the cocoons care should be taken in remov- 
 ing them from the brush or racks, as the case may be, so as 
 not to bruise or waste, and to save the floss. The floss should 
 then be taken off with great care and delicacy, and the fibres 
 not pierced, or the cocoons not flattened or bruised. Assorting 
 the cocoons is to select those intended for seed that are perfect, 
 whilst putting aside all imperfect or discolored. Fourteen 
 ounces of cocoons are equal to one ounce of eggs, and one 
 ounce of eggs will make one hundred and twenty pounds 
 weight of cocoons. (That is to say green and not dry.) 
 
 An equal number of males and females should be selected. 
 The male cocoon is smaller than the female one, depressed in 
 
38 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 the middle, as it were with a ligature, shaped in similar to a 
 peanut, sharp in somewhat at both ends, with a great degree 
 of hardness in those parts. The female cocoon is larger than 
 the male, is round and full, not much and not often depressed 
 in the middle, and more obtuse at both ends. 
 
 Preservation of Cocoons. Where the temperature of the 
 room is above 75, the transition of the chrysalis to the moth 
 state would be too rapid, and the coupling would not be pro- 
 ductive. If below 68 the development would be too tardy 
 Damp air will change it into a weakly and sickly moth. The 
 apartment, therefore, should be kept in an even and dry tem- 
 perature, between 66 and 73. 
 
 The daily loss in weight of 1,000 ounces of cocoons, from 
 the time of formation till the moth escapes: One day, 991, 
 992, 975, 970, 968, 960, 952, 943, 934, 925, according to the 
 table prepared by Count Dondolo. In three or four days from 
 the commencement of the spinning if the silk- worms have 
 finished their cocoons, and in seven or eight days when they 
 will be ready for picking from where they have been spun.* 
 M. D' Homergue says eight days but six days if there have 
 been no thunderstorms to interrupt the labors of the moth. 
 Dr. Parker informs us that with the use of electricity, his silk- 
 worms have spun in twenty seven days from the hatchment. 
 
 The gathering should be performed with care, as much 
 waste of silk is thereby saved. The cocoons may be gathered 
 in five days from being finished, but where they do not all 
 mount on the same day, it is possible that those may be culled 
 that are not quite ripe with those that are. In gathering they 
 should not be bruised, but carefully taken from their arches or 
 twigs with all their floss. 
 
 Preservation of Cocoons Intended for Producing Eggs. 
 The temperature of the room should not be above 73 or 
 the. transition of the chrysalis to the moth state would be too 
 
 *Strip tbe cocoons clear of down or floss to prevent the feet of the moth 
 bacoining entangled when coming out. 
 
TREATISE ON SERICULTURE, 39 
 
 rapid, and the coupling would not be productive. If below 
 66 the development is tardy, which is also injurious. Damp 
 air will make them weak or sickly ; therefore keep an even tem- 
 perature, between 66 and 73. Those not intended for rais- 
 ing the seed should be laid out for killing the chrysalides and 
 drying. 
 
 Stifling the Chrysalides. Where the quantity of cocoons 
 is small, the necessity of cutting may be superseded by im- 
 mediate reeling, the chrysalides should be destroyed between 
 the fifth and twelfth day at furthest after the completion of 
 the cocoon, or it will eat its way through and thus render the 
 reeling of its work impracticable. 
 
 There are several ways of killing the pupa or chrysalis. 
 1st by baking in an oven of the temperature of 88 or 89 
 wherein the cocoons are shut from four to six hours after 
 being placed in bags, which must be turned occasionally, or 
 moved to effect an equal exposure. 2d 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. 3d by steam. For this 
 purpose place the cocoons in a basket lined with three or four 
 folds of woolen cloth to promote the equal dispersion of the 
 steam; let the cocoons remain in a basket of sufficient di- 
 mensions to GOV er the mouth of the kettle, afterwards raise 
 the basket on two pieces of wood, placed across 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 burn- 
 ing charcoal is placed. This last process is said to be the in- 
 vention of G. B. Smith, of Baltimore, and to be the least 
 injurious. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. SEVENTH AGE. 
 
 It completes the entire life of the moth when the pupa, 
 or chrysalis, has completed its transformation and is ready to 
 
40 TREATISE ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 depart, it puts forth a liquid, affirmed by some to be an acid, 
 to dissolve the gum; the point being softened, it forces its 
 beak through the fibres of the cocoon and makes its way into 
 open day. At such times they should be spread upon a table 
 or suitable place. They live after leaving the cocoon, from 
 five to twelve days, according to the temperature to which 
 they are exposed. The hours in which the moths burst the 
 cocoons in greatest numbers are the three first hours after sun- 
 rise, if the temperature is from 64 to 66. The male moth, 
 tiie very moment he leaves the cocoon, goes eagerly after the 
 female. When united, they should be taken up by the wings 
 with great care, so as not to disturb them whilst coupled. 
 When a shelf is fitted up with moths, the room should be 
 made so that a person can hardly see in it. The hour of junc- 
 tion should be noted, and if any disunite they should be 
 again brought together. Light injures them. The fluttering 
 weakens and causes a loss of their vital and fecunding powers. 
 The cocoons should be moved away as soon as left, and when 
 the moth separates, after a sufficient time for conjunction, the 
 males should be thrown away. During this period minute and 
 constant attention should be paid. 
 
 The Separation and Laying of Eggs: 
 
 The male and female moths, at the proper time, if an op- 
 portunity is presented, will unite of their own accord ; but 
 when they do not they should be brought into juxtaposition, 
 and after being coupled they should remain until they sepa- 
 rate themselves. Some recommend separating* them alter six 
 hours, but this is not consonant with the instincts of the in- 
 sects, which are always the safest guide. If they separate pre- 
 maturely they might again be brought together. Let the 
 place be dark. The most vigorous of the males must now be 
 placed with the unmated females. The females are not in- 
 jured by waiting for the males a few hours the only loss is a 
 few unimpregnated eggs. While they are thus united, have 
 ready clean white calico or sheets of white printing paper. 
 
TREATISE OX SERICULTURE. 41 
 
 M. Deslongchamps, says he has used the male moth with 
 success for six couplings, and the male was as lively and brisk 
 as at the first disunion, which always had to be accomplished 
 by the hand. The males, alter leaving the females, if not 
 wanted, should be thrown away, and after cleansing off the 
 female she should be put on the cloth or paper to deposit her 
 eggs, and there remain for from thirty to forty hours. If the 
 cloth or paper is not covered, other females" should be placed 
 on the vacant spaces. The temperature should be from 65 to 
 80 degrees. 
 Preservation of the Egg w. 
 
 When the eggs have been deposited on the cloth or paper 
 and have passed through the several changes of color, name- 
 ly : after they have attained a pale clay hue, the cloth or paper 
 must be folded so as to admit air into them, to prevent heat- 
 ing. The air should be dry and not above fifty degrees, and 
 not below zero. Frost, it has been proven, does not hurt the 
 eggs, but sudden changes do. They must be preserved from 
 all other insects, vermin, and other enemies. 
 
 "CTOOC! keeping will produce good worms," said Mr. Rilley. 
 If properly treated they will never degenerate in a dry cli- 
 mate. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 T<> prepare Perforated or other Cocoon* which cannot be 
 
 reeled:. 
 
 Fill a boiler with soft water; cut soap into shreds and 
 dissolve in the water so as to make a strong suds; then put 
 the cocoons into a bag made of mosquito bar, open at the side, 
 so as to be able to take them out handily ; let them remain in 
 the water and keep it up to a scalding heat for an hour ; then 
 take them out and rinse in two or three clear waters; repeat 
 until the gum is all removed ; then dry and spin them on a 
 
42 TREATJ3E ON SERICULTURE. 
 
 small flax wheel, holding the cocoon between the finger and 
 thumb ; be sure to spin them even. 
 
 Last year, on account of late frosts, the early foliage of 
 the mulberry trees got killed in some places. The conse- 
 quence was that many lost their worms. Therefore, in future 
 it would be well to sow in the fall the white cabbage lettuce, so 
 as to be prepared with feed in case of such another occurrence, 
 for the worms will do very well on the lettuce, during the first 
 two moultings, but if you feed them with the mulberry leaf 
 first they will not eat the lettuce. 
 
 In 1878 a great many worms were lost when they were 
 ready to spin on account of the great heat, it being up to 80. 
 We lost nearly 60,000 when they had commenced to spin, they 
 being in an upper room, and it could not be cooled by wetting 
 the floor. Mrs. Wignell, of Payson, saved hers by making an 
 "experiment, as follows : She sprinkled on one of her tables 
 over the worms cold water which caused them to revive, and 
 served the others also the same way ; she thus saved her worms- 
 In speaking to Mrs. White, of Mill Creek, of the foregoing 
 circumstances, she told me that was the way she did, and with 
 the same result.