American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-08-22


first shelf may be cleaned for the reception OF the
worms from the next. The rooms where the worms
are kept, should allow tree circulation OF air. 10
about four weeks the worms begin to wind, and 10
this they change their skin three or four times Al
these periods, they eat nothing and should not be
distul bed. When the worms begin to spin, place
branches OF the White Oak. and twigs OF the Birch
or Chestnut trees near them, when they will leave
their food and commence forming their cocoons
In three days the worms from the commencement
of their spinning will have finished their cocoons OF
little balls Of silk. In about fourteen days from its
beginning to wind, the worm will eat out OF the
cocoon, in the shape OF moths. In this state they
require food TO prevent the moth or lily destroy
| ing the silk which they do il permitted to eat
through their cocoons) it will be necessary to bake
then in an oven of the temperaure when bread IS
drawn from il, but not so hot as TO scoTch when
tried with sprinkng OF -four. II The oven be not
warm enough, instead OF killing the chrysalis it will
only bring il forward the sooner. One half hour
in the oven If warm enough, will be sufficient to kill
the chrysas. 1t will be advisable to reserve
sufficient number Of unbaked cocoons, according TO
the quantity desired, for stock. The moths or HES
had better be placed paper, where the moths VIII
deposit their eggs the paper can then be folded up
and put in box, or other secure place. until the
mex; spring.
The worms eat more leaves in three or four days
they did in all their time before. The leaves are
accounted better for the worms, when they have
been gathered four or FIVE hours, than fresh from
the tree and in rainy weather they will keep about
two or three days. by turning them two or three
times day, without bruising them, and be ht Tor
food
To reel the silk from the cocoons-hrst, take of
the outside tow, then small quantity, perhaps
hundred cocoons, may be put in a kettle or pan oil
kattl he cnde al
moderate fire, so as to keep the water at right
heat. The water ought never to boil, as the ebuli
ton would entangle the silk. Hot water, near boil
ing. cannot fail to dissolve The gum, and the silk will
run off the cocoons with case. III the cocoons be
gently stirred with small whsk, the ends will ad
here TO it, and may be drawn up. Enough should
be taken up to make thread one e-fourth or one
sixth the size of sewing silk These ends must be
gathered into one and made fast to common reel.
and the silk can then be reeled OIL cotton any
other article. The pressing oil the thread o! silk
between the thumb and hnger as 1t goes on the reel
will foslen the several threads together, to form
one. Much attention must be given in keeping the
thread oil silk nearly OF the same Silk reeled
in this way carefully, is worth from four to FIVE dol
lars pei pound. 1t is stated that Miss Rhodes
in England, obtained from single cocoon, 408 yards
OF silk in an entire thrrad-the writer has obtained
from single cocoon Of his raising in this city,
4s9 yards, in an entire thread. 200 cocoons, will
make one ounce Of eggs that is TO say, one hun
dred pairs OF the fly will produce that quantity; for
one female Silk Moth will lay 900 eggs, which are
distinguished thus the males being pointed at both
ends OF the cocoons, and the females more blunt on
the ends and looser.
The eggs, when they first laid, are Of pale
yellow, but in few days change into liver color
and what is wonderful, these eggs are kept ten
months in he year dead thing, taking life again
n their season.
Besides all other advantages arising from propa |
eating the Silk Worm, the nation in general reaps
this one very great bene6t-tha, it employs great
number of their industrious poor for not only men,
but women. Children and impo,ent persons may be
made use of in this work, ior i, is a work both easy
and pleasant, and performed in delightful season
as any in the whole year.