The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-03-07

choicest apple trees. | am informed that the
quantity and quality Of the silk depend very
much upon the perfection Of the leaf.
I" The mulberry trees have been sold from the
nursery al from three to four dollars per hum
dred. 1t is thought that l60 standard trees
ma II be planted and grown upon an acre of
ground with advantage. The experiment of
cT,ltivating the mulberry in the form of shrub
o., bush has never been attempted here, but
il is thought to be an injudicious mode of Gull
tiivation. One would suppose, indeed, that
tne perfection of the plant, and consequently
Of the leaf, would be more likely to be OBJ
Gained In the form Of tree, than in the form
Of a shrub or bush.
"It is estimated that an acre of standard
trees of moderate growth will make 40 pounds
of silk Three thousand toornls are supposed
ito make a pound. The silk norm however is
mot numbered or sold by tale, but by measure.
The dimensions or circumference Of a silver
dollar is supposed to contain 1000 eggs, as one
same are closely deposited by the miller on
the paper.
SIN the selection Of cocoons for seed pro-
portion Of males as well as females is necessa-
xy. A much less number OF males, however,
is necessary, than females. The male cocoon
n distinguished from the female by its shape
or form. The male more sharp pointed
at the ends than the female. The cocoons
thus selected for seed should be those that are
most perfectly wound. which may be discover
ed by pressing the ends with the finger. If
Che cocoon is perfectly and uniformly wound,
abe ends will be hard and of equal thickness
with the sides. The cocoons thus chosen are
hung up in room, and suspended from the
ceiling by thread, to prevent vermin or in
sects of any kind from disturbing them. In a
few days the chrysais is changed to the mil
Ter, whose first appearance is almost invaria-
bly, about sunrise and upon the outside of the
cocoon. The millers are taken from off the
'cocoons ani placed upon paper. The females
during the first day commence dropping their
eggs. They continue to deposit their eggs
from three 20 five days, and then expire. The
eggs adhere to the paper, and the paper being
folted is put into a close box to secure the
eggs from the rats, nice &c. and placed in the
cellar. 10 the succeeding summer, as soon as
the bud of the mulberry tree begins TO unfold,
the eggs are brought up from the cellar and
placed 10 an upper room TO hatch. The usual
temperature Of the season is generally sufficient
Tor that purpose. Should the weather be cold
AID unpropitious, ERE may be made in their
apartment. The eggs always hatch in the
morning. As soon as the norm appears, food
should be furnished. Ii is not usual to remove
the worm from the house to their intended
place of work, until they have cast off their
Eyst skin, which is in about ole week At
tue expiration Of the first week, they are re-
moved into room or apartment fitted up for
their lahors. This room should be as dark as
common sitting room. with all the outer
blinds closed or windows curianed The
worm always avoids the direct rays of light.
The temperature of the apartment should al
ways be kept at about summer heal. In case
Of unusual cold the worms will appear torpid,
and seem to make no progress to their labora
The worms are led upon tables aud shelreS.-
These tables or sheIreS are placed one above
another, at a distance convenient for feeding.
They are from two TO three feet wide, and may
be of any length. having lodges on their sides
TO prevent the qo0rntS from falling down.
Care should be taken to keep the tables or
Shei0es clean II is usual, however, to change
their bed twice or thrice only, while the
= worms are snail. The tc0Tnt is supposed to
suffer an convenience from being disturbed
toward the close Of their labors. Yet the
practice of some is to change their bed even in
their last week. The tables or shelves should
have no comDu iiCation with the sides of the
room or apartment where they are placed, and
to prevent psmires or ants from ascending the
legs OF the tables or shelves, tar must be ap.
Piled. In about four weeks from the time the
worms are Matched they begin to wind
They begin 10 leave their food, and may be
seen seeking refuge for that purpose. Twigs
or branches OF trees with the leaves on mnst
then be prepared. The chesnut or white OAK
twig IS used for the worm TO form its cocoon
upon.''
We believe the application Of artificial heat
to hasten the hatchrg. SO injudcous. When
the weather is not warm enough to hatch the
eggs, it is too cold for the worms to thrive
We have known worms often kept in light
rooms without any Inconvenience. Being,
like other worms, without eyes, light unac-
companied by heat does not affect them but
the direct rays of the sun, if suffered TO fall on
them, soon kills them.
" The mode here practised of obtaining the
silk from the cocoons is to put in about Que
quart of the cocoons into vessel of boiling
hot water (The water is not suffered to boil
after the cocoons are put in.) broom corn
brush, the ends of which ere cut square is Dip
ped into the vessel to catch up the ends of the
hlk. By this means number of small fla
ments are gathered, which together make a
thread, and this thread is wound on to COM
mon reel. The expense of attending upon
the worms is not great, if the trees are con.
veniently situated. An active child of Is
years of age is sufficient to attend upon 10000
worms till within ten days OF the time OF wind
ing. For the last ten days two such children
may take care Of them the first Eve days, and
four the five last days"
1t is Of great Importance in Keeling the silk,
that the water, in which the cocoons are put,
should be pure and soft. Great inconvenience
has been found from attempting to use hard
water, insomuch that those who have done it,
not knowing what occasioned the difficulty,
have been obliged to relinqush the attempt.
Hard water will not soften the glutinous mat
ter sufficiently, and the thread breaks contin-
ually.
"Cats, rats, mice, and all fowls prey upon