Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-17

berry leaves will then hc given To- thca, u,ofnm.
and evening. They will spread from lcaftu heai,
and their food must bc increased daily until ,h.y
have completed their fourth sleep. If the leaves
should at amy time lie humid or wet, they ,nus, be
dried with warm cloth The leaves must Lc va.
thcrcd from the tree, after the sun has passed over
them, that they may he perfectly dry.
he sh!lworm has four sleeps, when n changes,
ana sheds It's skin. When it has had It's fourth sleep
and changed It's skin it then dcvours more food
than usual, until tho body becomes somewhat
bright, and then the thread of the silk rs sometimes
discovered Much care is required AT this moment;
small brush wood and branches Of trees should
bc prepared and arranged around the shelves, and
they must lie perfectly dry. Moisture is very in
curious. These branches should not lie too closr
together, nor should very many worms be upon
each she'll of cauc. The worms may thus spread
out upon the branches, and several will NC proven
ted from spinning their cocoon* together.
Whist the worms are seeking to rise to perform
thcir work, they must not he Lett alone, until they
nave, all OF them secured place on the branch
cS. They proceed in search OF their places with
great precipitation; hence fall to the ground
'hcso should be replaced on the branches. The
cocoons are spun in two, three, or four days.
six or seven days after the cocuons are spun,
take them from the branches, and select those from
which You may wish To obtain cgg%. In fifteen or
twenty days, The butterfly comes forth which lays
the egg.
The cocoons that destined for silk, must DO
LAID IN the sun, TO Kill :hc butterfly with
in.
OF the cocoons intended for silk. those of vel
low colour are better than red: md the white ones
| are OF the least value.
CocoonS containing the male worm, may be dis
| ungulshcd by their being longer aud somewhat
pointed; whilst the female cocoons are fuller and
rounder at the end. The malo butterfly is known
by its being thicker aud fatcr than the female and
little darker. They arc stronger than the others
and lay more seed.
The the silk can be rcolod from the co.
coons the better it will be. They should other
| vx,on
In rccling the cocoons it is of tho utmost impor.
lance to find skful person; for if they be reccd
by one who mas not had great practice, tho loss
that viii he sustained is inconccvabc. Expert
cncc will teach this truth
The silkworms arc subject to several diseases
when the person attending them does not kco u
them clean until they have changed. They may
also be effected by various winds by midday
sun. Those causes weaken them; and on this &C
count they should he kept clean. Tho windows
should be kept closed when cold winds blow, and
| brazicr of charcoal we'll lighted Should be placed
| IN the room. Incense shoWld he thrown upon the
hrc, and also onions cut into little pieces. The
worm" love odours and are cured of their diseases
! by tlrom They may also be sprnkcd with little
| rose water; and if they be diseased from having
overcat themselves they may be cured by making
them fast for two three days. If some be found
dIScolourcd or red, with n certain humor upon tho
belly, which is injurious, they should be immcdi-
ately separated from the rest, and the hcathf!l
worms should be exposed the open air, before the
Using Oh tic sun, ana alter remaining short time,
they must he restored to their place. They should
be sprinklcd with little strong vinegar, and the
shelves should first be rubbed tn southern wood
or other odoriicrous plants. They should feel the
AIR and the sun for the space of an half hour in
the morning, taking that the rays DO not strike
them. The windows to be so arranged that
the morning air enter.
1t is to be remarked that the shelves should be
ccanScd every two or three days, the remains of
the leaves that have beon cat and the cxcremcnt
OF the worms must be taken away, and then fresh
leaves arc tc be given TO them.