Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-15

The CULTURE OF THE SILKwoRM IN JAPAN.
The life of silkworm, as a worm - that is,
from its leaving the egg 10 forming the cocoon
lasts from forty to fifty days; during that
time it has fonr periods Of rest known, nobody
knows why, as the lions, the falcons, the boats
and the garden rest, when, for the space of from
four TO seven days, the worm stops feeding, and
casts his skin. Hatching-time varies according
TO the season, coming sometimes as early as the
10th of April, sometimes as late as the 9Th of
May. As soon as the the temperature is favor
able, and the early leaves of the mulberry
appear, the egg-cards, which have been
hanging in paper bags from the ceiling. are
taken out, and suspended in a shady spot
in the open air. The eggs darken, and during
the night the little black worms emerge
from them. The irst-comers are either
thrown away or left unnotced until their
numbers are swelled sufficiently, when they
are brushed or shaken off the cards into small
papereovered wooden boxes. Some breeders
give them nothing TO eat at this early stage /;
Others chop up the buds of the Yotsume null
berry, and scatter them over the worms. after
they have been sprinkled with sifted bran. TO
prevent them rolling themselves together in
hard little balls. After day or two, the silk
worms are removed to straw mats, covered with
a layer of rice-husks; and as they increase in
size, and require more mats, the latter are
placed upon small tables, standing on legs six
inches high which are placed one upon an
other, to save room After the second or third
rest, the worms are put into bamboo trays, and
these slowed away upon wall-shelves, one above
the other, care being taken to leave sufficient
space between the top shelf and the roof TO
allow the noxious eff1uvia to ascend. without
lnuring the health of the worm, which n IL
likely 10 do, where such precaution is not oh
| served. 'N' w
Those who believe in the virtue of cleanl-
ness are particular to take away all refuse. This
| is generally done by removing the worms with
chopshcks; but much better plan is to place
| nets, stretched on small frames, over fine
worms, and cover them with fresh leaves. IN
| which the silk-worms quickly climb, rendering
their transierence to clean trays an easy matter.
| AT first, the mulberry leaves are chopped I'm
| fine, and doled out often in small quantities
but as the worms increase in size the food in
creases in coarseness, until at last. whole
branches are strewn over the trays. When the
creatures are dull and heavy, a little sake and
water is sprinkled over their food to stimulate
their appetites. This is unnecessary inst no.
fore the last rest, for then they eat greedily.
and If not well supplied, take their revenge
by making light cocoons. After the
garden rest they cease feeding, shed their skin
and four or five days after that, begin TO form
the cocoon. When this important time is at
hail1, the maDushl is made by arching split
oamDoos lengthways over the trays, and SPREAD
ing twigs of rape, pine, or rice straw over the
arches, until a thick bed is formed. When a
worm deserts its leaf to go wandering about the
border Of It's tray, it is sure sign it is ready to
SPIN; those ready, but not rambling, are de-
te ~ ny lhe transparent paleness of their skin
All such are transferred by the fingers of vo,,nn
girls 70 the mabushi, which, as soon as spinnine
has fairly set in, is covered with mai and mt
upon shelf for eight or ten DAYS by which
time the twigs win be SO firmly Connected NV
the web spun by the worms, that the whole bed
hung from the ceiling-to remain there until MI;
those concerned have leisure to remove the CO.
coons.-ChdB,berS' Journal.