TO
The Right Honourable
The Lord Viscount PERCIVAL,

The Right Honourable
The Lord CARPENTER;

AND TO
The rest of the Honourable GENTLEMEN,

The Trustees for Establishing the
Colony of Georgia in America:

This TREATISE,
On the Management of the SILK-WORM,
Is with all Humility humbly Inscribed to your
Honours,

BY
Your Honours Most Humble, and
Most Obedient Servant,

T. B.

THE
INTRODUCTION.

HIS small Treatise, on the Management of
the *Silk-Worm*, was written some Months
since, and designed to be printed for the In-
struction and Entertainment of such Persons
as kept these Creatures for their Pleasure only:
Defpairing of ever seeing the Raising of the
Silk Manufacture again attempted; after the many Endeavours that have been made by several worthy Gentlemen, in order to establish this very profitable Branch of Trade in this Nation, had proved unsuccessful.

But since his Majesty, out of his Princely Goodnefs,
having taken into his Royal Consideration the miférable
Circumstances of many of his own poor Subjects ready to
perish for Want, and likewife the Diftrefes of many Fo-
reigners, who would willingly take Refuge here from Perfe-
cution, has been graciously pleafed to grant a Charter for
incorporating a Number of honourable, difintereffed Gen-
tlemen, by the Name of *The Trustees for establishing the
Colony of Georgia in America*. They are impowered to
collect Benefactions, and lay them out in Cloathing, Arm-
ing,

ii

The INTRODUCTION.

ing, fending over, and supporting Colonies of the Poor,
whether Subjects or Foreigners, in Georgia.

IT is now therefore humbly thought, that the following
Treatife may be of more general Ufe than it was at first in-
tended, becaufe that among the many useful Employments de-
figned for thofe induftrious Poor, that fhall become the new
Inhabitants of Georgia, it is with inexpressible Pleasure, we
hear that of raifing Raw Silk is intended as one; and what
gives us greater Expectation than ever, that the English
Nation will fpeedily be enriched with this golden Fleece, is
from thofe Honourable Gentlemen the Truftees wife and
well calculated Scheme.

THE Eſtablifhment of the Silk Manufacture in the Do-
minions of Great Britain is certainly a noble Deſign, and
excellently well worth thofe Honourable Gentlemens Con-
fideration; and that the raſing of the Silk Manufacture is
practicable even in this Kingdom, but much more fo in our
American Dominions, has been abundantly made appear,
both by the Writings and Experiments of many ingenious
Perſons.

THE Climate and Soil of New England, Carolina,
Virginia, &c. are each fo excellently well ſuited to the
Nature of the Silk-Worm, and to the Propagation of the
Mulberry-Tree; whose Leaves are theſe Creatures natural
and moſt beloved Food; that they have been often found
naturally and wildly, (if I may be allowed the Expression)
upon the Mulberry-Trees, &c. of thofe Parts: But being
neglected, unleſs by a few curious Perſons, who keep them
for little more than their Diversion, they become Food
for Birds, and other Creatures that delight to prey upon the
Silk-Worm.

AND

The INTRODUCTION.

iii

AND thus the Care and Propagation of this wonderful
Creature, whose well known Ufe is more immediately de-
figned by Providence, for the Benefit and Advantage of
Mankind, has been for fo many past Ages neglected by the
English Nation.

THERE feemed to be nothing so much wanting before, to
establish the Silk-Manufacture in England, as some eminent
Perſons to have engaged themselves heartily in the Under-
taking. This would have been the only Means to have ex-
cited others to follow their laudable Example: It was by
this Method, that they brought the Silk Trade so far on to
fuch Perfection in Italy, &c. that there, not only Perſons
of the first Rank were engaged in this Work, but the Magi-
frates alſo affifted; each lending a helping Hand, till they
ſaw this desirable and profitable Manufacture firmly rooted
and eſtablished in their Countries.

IN whatever Country the Silk Trade is propagated, be-
fides all other Advantages arifing therefrom, the Nation in
general reaps this one very great Benefit; that it employs a
great Number of their induſtrious Poor: for not only Men,
but Women, Children, and impotent Perſons, may be made
uſe of in this Work; for it is a Work both eafy and plea-
fant, and performed in as delightful a Season as any in the
whole Year.

WE are informed by Perſons worthy of Credit, that in
*Carolina* Silk is come unto great improvement, some Fa-
milies making forty or fifty Pound weight a Year, and their
Plantation Work not neglected; little Negro Children being
ſerviceable in feeding and looking after the Silk-Worms.
And that there is no Tree in *Carolina*, that thrives better
than the Mulberry-Tree, which flourifhes in that Climate

as

IV The INTRODUCTION.

as well as in any Country in the World. This plainly
thews the very great Advantage that is to be made by keep-
ing of Silk-worms; first, it takes up but about two Months
Time, which this whole Work is begun and ended in;
next, the Persons made use of to attend these Creatures,
are chiefly such as are unfit for any other Employment.

THERE can be no material Objection against the Faci-
lity of raising this desirable Trade in those Parts: I provi-
dence having amply furnished that Country with all the Ma-
terials fitting to build, and carry on this noble Work. There-
fore it is to be hop'd, from the consideration of the fitness
of the Place to propagate the Silk Trade in; (besides se-
veral other useful Employments) the Earnings of its being
perfected, the Benefit that it will be to every single Person
concern'd in keeping of Silk-Worms, and to the Nation in
general, by relieving some thousands of poor unhappy
People, who are now in a starving Condition; by placing
them in Employments, whereby they may be able to pro-
vide for themselves and their perishing Offspring: that
this will incline the Hearts of People of all Ranks to con-
tribute towards the carrying on of this Undertaking; and
that the Trustees may be the better enabled with speed to
accomplish this their noble Design.

IF this Treatise contains any thing that may be thought
useful towards the promoting of this excellent Undertaking;
then will the Writer of it think himself amply rewarded.
And that all the Endeavours of those Honourable Persons
the Trustees, that tend to this noble End, may meet with
Success, is the Prayer of him, who is heartily, and truly,
the Well-wisher of this Nation's good,

T. B.

THE
ANTIQUITY
OF THE
SILK-WORM,
AND
The Manner of its being first Introduced into EUROPE.

CANNOT see any reason to doubt, but that
the *Silk-Worm* had its Original within the sixth
day of the world's Creation; on which day the
Species of all land Insects, Quadrupeds, &c. were
created, as the Sacred Penman informs us, (*Gen.
chap. 1. v. 24.*) *And God said, let the Earth
bring forth the living Creature after his kind, Cattle and creeping Thing
and Beast of the Earth after his kind: and it was so.* But, whether
the

10 The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

the Antideluvians had discovered any Knowledge of this noble
Infect, the manner of its spinning its Web, and its usefulneſs
to Mankind for Clothing, &c. doth not appear. Neither is it
certainly known at what time after the Flood, or by what
Nation, they were first taken notice of. It is by some attribut-
ed to Noah, that he first discovered the Use of these wonderful
Creatures; and propagated them in China, where he is supposed
to have fettered after the Flood, and become a Husbandman in
thofe Parts; and by some is thought to be Fohi, their first King.
Others contend that the Knowledge and Propagation of the Silk-
Worm were as early made known to the Persians by the sons of
Noah, or their Pafterity. Be that as it will, it is certain that
both these Nations had the Knowledge of Silk very early, and
were the first that propagated Silk, and reap'd the Profit and Be-
nefit of it many hundred Years before any other Country. For
the first time that any Silk was brought into Greece, was after
Alexander the Great had conquer'd Perſia, and about three hundred
Years before the Birth of our Saviour, which is about two thou-
fand Years ſince the Knowledge of it in thofe Parts. And from
thence it came into Italy, in the flourishing time of the Roman
Empire. But it was a long time very dear in all thofe Western
Parts, as being weight for weight of equal value with Gold, a
Pound of one coſting a Pound of the other. Perſia was the only
place which the Europeans frequented for the ſake of their Silk:
and it is certain that the Perſians took Care for many hundred
Years to keep their Manufactures to themselves, not permitting
the Silk-Worms to be carried out of Perſia, or any Perſons to paſs
from thence into the Weſt, who were skilled in managing of them.
This made them in Europe to be so ignorant, as to think, that
Silk grew on the tops of Trees, as Cotton.

So

of the SILK-WORM.

11

So that by this may be seen how ignorant the Europeans were,
as to the Knowledge of the production of Silk; and remained so
until the time of Juflinian the Emperor, the Reign of which Em-
peror began A. D. 526. He looking on it as a great Hardship,
that the Subjects of his Empire ſhould buy this Manufacture of the
Perſians at ſo dear a Rate, in order to put an End to this Impoſi-
tion, ſent two Monks into India * (understanding that there was
plenty of Silk in those Parts) to learn there how the filken Trade
was managed; and on their return to bring with them, if it was
poffible to be procured, ſome of the Species, whether Vegetable
or Animal, from which the Silk was produced; that ſo he might
fet up the Manufacture in his own Dominions. Theſe Monks,
when they returned, told him, that the Silk was produc'd by an
Infect, which could not be brought so long a Journey alive. But
understanding from them that its Eggsmight be brought; and that

* The whole countrey of China was antiently (as Ptolemy ſays) called Serica, from its abounding with Silk; for the ſeveral Provinces have great numbers of Silk-Worms, and ſuch vaſt quantities of Silk, that the inhabitants thereof ſpend the greatest part of their Time in tending, looking after, and taking Care of the increasing of them : So that ten Suits of Silk may there be bought cheaper than you can buy one of Cloth in Europe. And the Chinese continue to make the greatest Advantage thereof to this Day of any Nation, by planting the Seed of the Mulberry-Trees twice a Year, and mowing them down to feed their Silk-Worms with; by which means they have two Crops a Year. Thoſe which they do not mow they cut every Year, that ſo they may not grow up to any large neſſ; for they find by Experience, that the Leaves of the low or young Trees make the best Silk: ſo that by this one means, all who keep Silk-Worms know very well how to diſtinguish the first spinning of the Silk from the ſecond, because the first is the Product of the soft and tender Leaves, which ſhoot forth first in the Spring, and are then eaten by the Worms; but the hard and four Summer Leaves make the ſecond Spinning; which Alteration of Food doth occasion so great a difference in the Product of these ſmall Creatures.

B 2

from

12

The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

from them the Creatures might be propagated; He sent them back a second time, to bring him of those Eggs, who, having effected what they went about, brought to Conflantinople great quantities of those Eggs, which they presented to the Emperor, enclosed in a Roll or Horn of Paper, with Instructions how to breed, nourish, and draw Silk from the said Creatures; which was received with great Applause and Admiration, [See Plate 1, facing the Title.] And from them have been propagated all the Silk-Worms, and their Silk in Europe.

A Description of the SILK-WORM, and of its several Transformations.

THE first is from an Egg of the bigness of a Mustard-seed, of a Liver-colour, to a Worm or Caterpillar of a pale Cream-colour inclining to white, with one small dark Circle on each side upon every Joint, and two half Circles on its Back; having six Feet, viz. three on each side near the Head, and ten Holders, viz. four on each side near the middle of the Body, and one small one on each side near the Tail. During this Form it undergoes constantly four Sicknesses, each lafting about three Days, wherein it feeds not at all, but grows thicker, shorter, and clearer and at each sickness changes its Skin.

THE second Change is, from a Worm to an Aurelia or Chrysalis, of the same Colour as the Egg, having the shape of a small Plum, [See Plate 2.] whereunto it is transformed after its spinning time; in which state it lies shut up in hot Countries for fourteen or fifteen Days, in more temperate ones eighteen or twenty Days, without any Food known to us: during which time,

of the SILK-WORM.

time this Insect leaves two Coats, both that of a Worm, when it
is changed into an Aurelia, and that of an Aurelia, when it be-
comes a Moth in its Silk-cafe or Bottom.

THE third Transformation is, from an *Aurelia* to a *Moth*, coming out of its Cafe, with a Head, Legs, Wings, Horns, &c. For which Paflage, it makes way by a whitifh Water it cafts up-on the Silk; which moistening, and thereby in a manner putrefying it, the new Creature eats its way out thro' the sharp end of the Cafe, by a Hole as big as itself. There is found no Excrement in the Cafe, but only the two Skins juft mentioned. This laft Change into a *Moth* is the Perfection of this Insect. Soon after the Male and Female *Moths* are come out of their Cafes, they Couple, and continue coupled for eight or ten Hours, the Male having spent himfelf, falleth down, and in a ſhort time after dieth; and the Female, having firſt laid her Eggs, ſhareth the fame Fate. The Eggs, when they are firſt laid, are of a pale Yellow, but in a few Days change into a Liver-colour. And, what is wonderful, these Eggs are kept ten Months in the Year as a dead Thing, taking Life again in their Season.

Note, That Cafe, Silk-bottom, Cod, Ball, &c. are only di-
vers Names for one and the fame Thing.

The manner of Hatching the SILK-WORMS Eggs;
and how to order the Worms.

FIRST of all, great Care is to be taken to be furnished
with Mulberry-leaves, sufficient to fupport ſuch a number
of Worms as you intend to breed. It is estimated that Silk-
worms,

The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

14

worms, produced from an Ounce of Seed, eat, in their whole
time of Feeding, from two to three hundred Pound weight of
Mulberry-leaves. Being provided with Eggs, and secured of
Leaves for the maintenance of the Creatures; in order to hatch
them at the proper Season, observe the following Method.

When the Mulberry-Tree begins a little to Bud, which is about
the latter end of April, or beginning of May, take the Silk-
worms Eggs, and put them into little safe deal Boxes, lined with
Paper, about an Ounce of Eggs in each Box*, or else tie them
up in Linen, or fine Lawn-Bags. These Boxes or Bags you
may put into your Bofom, or in your Pockets next your Body in
the Day time, taking Care not to prefs or shake them too much;
and on Nights between warm Pillows put under your Bolfer
or Bed, to the End that they may continually receive as it were
a natural Heat, during the whole time of their Hatching: Not
but that the Nature of this Creature is such at the proper Sea-
son, that the Eggs will Hatch of themselves, there is no prevent-
ing of them, unlefs by keeping them extraordinary cool. Some
efteem this the best way of hatching the Eggs, as being more

* It is a Practice used in some Countries where Silk-Worms are kept, that a little before they begin to hatch the Eggs, they first put them into some of the best and strongest Wine made luke-warm, swirling them gently for about half a quarter of an Hour: by which means they fever the Decayed from the Sound, the bad floating on the Surface of the Wine, and the good finking to the bottom, being heavier, which only are to be preferred as fit for use. This practice is entirely needlefs; if it does no damage, it certainly adds not the least virtue to the Eggs. In some parts of France, instead of putting the Eggs into the Wine, they spurt it on them with their mouths, and after fever them with a knife: this method is as needlefs as the former. They will succeed as well without any such means.

Natural.

of the SILK-WORM.

Natural. Others prefer the other way, becaufe the Worms hatch much sooner: But the former way of affifting them with warm Pillows, &c, is certainly the Method that has been practifed with Success, both in France, Spain, &c. for many Ages paft.

THERE is no great Danger or Difficulty in hatching the Eggs; the chief Thing to be regarded is, to keep them continually warm; therefore if you put the Boxes or Bags in the Day-time in a Room where the Sun hines powerfully upon them, or place them upon a Hearth where they may receive a moderate Heat from the Fire, either of these ways will do as well as the former.

AND this Method you are to obferve for three Days, without looking upon them, for fear the cold Air injure them; and, if there be no appearance of any being hatched, you may continue them warm two or three Days longer; and then without doubt you will find some of them hatched, which must not be separated from the Eggs that are not hatched, but put all together with the Linen, into a deal Box. This is to be understood of those only that are hatched in Linen, or fine Lawn Bags: for such as are hatched in Boxes are to be separated from the Eggs that are unhatched by this Method, (and the Reason of putting the former into Boxes is, that they may be separated as they come out of their Eggs, after the fame manner.) Take a piece of clean white Paper pierced full of small Holes, that will just fit the infide of the Box*. This must be laid upon the Eggs, and new hatched

* The Method used by many People that keep Silk-Worms in England is, as faft as the Worms hatch, with a feather or a hair pencil, a little wetted, to just touch the Worm, and it will stick to it; and by this means they remove them to the Boxes prepared for nurfing them in.

Worms 3.

16 The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

Worms; and upon the Paper put three or four of the youngest and tenderest Mulberry-leaves; or for want of them young Lettice, Succory, or Bramble-leaves, which the Worms will feed upon very freely, especially the Lettice, and likewise on the Leaves of many other Trees; yet none are so agreeable to the Silk-worm as the Mulberry-leaf, the other being apt to scour them too much. Therefore it is better to keep back the Eggs from hatching, till you are sure of Mulberry-leaves, (and keep them constantly to that Diet,) and the young Worms will come thro' the Holes of the Paper, as fall as they Hatch, to feed upon the Leaves.

As soon as you lee your new hatch'd Worms come upon the Paper, and get upon the Leaves, then you may open your Boxes every two Hours, or oftner, and thefe Leaves with the Worms upon them you muft fill remove, without touching the Worms with your Hands, into other Boxes, leaving fresh Leaves as well on, thofe that are removed, as on the Paper where the Eggs are; and this is the Method which muft be duly kept and obferved, until all the Worms are hatch'd, which will be in about five Days from their firft beginning to hatch; for what Eggs remain unhatch'd in that time (if proper Care has been taken in order to hatch them) may be thrown away, as not good. Thofe that are hatched Day by Day muft be kept apart, upon account of their different times of Sicknesses; and Knowing the time of their sleepy Diseafes, which come upon them, you may prevent the Accidents and Evils which attend them; which are four in the time of their feeding, the firft about twelve Days after they are hatch'd, and from that time at the end of every eight Days, according to the Weather, and their good or ill Uſage: During which time of every Sickness, which lafteth three or four Days, you

of the SILK-WORM.

you muft feed them but very little, as only to relieve ſuch of them as ſhall have pafs'd their Sicknesses before the reſt, and thofe that ſhall not fall into their Sicknesses ſo ſoon. Wherefore, until they come to their firſt Sicknesses, give them young Mulberry-Leaves twice a Day, but few at a time: from thence, until their ſecond Sicknesses, twice every Day in greater Quantity; and ſo from their ſecond to their third Sicknesses, increaſing the Quantity of the Leaves, according as you perceive the Worms to grow in Strength, and clear of Sicknesses. From the third until the fourth Sicknesses, you may give them Leaves thrice every Day; and, the fourth being paſt, you may let them have ſo many as they will eat, always taking care that you give them none but ſuch as are dry, and well aired upon a Table or Cloth, before they be laid upon them; and withal gathered, ſo near as may be, at ſuch times, as either the Sun or Wind hath cleared them of the Dew that falleth upon them.

*Note, The Worms eat more Leaves in three or four Days after they have paffed their fourth Sicknesses, than they did in all their time before.*

LET the Leaves be gathered with clean Hands; be careful not to bruſe them; and let the Bags or Baskets that you put the Leaves into be very clean.

N. B. 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 Days, by turning them two or three times a Day, without bruising them, and be fit for Food.

C

WHEN

18

The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

WHEN you perceive the Worms to grow in Bignets, and prefs one another too much, you may remove them to Shelves. Observe in the removing of them, to do it by giving them fresh young Mulberry-Leaves, and taking them out again in a quarter of an Hour, or thereabouts, with the Worms that are upon them, without touching the Worms with your Hands: And this do till you have removed all the Worms to the Shelves prepared for the nursing them on, after the following Manner.

RAISE in a convenient airy Room, as many Shelves made of dry wholeforn Wood, free from any strong offensive Smell, as likewise let the whole Scaffolding be, as you judge sufficient for your Purpose. Place these Shelves three, four, or five Stories, one above another, according to the Height of the Roof of the House, or the number of Shelves you stand in need of, and at about eighteen Inches distance; the lowermost being about three or four Foot broad, and let each of the other Shelves fall four or five Inches narrower than the next under it; that, if any of the Worms should fall off from one Shelve, the next may catch them. Let the whole Scaffolding stand at some distance from the Wall, that you may go round them, the better to observe and attend them, and also the better to secure them from Rats and Mice, which will destroy the Worms. They have likewise other Enemies, which they must be defended from, such as Cats, Poultry, Birds, &c. The Shelves being thus prepared and secured for the feeding of the Worms, you need observe no other Order than this: Lay under them upon the Tables or Shelves, Leaves of broad, course, clean Paper, until such Time as the Worms have paffed their third Sickness, then the Paper may be

of the SILK-WORM.

be taken away; and twice a Day give them new and fresh green
Leaves to feed on. And every two or three Days remove them,
and make clean their Boxes or Shelves, unlefs in times of their
Sickneſs; for then they are not to be touched: The Leaves
which you take from them, when you give them fresh to feed
on, you may lay in some convenient Place, and upon them
a few new Leaves, to which the Worms that lay hidden in the
old will come; and then you may pafs them with the faſd new
Leaves to the reſt of the Worms. The being careful to keep
clean their Boxes or Shelves, is a ſpecial means whereby to pre-
ſerve them: Wherefore, when you intend to do it, you muſt
remove them, together with the uppermoſt Leaves whereon they
lie, unto other Boxes or Shelves; for with your Hands you may
not touch them, till they have throughly undergone their third
Sickneſs; and then you may pafs them gently with clean Hands;
provided that the Party that cometh near them ſmell not of
Garlick, Onions, or any other ſtrong offensive Smell; which
Caution is to be obſerved at all times, whileſt the Worms are
feeding, &c. The firſt five Weeks of their Age, you muſt be
very careful to keep them warm, and in time of Rain, or cold
Weather, to fet in the Room a Pan of Small-coal Duſt, burning in
it now and then ſome Incenſe, Benjamin, and ſuch like as yield
ſweet Smells. But afterwards, unleſs in time of extraordinary
Cold, give them Air, and take heed of keeping them too hot.
As the Worms increaſe in Bigneſs, you may diſperſe them abroad
upon more Boards or Shelves, and not ſuffer them to lie too
thick together: And if you find any of them broken, or of a
yellow glittering Colour, inclining to Sickneſs, caſt them away,
left they inſe the reſt: And forſt ſuch as are not ſick, the greatest
and ſtrongest by themſelves; for ſo the leſſer will proper the

C 2

better.

20 The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

better. Before they begin to fspin, and about the latter End of their feeding, they muſt be often changed, and have Air enough, by opening the Windows of the Room, if it be not ill Weather; else the Silk, which is in their Belly, will cauſe so extraordinary a Heat in them, as to burn their Inteſtines, and sometimes burſt them. The whole time of their feeding is about forty or forty-five Days, that is, from their firſt hatching, to their beginning to fpin their Web. The beſt Difcovery of their Maturity for fpinning is, when they begin to quit their white Colour, and their Bodies appear of a clear transparent flesh Colour, eſpecially upon their Tails, and are reſtleſs, neglecting to feed. Then you muſt prepare clean dry'd Branches of either Birch, Briars, Vine, Rosemary, or the Stalks of Lavender. Obſerve to dry your Twigs or Branches well in the Sun, becauſe the leaſt Moisture, join'd with the Heat of the Worms, would cauſe a great Diforder. Place your Boughs or Branches in Ranges againſt the ſides of your Shelves upright, at about a Foot diſtance, the largeſt end reſting upon the loweſt Shelf, and the ſmall end of the ſmall Boughs reſting againſt the next Shelf; ſecuring them from falling, so that you may bend and ſpread them about, making as it were Arches of them. Then between the Foot of the ſaid Boughs, upon the Shelves, you are to put the Worms, giving them freeſh tender green Leaves, as many as they will eat, and as you perceive them to be ready to fpin their Silk, they will be climbing up the ſaid Boughs. In their getting up, you muſt take care that they do not mix two or three together, to make one Ball or Bottom; which will make the Silk double, and be no Profit to the Maſter. At this Period you muſt cleanſe them very often, becauſe they dung much. Now, if you perceive that in some Days after your Arches are fitted, and moſt of the Worms are

are

of the SILK-WORM.

are getting, or got upon the Boughs or Twigs, and that some of
them do not endeavour to get up, shift the Traff under them,
and apply Vinegar and sweet Herbs, as before, or rub all their
Apartments with the Leaves of Fennel, Lavender, or Thyme,
and they will soon become diligent in their Labour. They muft
be by no means diffurbed or interrupted in their Work, to the
end that their whole Store may be exhauffed. As for their man-
ner of working, it is obferv'd, that the firſt Day they make only
a Web, the ſecond Day they form their Cafes in this Web, and
cover themſelves all over with Silk. The third Day they are no
longer ſeen; and the Days following they thicken their Cafes,
always by one End or Thread, which they never break off them-
ſelves.

THERE have been ſome ingenious Perfons, who have had the
Curioſity ſometimes to meaſure the Silk that completed one of
their Cafes, which has been found to have been above three
hundred Yards, and weighed but two Grains. When the
Worms have finſhed their Balls, which is within four or five
Days from their beginning to ſpin, though according to
ſome, it is eight or ten Days before they have completed
their Bottoms: then muſt you take away the Branches, care-
fully ſeparating the Balls from them. Make choice of the very
beſt Bottoms, to propagate their Seed for the next Year; which
ſome give you these Signs to know them by, viz.: The for-
wardeſt, the hardeſt, the reddeſt or beſt coloured muſt be che-
ſen, and as many Male as Female Cafes. Note, Two hundred
Silk-Cods will make one Ounce of Seed; that is to ſay, one
hundred of Males, and one hundred Females, will produce
that Quantity; for one Female Silk-Moth will lay two hun-
dred Eggs, which are diſtinguifhed thus, the Male's being
pointed.

22 The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

pointed at both ends of the Cafes, and the Female's more
blunt on the ends, bigger belly'd, and looser. And that care
be had, that no Cafes be chosen, but those wherein the Au-
relias are heard rolling. From the rest, wind off the Silk in
four or five Days, or in ten at most, to prevent the Aurelia,
from eating through; which it will do, if you stay fifteen or
twenty Days after they have done spinning. By this quick dif-
patch in winding off the Silk, you will have the best fort. But, if
you have not time to wind them off presently, you must kill
the Worms, either by the heat of the Sun, or in an Oven: if
in the Sun, you must spread the Silk-Bottoms in the Sun at
Neon-day, upon Planks, or such like, for an Hour or two,
turning them often. After that, gather them all into a heap
in a Linen Cloth, and also cover them so clofe, as to smoother
the Worms within their Bottoms; and, continue so doing
two or three Days. In cafe the Sun should not be hot or
powerful enough, you must have recourse to the Oven, after
the Bread is drawn; but let them not remain above an Hour
in the Oven, left the Silk should be finged, or being too dry,
become unfit to be spun. There is another way to kill the
Worms in their Bottoms, practifed in *Meffina*; where they have
Furnaces, great Cauldrons, or Coppers for this use. These they
fill half full with Water, then they lay a round Lid or Cover
of plank or board within the Copper, which touches not the
Water, altho' it lies within four or five Fingers breadth of it.
This must be bored as full of holes as a Sieve; and covered
with a thin Carpet of Darnix, or such like: then lay your
Silk-bottoms upon the Carpet, stirring them often: and cover the
Copper at top to retain the Heat; that it may smoother the
Worms in the Bottoms. When they are dead, take out the
bottoms,

of the SILK-WORM.

bottoms, and lay them in an airy Room, to dry up their moisture; then keep the Silk-bottoms in a place where they may not be pressed too hard, and where Vermin cannot come; you may reserve them till you have leisure to wind the Silk. By this method the Silk lofeth not its Colour; and is as good and manageable as if it had been spun, when the Worms finished it.

The Way of winding off the SILK, from all forts of Bottoms.

SET upon the Fire a Kettle, or Cauldron, almost full of Water; make it just ready to boil, and take off the scum: then put in your Balls, which you must stir about with a little Brush or Whisk; and, if the thread doth not appear, you must increase your Fire; but, if it comes easily, diminish your Fire, and you will find the end of the thread fasten'd to the Brush, which take hold of with your Finger, and stretch it two yards or more, until the coursest of the Silk, which always comes first, is unravelled: cut off this part, and lay it aside, keeping fast hold of the other end still: when you have found the end of your Threads of Silk-Balls after this method, you must proceed to the winding of them with a Machine or Reel. According to the sort of Silk which you intend to make, you must take the number of the Threads together, holding them very close with your Finger and Thumb, to prevent any knots or trash passing together with the Silk; and, to render the Work more easy, you may place a Stick a cross

The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

24

crofs the Reel, which is called a Lancet, fixed a little higher
than the Bobbins: in which Stick place a Ring made of Wire,
to keep the Threads together, before they come to the Bank
of the Reel; which Threads you muft direct with your Finger
and Thumb. In winding the Silk, you muft continue the fame
number of Threads with which you began, to the conclufion.
If one Thread breaks, you muft join it together; if one Bot-
tom ends before the other, you muft supply it again. As
your Water grows foul with dead Worms, or Trafh, you muft
fcum them off; or, when dirty, be supplied with clean Water.
The value of the Silk confifts in the clearneſs, lightneſs, and
number of Threads joined together: The common fortſis four
Threads: if you have a mind to make that which is called
Organcine, you muſt join fix Threads; if that fort called Ve-
rone, twelve or fifteen Threads together. We are told by Gen-
tlemen of good intelligence, that they are arrived to ſuch a
perfection in China, that the charge of making a pound of
Silk there does not ſtand in above five Shillings; and almoſt
any Perſon, Man, Woman, or Child, may work at it. And
a Man or Woman, with a Child to affift in directing the Thread
of the Silk, may, with a proper Machine, reel from the Silk-
Bags one pound a Day.

## How to preserve the SILK-WORM'S Eggs.

IN about fifteen or twenty Days after the Silk-Worm has
finifhed its Bottom, it will pierce its way out of its Cafe,
transformed into a Moth. Therefore, before that time you are
with a Needle and Thread to couple the Male and Female
bottoms;

of the SILK-WORM.

25

bottoms; and take care not to thrust the Needle thro' the
bottom, for fear of hurting the Chrysalis, but on one side on-
ly; paſſing thro' the firſt Course, Down, or Sleave; then hang
them up where vermin cannot come; and when the Aurelia
is turned to a Moth, and come forth, you are to take it by
the wings, and fet it upon a shelf, that the Male and Female
may couple together. The Male may be diſtinguifh'd from the
Female, by having a leſſer Body, broader Horns, and fluttering
his Wings oftner, and more strongly than the Female. The Male
fluttering with his Wings, will join and couple with the Fe-
male: The Female having firſt purged herſelf of a kind of
reddifh Humour by the fundamental, muſt be left in that poſture
for about nine or ten Hours, in which they will continue ſome-
times for twenty-four Hours together, if they be let alone; and
in that cafe the Female will receive very great hurt, or much
Seed will remain in her Belly. Obſerve, after the Male and Fe-
male have coupled a ſufficient time, (which, as I obſerved before,
is about nine or ten Hours) that you be provided with ſome
ſtuff that hath no Wool upon it, as fine Lawn, Linen, or Paper;
hang this up in a Room, and put the coupled Moths together
upon it, as they are; removing them by the Wings; and then
the Female is to be gently pulled away, and not ſuffered to
couple twice. The Female will then lay her Eggs, having firſt let
fall another Humour, which is thought to proceed from the Seed
of the Male: and the Male is to be thrown away as uſelesſ.
The Seed, at firſt coming out, is of a pale Yellow; but within a
few days after it is laid, turns to a liver Colour, which is a
ſign of Goodneſs; whereas that of which remain Yellow, and
don't change to a liver Colour, are of no value, having no ſe-
cundity in them. When you fee that all the Moths are dead, and
the Eggs turned to a liver Colour, you muſt not take them off

D

the

26 The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

the stuff they are first laid upon*, but wrap the Eggs up in it; and put them into an Earthen Pot; which must be kept in a temperate Place, in Summer; in Winter, put them into a Box, which Box put into your Trunk or Chest amongst your Woolen Clothes, where let them remain until the next Year.

*Some account of the Profits arising from keeping of SILK-WORMS.*

SILK-WORMS, produced from an ounce of Eggs, eat, in their whole time of feeding, from two to three hundred Pound weight of Mulberry-Leaves: and that number of Worms will spin from five to ten pound weight of Silk, more or less, according as they are in largets and goodnefs. They require the attendance of two Perſons for about two months, one to gather and bring Leaves, the other to feed, clean, and manage the Worms, in which ſpace of time the whole Work will be compleated.

*Note, That two Perſons will attend and feed all the Worms that come of fix Ounces of Eggs, till they be paſt their fourth Sickneſs, and within a Fortnight of their Spinning.*

* N. B. It has been directed by moſt Perſons who have treated on this Subject, that the Eggs are to be taken off from the Paper, (or whatever eſſe they are lay'd upon) carefully with the Point of a Knife: this is an Error that has eſcap'd moſt of their Obſervations, for it cannot be done without manifeſt hazard of spoiling the Egg: Befides, it is contrary to Nature, who is ever careful in preferving the ſeminal Principle of both vegetable and animal Bodies; an instance of which is conspicuous in this little Egg; by supplying it with a glutinous Matter, which sticks and as it were rivets it to the thing the Moth first lays her Egg upon, and it is undoubtedly ſaſſuited on purpose that the young Worm at its time of hatching, may with more eafe come out, and clear it ſelf of its Shell; for otherwife was the Egg loose, it would be liable to numberleſs Accidents, and the young Creature be ſore'd oftentimes to drag the Shell after it, and sometimes fall down and perſish.

and

of the SILK-WORM.

and then the Worms muſt be more carefully fed and attend ed, it being the chief time wherein they make and ſtore up the materials for their Silk; then there are required ſive or ſix Perſons to aſſiſt in feeding and managing the Worms.

IT is eſtimated, that in France a fourth part of the Silk de frays all charges: and in Italy, where it has been longer im proved, a ſixth part will diſcharge all expences, clearing ſive parts: and they reckon the Mulberry-Leaves the half of the whole Charge, if they are ſorced to buy them. It is customary in many places where great numbers of Silk-Worms are kept, for Gentlemen to let out their Mulberry-Trees to the Poor, and ſuch Perſons who make it their buſineſs to nurſe these Creatures; which turns to a very good Account.

*Note, That the foregoing inſtructions concerning the manage ment of the Silk-Worm, are agreeable to the Practice of those Countries where these Creatures are Nurs'd, &c. as a Trade for a livelihood, only I have interſpers'd ſome late improvements made by divers Perſons on this Subject. And that the Figures annexed to this Treatife are copy'd from the draughts, publish'd by Le Tellier in his Treatife on this Subject (excepting the Plate repreſent ing the ſeveral Transformations of the Silk-Worm, which was delineated by the ingenious Mr. Eleazar Albin) printed at Paris. That Gentleman, from his nice, curious, and long Obſervations on this pleaſant, and no leſs profitable Subject, having diſ covered more of the nature and management of the Silk- Worm, than any that went before him, and as he him ſelf tells us, that not only many of his predeceſſors were maſters of Silk-Worms, but for his own part he was ſo par ticularly curious in this Buſineſs, that he took a Tour thro' the ſeveral Provinces of France, into Spain, Italy, and other

places

D 2

The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

28

places where the Silk-Trade was established, on purpose to observe the different ways of managing the Silk-Worms. And from the then most approved Method he delineated these curious Draughts, which I have copy'd, excepting in a few Particulars that I altered, that I might thereby adapt them to the more improved Discoveries of modern Observations.

I shall here subjoin the manner of Breeding, &c. of SILK-WORMS, as practised by many young Ladies and others of this Kingdom, who keep these Creatures for their diversion.

AT the season of the Year for hatching the Silk-Worms Eggs (which as I observed before is about the beginning of May) they provide some Sheets of fine white Cap-paper, and each of these Sheets they make into the form of a Dripping-Pan, by turning up the Edges of the Paper about an Inch and half on every fide, in these Paper Pans * they put the Silk-Worms Eggs, placing them in a Chamber Window, where the Sunshines powerfully upon them, and securing them from Cats, Birds, &c. they there leave them day and night to hatch of themselves, and when they receive the Worms begin to come out of their Eggs, they give them young Mulberry-Leaves, or for the want of them, they feed the Worms with the Leaves of Lettice, till they can have Mulberry-Leaves, and then they keep them constantly to that diet. And, after this manner, in these Paper Troughs or Pans they feed them till their spinning time, taking care to clean them every

* There is a Conveniency in feeding the Worms in these Paper Troughs, because they may the more easily be removed, either up Stairs or down, or from one Room to another, if there should be occasion.

Day,

of the SILK-WORM.

29

Day, or as often as Occasion requireth it; and if they are minded to remove the Worms to other Troughs or Pans, they give them a few fresh Leaves, and the Worms will come presently upon them. So these Leaves they remove with the Worms upon them; but if the Worms are grown large, they take them gently in their hands, and put them into other Troughs. When the Worms have fed their full time, and are ready to spin their Silk, they roll up white Paper like a Wafers, these they pin up againft the hangings of a Room, or to Lines tied cros the Room, and in these Papers they put every single Worm, as they perceive it wants to spin, which it will begin to do generally as soon as it is put into the Paper. When the Worm has finished its cafe, and changed into a Chrysalis, which is known by hearing it rattle, when it is shaken at the Ear. Then they proceed to wind off the Silk, according to their different Methods; never suffering the Moth-Fly to eat its way out of the cafe, not even of those that are designed to propagate Seed for the next Year.

A GENTLEMAN whom I have known to be very particularly curious in his Observations and Experiments upon the Silk-Worm; his Method in winding off the Silk was, as soon as the Worms had finished their Bottoms, and changed into a Chrysalis, to put the Bottoms into warm Water, with some Spirit of Wine in it, which by Experience he found facilitated the winding off the Silk very much; the Ends he found very easily, and wound it on a Card in his Hand, without any Reel or Machine at all: And as the Silk-Cafes were wound off, he took the Chrysalis of each, and placed them in one of those clean Paper-pans, and upon the piqued end; and when its time was accomplished, that it was to enter upon its laft Transformation of a Moth-Fly, it affumed its new State, as well as if it had continued the whole time

The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

time in its Silk-cafe; and this Method has been obferved by divers other Perfons, who wind off the Silk after the fame manner. When the Silk-Moths are come out of their Shells, being perfectly transformed, and are put into such Paper Dripping-Pans, or Troughs, as they were bred in. There they will couple, and lay their Eggs; when that is over, the Papers with the Eggs upon them (never attempt to take the Eggs off) are to be put into a Cheft or Trunk one upon another, and without any other Art or Means; there let them remain till the next Spring.

Note, I am very credibly inform'd, of some Ladies in England, who keep great Numbers of Silk-Worms, that besides the Pleasure they take in feeding and obferving these wonderful Creatures, make use of the Silk-bottom, which they cut (after the outer Sleave or Down is off) into artificial Flowers to wear in their Heads, which they themselves paint and colour, to imitate Nature, and is thought to be the most fitting thing in being for that purpose.

## Some Inſtructions for the Increase and Planting of Mulberry-Trees.

What Ground is fit for the Mulberry-Seeds, how the fame is to be ordered, and in what manner the Seeds are to be fown therein.

THE Ground which ought to be appointed for this Purpofe, besides the natural Goodneſs of it, muſt be reaſonably well dunged, and withal ſo ſituated, as that the Heat of the Sun may cheriſh it, and the nipping Blaſts of either the North Wind, or the Eaſt, may not annoy it: The Choice thereof thus made; that the Seeds may the better profit, and come up after they be ſown, you muſt dig it two Foot deep, breaking the Clods as ſmall as may be; and afterwards you may divide the fame into ſeveral

Beds

of the SILK-WORM.

Beds, of not above five Foot in breadth, ſo that you ſhall not need to indanger the Plants, by treading upon them, when either you water or weed them.

THE Mulberry-ſeeds you may lay in Water for the ſpace of twenty-two Hours, and after that you may dry them again half dry, or ſomewhat more, that when you ſow them they may not cleave together: Thus done, you muſt caſt them upon the aforefaid Beds, not altogether ſo thick as you uſe to do other Garden-ſeed, and then cover them with ſome fine Earth (paſſ'd thro' a Seive) about half an Inch thick. In dry Weather you muſt water them every two Days at fartheſt, as likewife the Plants that may come off them; and keep them as clean from Weeds as poſſibly you can.

THE time in which you ought to ſow them for your beſt Advantage, is either in March, April, or May, when Frouſts are either altogether paſt, or at the leaſt not ſo ſharp, or of ſo long Continuance, as to indanger their up-ſpring.

THERE is yet another way to ſow them, and that is as follows; you may (being directed by a ſtrait Line) make certain Furrows in the Beds abovementioned, of four Fingers deep, and about a Foot in diſtance the one from the other: After this, you may open the Earth with your Hands, on either ſide of the aforefaid Furrows, about two Fingers from the bottom, and where you have ſo open'd it, you may ſow your Seeds; and then cover them half a Finger thick with the Earth, which before you open'd.

When the Plants that are ſprung up of the Seeds are to be removed, and how they are to be planted the first time.

IN the Months of September, October, November, December, March or April, the next Year after the Seeds are ſown, you may remove their Plants, or in the Month of January, (if it be not

32 The Breeding, Nursing, &c.

not in frothy Weather) and set them in the like Beds as before,
and about a Foot from one another, but first you must cut off
their Roots about eight Inches in length, and their tops
about half a Foot above their Roots, more or lees, according to
the Strength of the said Plants, for the weaker they be, the lees
tops you may leave them. In this manner you may suffer them to
remain, weeding and watering them (as need shall require) till
they be grown fix Foot in length above their Roots, whereunto
when once they have attained, you may cut their tops, and
fuffer them to spread, always having a care to take away the
many Branches, or Suckers, that may any way hinder their
Growth, until they be come to their full length of fix Foot, as
aforeaid. Observe to set the Plants (whenever you remove
them) always in the same Position as they grew, that is, the same
side towards the Sun.

When and how the Plants are to be removed the second time, and in what manner they are to be planted where they shall remain.

IN the Months aforesaid (according as your Plants are grown
fstrong) you may remove them either into the Hedges of your
Fields, or into any other Grounds. If in Hedges, you must set
them fixteen Foot from one another : If in other Ground, intend-
ing to make a Wood of them eighteen Foot at the least. But a
Month before you remove them, you must make the Holes
(wherein you purpose to set them) about four Foot in breadth,
and so deep as that their Roots may be well covered, and half a
Foot of loose Earth left under them, having always a special
care so to place them, that they may receive the Benefit of the Sun,
and not to be shadowed or over-spread by any neighbouring Trees.

F I N I S.