The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

CHINESE MODE OF REARING SILK-WORMS, ETC. 125
separate earthen vessel. Some persons, who are exceedingly-
particular in their processes, use a lye made of mulberry-tree
ashes, and place the eggs likewise, during some minutes, on
snow-water.
These processes appear efficacious for checking the hatching,
until the expanding leaves of the mulberry-tree give notice to
the silk-worm-rearer that he may take measures for bringing
forth his brood. For this purpose the rolls of paper are taken
from the earthen vessels, and hung up towards the sun, the
side to which the eggs adhere being turned from its rays, by
being placed inside, and thus allowing the heat to be transmit-
ted to them through the paper. In the evening the sheets arc
rolled closely up and placed in a warm situation. The same
proceeding is repeated on the follo^ving day, when the eggs assume
a grayish color. On the evening of the third day, after
a similar exposure, they are found to be of a much darker color,
nearly approaching to black ; and the following morning, on
the paper being unrolled, they are covered with worms. In the
higher latitudes the Chinese have recourse to the heat of stoves,
in order to promote the simultaneous hatching of the eggs.
The apartments in which the worms are kept stand in dry
situations, in a pure atmosphere, and apart from all noise, which
is thought to be annoying to the worms, especially when they
are young. The rooms are made very close, but adequate
means of ventilation provided : the doors being open to the
south. Each chamber is provided with nine or ten rows of
frames, placed one above the other. On these frames, rush
hurdles are ranged ; upon which the worms are fed through
their five ages. A uniform degree of heat is constantly pre-
served, either by means of stoves placed in the corners of the
apartments, or by chafing-dishes which from time to time are
carried up and down the room. Flame and smoke being always
carefully avoided : cow-dung dried in the sun is preferred
by the Chinese to all other kinds of fuel for this purpose.
The most unremitting attention is paid to the wants of the
worms, which are fed night and day. On their being hatched
they are furnished with forty meals for the first day, thirty are
given on the second day, and fewer on and after the third.