In The Beginning Of April, When The Mulberry-Leaves, Begin To Put
Forth, The Eggs Or Grains That Produce The Silk-Worm, Are
Hatched.
The grains are washed in wine, and those that swim on
the top, are thrown away as good for nothing.
The rest being
deposited in small bags of linen, are worn by women in their
bosoms, until the worms begin to appear: then they are placed in
shallow wooden boxes, covered with a piece of white paper, cut
into little holes, through which the worms ascend as they are
hatched, to feed on the young mulberry-leaves, of which there is
a layer above the paper. These boxes are kept for warmth between
two mattrasses, and visited every day. Fresh leaves are laid in,
and the worms that feed are removed successively to the other
place prepared for their reception. This is an habitation,
consisting of two or three stories, about twenty inches from each
other, raised upon four wooden posts. The floors are made of
canes, and strewed with fresh mulberry-leaves: the corner posts,
and other occasional props, for sustaining the different floors,
are covered with a coat of loose heath, which is twisted round
the wood. The worms when hatched are laid upon the floors; and
here you may see them in all the different stages (if moulting or
casting the slough, a change which they undergo three times
successively before they begin to work. The silk-worm is an
animal of such acute and delicate sensations, that too much care
cannot be taken to keep its habitation clean, and to refresh it
from time to time with pure air.
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