The Silk Industry.

Manawatu Herald, 4 December 1897, Page 2

The Silk Industry.

(Continued.)

Having prepared all things at the end of September or beginning of October, according to the condition of the mulberry trees, you can buy your " seed " from the Silk Company^ Two ounces of seed will require twff> persons to look after them, but two people will be enough for three ounc,es, and so pn in proportion; The seed is placed for hatching in thin wooden boxes Gin. square by 2in, deap, lined with white paper. These boxes, wrapped in linen or woollen cloths, must be kept in a room where the temperature-,, at first 64degy rises •' gradually till at hatching it is 7?deg. For the first four days the seed must ba stirred three times a day, and on the fifth day, when the worms will hatch, perforated paper, with holes of the smallest diameter, must be placed over the eggs. Crawling through this the worms can the more easily detach themselves from the eggshells. Over these sheets of paper place some email twigs of the mulberry with the youngest tenderest leaves on them, and when they are covered by a sufficient number of worms transfer them to the trays. The newly hatched will occupy about two square feet. They will probable continue hatching for three days, and eggs left over then may be thrown away. The worms hatched on the sama day must be kept together, as they Will go through the different stages of a silkworm's life at same time and will require the same treatment. They are fed on mulberry leaves carefully sorted and cut up small for the first age, and as they grow older their food may grow coarser, but at all times care must be taken not to feed it to them damp, therefore a store of fresh leaves must always be on hand in case of rain. A shallow wooden trough and knife may be bought for cutting up the leaf at a small cost, and will practically last for all time. It is impossible in a short article like this to describe minutely the various stages that the worm goes through. It passes through what are called" moults " in the course of four weeks, growing rapidly, and after each " moult " becoming more voracious. The trays must be kept clean, and the process of cleaning is simple enough. Over the trays are placed sheets of the perforated paper, the-. holes varying in diameter, according to the size of the worm, and on this paper are placed mulberry leaves. The worms crawl through the holes to feed, and the whole sheet may be lifted off on to a clean tray, and the refuse on the dirty tray may be thrown away. In the wall sheet are very specific directions when to clean the trays. When they are about 84 days old, or rather 34 days from the time the eggs have been put to hatch, the worms from one ounce of seed will eat 300 b. of leaves in 24 hours, and will cover a space of 204 square feet, i but the work is nearly over. On the 35 h day they will only eat 1281 b. of leave-; in the 24 hours, and the trays must be cleaned for the last time, ahd the bushes or Davril ladders for , them to spin in must be placed in ! position. (To be continued.)