The silk-worm is a species of caterpil lar, whose life is one continual succession of changes, which, in due time, becomes a moth or winged insect, like others of the genus.
The time occupied in going through its different forms of existence varies in dif ferent countries--governed by climate, temperature, and the quality and quanti ty of the food upon which it is fed, and the nature of the particular variety of the insect.
The worm changes or casts its skin (of the common varieties) four times before it attains its full growth. These changes are called moultings, and the periods in tervening between the several moultings are termed ages. When it is first hatch ed it is of a blackish color, which after wards becomes lighter, varying almost daily to different shades, and in different varieties through every age, to the close of the last, or near the time of spinning, when it assumes a grayish yellow semi transparent appearance.
The following directions given by Mr. J. Mcliannon, Hamilton co., Ohio, for the raising of worms, has been tried in this country, and is recommended. First, have good eggs, well kept, and do not let them hatch till warm weather or in the middle of May. When hatched, lay on leaves, and move them on to clean paper by lifting the leaves. Do not let them get too thick or they cannot be fed enough without covering them too deep ly with leaves. Move and spread them every day, except when they are moult ing. Feed-often with fresh lea'ves, give them all the air you can, so that they do not blow away. After the first moulting, feed with short, tenaer twigs. They are easily moved and spread with the twigs in the morning when they are hungry. If they are neglected while young it is useless to feed them while they are old. All the diseases among my worms are caused by neglect, or by keeping them in a close building where there was not enough pure air. After they pass the se cond moulting, if they are fed with care, they will eat the leaves so clean that they will need to be moved but once between each moulting, and that should be done just before they moult ; but should their beds become foul, move them by all means.
Keep each day's hatching separate. The first day but few worms will hatch, and they serve as a guide for all the rest.
When they commence moulting, you can move the others on clean papers before they commence moulting.
If the worms are well fed and not too thick on the papers, and the weather warm, they will moult nearly at the same time ; that is, each dny's hatching, and when they are kept separate and the pa pers marked 1st, 2d, and 8c1 day, &c., you can feed them as they ought to be, fed, and when they commence winding you can put up the bushes for them to wind in, as each lot commences. They will not all need them at once as they would if all ages were mixed. When all the frames commence winding at once they cannot be attended to in time, and many worms will be lost if there is no place provided for them. They will crawl over the frames and waste their silk ; even if they make a cocoon it will be of but little value.
After the third moulting, feed with branches as long as they will lay on the frames. Keep the bed as even as possi ble. Let no leaves hang over the frame, lest sonic of the worms crawl out on them, others will cut them off, and leaves and worms will fall together to the ground.
When the worms get too large to lift with the branches, and they want moving, place five strips, three-eighths or one-half inch square, across the frames (the frames are three by four feet, the strips are three feet four inches long), so as to extend two inches over the frame on each aide. Sift lime over the whole bed till it is all white, worms and all ; then lay branches lengthwise of the frame across the five strips. After feeding a few times the worms will all be on anew bed ; they will not stay among the lime in the old bed. They are then ready to move.
Have a few duplicate frames ready ; lay two sheets of heavy brown paper that will cover the frame : if you could get one large enough to cover the frame it would be better. Give the worms a good feed, and as they come upon the upper bed, place two strips, four feet long, un der the ends of the five cross strips. Two persons can then raise the worms up, while the third person slips the frame and old bed out and places one of the du plicates in its place. The worms can then be let down, and they will keep eating as if nothing had happened.