DISEASES. The silkworm is liable to various diseases, particularly to muscardine, p6brine, tlacherie, gattine. and grasserie. Muscardine, commonly known as silkworm rot, is due to a fungous growth within the caterpillar. A worm so affected becomes of a dull white color, slug gish in action, and soon dies. A few days after death it becomes hard, red, and floury. The cause of the disease was discovered by an Italian. Bassi, and the fungus is called Hat ry tis lias siana. PArine, which unquestionably is a bac terial disease, is hereditary, and probably is contagious and infections besides. It is the most fatal of silkworm diseases. By IS-17 its ravages in France compelled the French to get their silkworm eggs from Italy. The disease spread to Italy and then the eggs were procured from the Danube, then from China, and in 1865 healthy eggs could be obtained only from I 'a Ateur showed selection and of healthy moths is the only remedy. With
the methods of isolation and care against con tamination such as are at present practiced.
France now supplies her own market and ex ports 300,000 ounces of silkworm eggs annually. In worms affected with tlacherie the food fer ments in the alimentary tract and sustains vi brios and certain fungi. This disease is proba bly induced by improper care of the eggs. Oat tine is probably only a modification of tlaeherie. The cause of Brasserie (q.v.) is unknown. It is the least fatal of silkworm diseases. To keep silkworms healthy they must be reared in a suitable and constant temperature. Humidity, ventilation, and cleanliness must also be strictly and constantly attended to. Lime is used for whitewashing the walls and buildings in which the worms are reared, and sulphur fumes for sterilizing the trays.