. The California silk growers' manual / by Ewer. California Silk Culture Association; Silkworms. SILK GROWERS' MANUAL. sprinkling water on the floor, on the outside of the building, or upon the ground around the cocoonery. No cocoonery can be suc- cessfully managed without a reliable ther- mometer. Living worms should never be handled with the fingers; when necessary to handle them always use a small twig or straw, upon which they will quickly crawl. FORMING THE COCOON. When ready to spin, or form the cocoon, which is the eighth or ninth day after its fourth molt, the worms cease to eat,
. The California silk growers' manual / by Ewer. California Silk Culture Association; Silkworms. SILK GROWERS' MANUAL. sprinkling water on the floor, on the outside of the building, or upon the ground around the cocoonery. No cocoonery can be suc- cessfully managed without a reliable ther- mometer. Living worms should never be handled with the fingers; when necessary to handle them always use a small twig or straw, upon which they will quickly crawl. FORMING THE COCOON. When ready to spin, or form the cocoon, which is the eighth or ninth day after its fourth molt, the worms cease to eat, become restless, empty themselves more freely, be- come more transparent, and slightly diminish in size. They also begin to give out their silk. When these indications are noticed, conveniences must be furnished for the pro- cess, and, if placed convenient, the worms will very soon find them. \'arious devices may be used for this purpose, which the in- genuity and skill of the intelligent feeder, with a little experience, will readily discover. If feeding frames, as be- fore descrbed, have been employed, two of these frames, with spaces between sufficient to accommodate the worms, may be set up endways near the feeding space. The worms will soon find them, climb up be- tween them, and there form their cocoons. Small bunches of straw eighteen inches or two feet long may be tied together near one end and the other spread loosely apart. The worms will find their way into the open heads of the bunches and there spin. Bundles of small twigs may be used in the same way. It may be mentioned here that all boards and other wood work used about a cocoonery should be thoroughly seasoned and free from dampness, pitch or any unpleasant smell. The cocoon is usually formed in about four days, and three more are required for the worm to joass into its chrysalis state. But the cocoon must not be removed from its place short of eight days for reeling or killing; while, if required for eggs, it m
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