Title: Feeding Silkworms - Japan
Artist: The Philadelphia Museum
Silver gelatin photograph, 1910s.
Image size 9 1/2 x 12" (241 x 304 mm).

Silk culture constitutes the most wide-spread and important home industry in many parts of Japan. In most cases it is carried on by women and children in connection with other agricultural employments. It is one of the chief sources of income to those living in the farming districts. Where it is carried on to a great extent, one perceives, from the large, clean houses and the beautiful mats, how it has improved the condition of the people. No other branch of agricultural industry in Japan gives evidence of an equally beneficial influence. When the time of hatching draws near, paper boards covered with silkworm eggs are brought into the hatching-room, or to a shady spot in the open air. The silkworm is developed in the egg slowly, as the warmth increases. Hatching is hastened by artificial heat increased gradually, not above 77 F. When the worms appear, they are from time to time transferred to trays which have been covered with delicate chopped leaves. This removal is performed either by gently striking the under side of the cards, or by stroking with a feather, or by laying over the eggs a sheet of paper, punctured here and there and bestrewn on the top with tender mulberry leaves. The worms that have crawled out, reach the food through the holes in the paper, and can easily be carried off with it to the hurdles. The worms are generally kept on trays of woven bamboo over which fresh mulberry leaves are spread. These bamboo trays are commonly supported on bamboo framework at the sides of the room. After twenty-four days or more, the worm attains its full size. In this time it grows from a worm so minute that it can scarcely be seen, to a length of two and a half inches or more and a diameter of about three-eighths of an inch. If the feeding is carefully conducted, the bed must be cleaned daily, except during the times when the worms are casting or shedding their skins. It is a point in careful breeding to keep to- gather worms of the same age and condition, which go through their castings simultaneously and finally spin themselves in, and go into the pupa stage at about the same time. On this account, worms that are hatched a day earlier or later than the great majority are separated and tended on special beds. When the change of skin is drawing near, the worm stops feeding and becomes somewhat brighter, smoother and translucent. Its head swells and it raises itself up, with its head on high. In this position it falls into a lethargic state, which must not be disturbed till the casting is over. When its development is healthy and normal, this lasts one day. Then the worm turns to its food with new and strengthened appetite, its capacity being much increased. When it begins to spin, the silkworm chooses a corner, the fork of a twig or some such retaining point for its first thread. The breeder assists it in this inclination, employing various measures to promote the formation of cocoons. One of the simplest and most practical is to spre4d rape-stalks over. the bed of the caterpillars about to spin, the numerous light branches of which offer them facilities for fastening their first threads.

Condition: Very good condtion, some minor surface staining on back of photo board.