Essentials of Sericulture

In this Treatise on Silkworms original: Can Yan (蠶言), that which is known from experience is perhaps better than speaking of things one does not truly understand. It is my hope that those in the homes of farmers and gardeners might not use these pages merely to cover their pickle jars The author uses the idiom fubù (覆瓿), a classical self-deprecating way for an author to suggest their work might be seen as worthless; literally, it means the paper is only fit to be used as a lid for fermentation crocks..

Recorded by Gao Quan of Pinzhou Pinzhou is likely the author’s art name or sobriquet. in the tenth month, the winter of the Wuchen year, being the thirteenth year of the Jiaqing reign November/December 1808..