Collected Essentials of Sericulture: Volume I

Page 8

In the countryside and along the northern routes, baskets with a fine mesh are used. They have a diameter of one and a half chi approximately 45 centimeters and a height to match. They are tied with ropes to facilitate carrying them on a shoulder pole.

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Mulberry Leaf Cutting Block

The leaf cutting block original: 葉碓 (yedui) is made from rice straw, which is exceptionally clean. The leaves are tightly bound together with three layers of bamboo hoops. The block stands about four cun approximately 12 centimeters high and measures over one chi in diameter. Both the top and bottom surfaces must be trimmed perfectly flat.

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Leaf Cutting Knife

For the leaf cutting knife, steel that has been refined in a charcoal fire is considered superior. It is three cun approximately 9 centimeters wide and seven cun approximately 21 centimeters long, with a short wooden handle. The weight should be well-balanced—neither too heavy nor too light. Its most important qualities are its sharpness and a thin blade edge.

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Leaf Sieve

The leaf sieve is woven from fine bamboo strips. It has a diameter of eight cun and a height of three cun. The mesh holes should be relatively coarse, and the bamboo strips must be smooth and polished. This tool is used when feeding young silkworms; by placing the finely chopped leaves in the sieve and sifting them, the leaves are distributed evenly over the silkworm trays.