Straw Mats

Straw mats original: "草薦", caojian are woven from rice stalks. Their construction is exactly the same as that of reed screens; however, because straw is a weaker material, one must insert a thin bamboo pole at intervals of every foot or so of weaving to provide structure. These are used to cover doorways and windows or to wrap around and protect the silkworm racks. They provide significantly more warmth than reed screens.

Silkworm Transfer Nets

The term Xian original: "縣", meaning to suspend or move is defined in the Guangyun a comprehensive Chinese dictionary of rhymes from the 11th century as unclear pronunciation marks? "moving the silkworms to a more spacious area."

These nets are made from spun hemp, following the same design as a fishing net. Their length, width, and breadth are determined by the size of the rearing baskets. The density of the mesh varies: for young silkworms, a fine mesh is appropriate, while for larger worms, a coarser mesh should be used. Using these nets to transfer silkworms is the most efficient and convenient method. The net is placed over the old bed with fresh leaves on top; the worms crawl up through the mesh to the new leaves, allowing the farmer to lift the entire net and move the worms to a clean tray or more space.

Cocoon Baskets

The cocoon basket original: "繭籃", jianlan is a vessel used for holding the harvested cocoons. They are woven from fine bamboo slivers and come in various sizes. It is essential that the interior be smooth and the construction sturdy and fine. Smoothness prevents the silk fibers from snagging on the basket.

Ground-Level Feeding Stools

These stools stand one foot high approximately 32 centimeters and are seven or eight feet long, with a surface width of eight inches. They must be built for sturdiness above all else. When silkworms are reared on the ground a method where worms are spread on mats on the floor rather than on raised racks, there is no place for the caretaker to step. One must stand upon these stools to distribute the mulberry leaves.