Page Five

Header: The Silkworm Classic, Volume Two

Separating the sticky masses of silkworms is a process that requires a great deal of time. If the "sleep-heads" silkworms entering their dormant molting state remain in these clumps for too long, they are highly susceptible to damage from dampness and heat. Furthermore, the awakening that follows the "Ceasing Fire" stage happens much faster than earlier stages A local proverb says: "The 'Ceasing Fire' hits from a distance," which means the awakening occurs with great speed. It often happens that before the workers have finished gathering and sorting the brood, some silkworms have already begun to wake. Therefore, one should wait until a majority have entered their sleep and then complete the sorting quickly. At most, provide only one or two more feedings before they go dormant. Because the "sleep sand" the layer of waste, including droppings and leaf scraps is thin at this stage, the inspection and gathering are easier, and there is less risk of the silkworms being harmed by trapped heat. Once the gathering is uniform, weigh them to ensure they meet the standard proportions. Take lime powder mixed with speckled bran original: "ban kang" (斑糠); likely husks from variegated grains used to absorb moisture and sprinkle it into the baskets. Distribute the "sleep-heads" thinly across the surface and add another layer of speckled bran on top; this ensures the environment remains dry and warm.

The Great Sleep

The management of the Great Sleep the fourth and final molt before spinning cocoons follows the same principles as the "Ceasing Fire" stage, including the weighing of the brood. Every one tael a traditional unit of weight, approx. 37 grams of silkworms at the "Ceasing Fire" stage should ideally grow to weigh four taels by the time they reach the Great Sleep. If they exceed four taels, the brood is considered "long" thriving and robust; if they weigh less than four taels, they are "diminished." This ratio is used as a constant measure to predict whether the final harvest will be bountiful or poor. When distributing the "sleep-heads" in baskets, the spacing should be moderate: use three units of area for the "Ceasing Fire" stage and five units for the "Great Sleep." Inside the baskets, scatter Cornelian cherry original: "zhu yu" (茱萸); a medicinal plant used here to ward off pests or dampness or inch-long pieces of cut rice straw, then cover them with lime and speckled bran.

Clearing the Old Base