Essential Compendium of Sericulture

Net-Based Transferring

Once the silkworms have passed their second molt, their bodies have grown significantly, and they are each housed in large baskets. At this stage, transferring the bedding original: "fen mian" (分緜); the process of cleaning waste and providing fresh space becomes difficult to manage, and manually stripping away the waste by hand is far too slow. Using nets to transfer the bedding is much more labor-saving and efficient.

The net must be spread flat over the surface of the silkworms. Mulberry leaves are then fed directly onto the net; the silkworms will all crawl up through the mesh of the net to reach the food. After two or three feedings, the mesh of the net will be completely covered by the veins of the leftover leaves, which prevents the silkworms from falling back through the holes. Two people then lift the four corners of the net and move it into an empty basket. The corners of the net must not hang outside the basket, for fear that they might obstruct entry and exit or become snagged on things. For the next cleaning and transfer, another net is spread in the same way; thus, each basket requires the alternating use of two nets.

Screen-Based Transferring

For summer silkworms, it is appropriate to use mats for transferring. A mat original: "lian" (簾); a flexible screen or roller-blind made of bamboo is what the ancients called a "bo" Bo (箔); a traditional bamboo screen or hurdle used for rearing silkworms. Ancient people raised sometimes written as 'clusters' (蔟) silkworms on these screens.

Today, we use baskets instead because they are easier to carry and move. However, when the silkworms reach their Great Molt the fourth and final molt before the silkworm begins spinning silk, the worms are large and the baskets are numerous. Carrying and moving them daily for cleaning becomes an exhausting and overwhelming labor.

Furthermore, during the spring silkworm season, the weather is mild and clear. After the Great Molt, there is a method of placing the worms directly on the ground, which eliminates the need for the heavy labor of lifting and carrying the bedding. However, summer silkworms face intense heat. If they are also placed on the ground, the damp, hot air within the furrows original: "quan" (甽); the drainage channels or floor-level spaces is even more severe than in the spring...