Placing on the Ground

Silkworms are generally best kept in baskets. The people of Hangzhou A major center of silk production in Zhejiang province. raise their silkworms in baskets from the time they are newly hatched until they are fully grown. However, after the Great Sleep The final molt before spinning cocoons, when the silkworms reach their maximum size and appetite., the silkworms are large and the baskets are numerous. When these are arranged in rows and divided among frames, carrying them for feeding and removing the waste becomes extremely difficult. Unless one has a large workforce, it is inevitable that everyone will struggle with the exhausting labor.

According to the customs of Huzhou Another vital silk-producing region, known for different traditional techniques than Hangzhou.: small silkworms are kept in baskets, but immediately after the Great Sleep, they are removed from the baskets and placed directly on the floor. This is called Xiadi (下地); literally "placing on the ground," a method of floor-rearing silkworms to save labor..

Some move them to the ground a full day after the first feeding following the Great Sleep; others move them after only three feedings. By estimating the number of silkworms and the size of the room, the floor space is partitioned and bedding is spread out. The areas around doorways, wells, and stoves are filled so completely that there is barely any space left for people to move. From this point on, there is no more need to carry baskets or clear away waste. One only needs to feed them diligently morning and evening while waiting for them to mature. This is a very simple and convenient method.

Eliminating Pests

The body of a silkworm is soft and weak; it cannot defend itself and is very easily harmed by insects or ants. Whenever you intend to move them to the ground, the room must first be swept clean of all dust, and all cracks or holes must be sealed. Beneath the wooden walls, where Chongya (蟲牙); literally "insect teeth," referring to predatory pests like ants or beetles are able to hide, one must sprinkle...