But let us leave these grand industrial establishments, to return to our rearing houses on a small scale, such as are found among the peasants of the Cévennes. They generally receive the silkworms' eggs before the end of the winter. In order to preserve them till the hatching season, they are placed in thin layers, in a piece of folded woollen stuff, which must be hung up in a cool, but not a damp place, exposed to the north. As soon as the buds of the mulberry tree begin to be partially open, they proceed to the incubation of the eggs. They are spread out on sheets of paper, in very thin layers, placed on a table in a room having a southern aspect, and left thus during three or four days, taking care to prevent the rays of the sun from touching them. It is necessary also, from time to time, to open the windows. After three or four days, the fire is lighted, taking care not to have more heat than 13° Centigrade round about the table which supports the eggs, and which should be placed as far as possible from the fire. Each day the room is warmed a little more, in such a way that the temperature is raised 1° to 2° a day, until 25° Centigrade of heat have been attained, at which temperature it is to be maintained when the eggs have reached the last stage, and till the hatching is terminated. On the first day few worms are hatched; but the hatching of the second day is very abundant, as also that of the third. Of these newly-born worms two divisions are made, separated by an interval of twenty-four hours. The worms which are born afterwards are thrown away, unless they are so abundant that they can be made a third batch of, which is to be mixed up with the second at the period of the moult.