Silkworm farming

The new issue of Smithsonian has an interesting short article about traditional sericulture, AKA silkworm farming, in the 16th century. Apparently. one of the hardest parts was keeping the farmhouse at the perfect temperature for incubation. From Smithsonian:

 Images Spincycle Jul08 388

The process began with the 10-to 14-day incubation of silkworm eggs, which are produced by the mating of adult silkworm moths. According to the Silk Museum, keeping the tiny, delicate eggs (about the size of a pinhead) at just the right temperature was "the task of the women, who often carried small bags of eggs in direct contact with their skin. . .sometimes between their breasts." Once hatched, the worms, only about one millimeter long, had to be fed mulberry leaves night and day.

Silkworm farming (Smithsonian)