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multicaulis, according to M. Perrottet, will be readily acclimated, inasmuch as it originated in a country analogous to that of France; it appeared neither to suffer from the excessive cold of the northern, or the intense heat of the intertropical regions, as the plants in the government gardens of Cayenne, had acquired during eight months a truly remarkable developement, being clothed at that time with leaves of extraordinary size; those also, which were cultivated in Senegal, although planted in an arid soil, and situated beneath a scorching sky, exhibited an appearance sufficiently satisfactory; yet in all respects, they had acquired less developement than those which were planted in the humid climate of Guiana.

M. Poiteau, in the Annales d'Horticulture, has stated down to 1830, "that by the information which we receive from all quarters, this mulberry is destined to replace the common white mulberry, everywhere, for nourishing silk worms." "This mulberry has not suffered in the least, from the rigors of the last severe winter."

At New York, on Long Island, this mulberry had endured unprotected the rigors of seven winters, and the very extraordinary winter of 1831-2, which destroyed so many trees hitherto deemed hardy, even to the root. Yet in our climate, there are many kinds of trees which require protection during the first winter, though they may never need it afterwards. Such are the young seedling plants of but a single summer's growth, of the Cherry, Plum, Pear, the Quince and White Mulberry. All which require to be taken up in autumn, and laid slanting in earth, their bodies being in part protected by soil. For all these species are liable to be killed occasionally to the root by the first winter, or to be utterly destroyed by being thrown out by frost; yet in the second winter it is far otherwise; their roots becoming strong, and firmly established, the well ripened wood of the second year, and the wood of two years' growth; becomes indestructible by any but extraordinary winters. The same precautionary measures should in northern climates, be taken with the young plants of this mulberry so valuable the layers of but a single summer's growth, which are separated in autumn.

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The vegetation of the Morus multicaulis, particularly in a rich and humid soil and protected situation, is extremely rapid and luxuriant, and prolonged to a late period in au

tumn, or till the tender and yet vegetating tips of the twigs are checked by frost. These extreme ends will generally be lost, as they always are of the Common White Mulberry, when young.

Jonathan H. Cobb, Esq. of Dedham, author of the excellent "Manual on Silk," has tried them for several years, and in a letter dated 1834, he confirms the latter remark, and adds "but that we shall be able to rear it here, is decided beyond a question." Mr Joseph Breck a distinguished botanist of Lancaster, from very critical observation of 100 trees which were set out on the place of S. V. S. Wilder, Esq. in Bolton, late in the spring of 1833, in a cold, springy soil, and northern exposition he seems persuaded from an experience of one winter, 1833-4, and from careful observation, that they may be even hardier than the Common White Mulberry, as they appeared to suffer less than some hundreds of the latter of 3 or 4 years' growth which stood beside them. Of any extraordinary results from a winter so unparalleled and unheard of as this last has been, throughout the country, time will soon decide; and how this mulberry and all other productions have fared from north to south. This mulberry braves the most rigorous winters of France, even to the extreme north as far as Havre. Of this important fact, we have been assured from the first rate sources; from MM. Perrottet, Bodin, Poiteau, also from M. Eyries of Havre, who has there cultivated them from their first introduction to that country.

The prediction of the late Dr Pascalis in 1830 that, "after the discovery of this plant, a doubt no longer exists, that two crops of silk may be produced in a single season ;" this prediction has since been accomplished its truth fulfilled by experiment. The soil and cultivation, itations for the successive generations of insects the same, all thus converted to double use, duction of a double harvest, it will be obvious, that the actual profit thus augmented, must be manifold.

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It appears from the deliberations of the French Royal Society of Horticulture, (as noted in the Farmers' Register) that the Chinese Mulberry or Morus multicaulis is not a distinct species, and that as a new and invaluable variety, it can only be preserved by multiplying it from grafts, layers, and cuttings; and that by these means exclusively, have the Chinese cultivators reared the tree from time im

memorial. Seeds sown near Venice, have, it is stated, produced varieties, but none like the true Morus multicaulis. I have myself examined about 40 small trees, raised in 1834 from seed sent from China, but they appeared to differ from the true kind. Their leaves were indeed handsome, but I saw none with the curled or convex leaf.

SOIL, SITUATION, &c.

Although the mulberry flourishes most luxuriantly in a moist and rich soil, and protected situation, yet the leaves which are produced in such soils, are more crude, and not of a quality so nourishing. The growth of the tree, in such soils and expositions, besides being more rapid, is prolonged to a later period in autumn, or until the tender and yet vegetating tips of the twigs are suddenly arrested by the frost; the immature wood of a forced growth being more tender, is consequently more liable to be killed by early frosts and by winter. Such appears to have been the case in the winter of 1831-2, which destroyed so many full grown trees of the hardiest description, even to the root. The ravages of that destructive winter seem to have been confined to particular situations and soils; to the productions of the forced growth of a summer not less uncommon and extraordinary.

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Authors seem fully agreed that the most suitable soils for the mulberry tree, are "dry, sandy, or stony." And trees growing on dry, sandy, or stony soils," and situated on the open plains, and on the hills the most exposed to cold winds, will be found to suffer least of all from the destructive frosts of autumn and of winter.

MULBERRY AND MULBERRY PLANTATIONS.

The nourishment which is contained in the mulberry leaf is not completely developed till the leaf is fully grown. The leaf according to Comte Dandolo, contains, 1st, the fibrous substance; 2d, the coloring matter, 3d, water; 4th

the saccharine substance; 5th, the resinous substance. Of all these the saccharine part constitutes the chief nourishment which the leaf affords; and the proportion of this nutriment depends on the variety of the mulberry, the age, the soil, and the moisture or dryness of the season.

The common White Mulberry or Morus alba may be easily raised from seeds.

In the beginning of May sow the seeds in a rich, fresh, and well prepared soil, in drills or rows, two feet asunder, and at an average distance of about an inch. Cover the

seed but half an inch deep, and stamp or roll the ground immediately, that the earth may retain sufficient moisture at its surface. Carefully hoe and weed during summer, and late in autumn protect with a slight covering of straw, leaves, or evergreens, or take up all the plants and secure them in a cellar till spring.

In the second spring the trees are set in rows four feet asunder, in a rich soil, and a foot distant in the row.

GRAFTING. Comte Dandolo and others have recommended to graft the wild mulberry with the large leaved and finer varieties, those which produce abundant crops of leaves; and especially the male plants, as these producing no fruit, yield larger leaves and a greater proportion, which are not soiled and disfigured by the bruised fruit in gathering. Many of the wild varieties are bad, the trees thorny, the leaves small or few in number. They should be grafted at the surface of the earth in the third spring. The mulberry may also be raised by layers, or by cuttings.

It is highly recommended to set out trees of the mulberry for standards on the highways, in avenues and commons, roads, courts, &c.

DWARF MULBERRY TREE FLANTATIONS.

This is the mode of forming plantations of the mulberry which appears best adapted to our country, as the land thus planted, comes soon to a state of productiveness, yielding the greatest amount of food and of the best quality.

The plan of raising Dwarf Mulberry Tree Plantations, is that which I shall now recommend for general adoption : for the following reasons. 1st. They arrive to a state of productiveness with comparatively little expense of time and tillage. 2d. Sufficient sun and air are admitted to

the tree, to render the leaves of the first quality, and to enable them to put forth early. 3d. The ground is more suddenly and completely filled and occupied than by planting standards. 4th. The tree is more easily managed and its form controlled; and the leaves are the more easily gathered. This mode, according to Dr Pascalis, is understood to be much practised in India; and was formerly in France, if not now.

The soil being prepared by deep ploughing, and rendered sufficiently rich, the young trees are set in lines or rows 10 or 12 feet asunder, and 6 feet distant in the rows. The young trees are headed to about a foot from the ground, and but two or three branches allowed to grow, these by pruning are made to diverge, continually subdividing in every direction above the horizontal, so that every part of the tree shall be duly filled with young wood and leaves. Suffer no vertical shoot to rise in the centre, and curtail all straggling shoots near the top, and all pendulous shoots below. The tree is not suffered to spread wider than about two feet, towards the wide or middle space, and the row must ever be preserved about four and a half feet in width, and about ten feet in height, and never suffered to exceed these limits. The ground in this way may be cultivated with other various productions, especially during the first

years.

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Hedges may also be formed, by planting the trees at distances still less than this, for more immediate use. some other particulars relative to soil and modes of management, see M. multicaulis, at p. 228-231. Rocky or unproductive, light soils, may be found the most suitable. Andrew Parmentier, Esq. has recommended to set standard trees on the low grounds, twenty feet asunder; and on rising places, twelve feet asunder. A suitable proportion of the ground to be occupied with dwarf trees, and the whole to be surrounded with a mulberry hedge. I will recommend that where mulberry standards are set to remain, that the whole ground should be filled, or at least the rows with other trees, or even seedlings, sown for immediate use their growth would be restrained by perpetually depriving them of their leaves, except only the standards. But I prefer the Dwarf Mulberry Tree Plantations.

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