[ 32i ] 



with a bad fir* eft All this might be: — but without 

 allowing for the coincidence of events, flie boldly 

 affcrts her fever to have been occafioned by the 

 filk -worms, and as loudly proclaims them un- 

 whollbme. It is, I iiippofe, from fuch circum- 

 ftances as thcle, that the belief has gained ground; 

 but I am decidedly of opinion that it is without 

 other foundation. 



The experiments you wifti me to make, I cer- 

 tainly will attempt : — but I mud confefs the afcer- 

 taining how much food will fnpport a given number 

 of worms, has difficulties, fince they eat much more 

 voracioufly at one time than another, and the let- 

 tuces vary materially in fize. 



There is a matter which appears to me of much 

 greater magnitude, than the offering premiums for 

 the planting of mulberry-trees ; and that is, the 

 holding forth a reward to thofe who fhall difcover 

 the bell method to propagate them. All the gar- 

 deners with whom I have converfed on the fubjecl: 

 are ignorant of the practice of any other way, than 

 by tranfplanting the fuckers which fpring from the 

 roots of the old tree; and thefe are fo few in num- 

 ber, that the expence of the purchafe muft effectu- 

 ally deter any one from making a large plantation, 

 whilft the ufe and profits of it are fo precarious. 



Let 



