No. 85.J 479 



The catalpa is much like the multicaulis in the size of its leaves, and 

 the rapidity of its growth ; both have pith in the centre, and throw 

 out branches seven or eight feet long in one season. I planted a row 

 of catalpas on a hill over the river, and others behind the hill and the 

 house, in a warm sheltered spot, in a valley. The former grows a 

 foot, or a foot and a half, and is never killed in the winter. They 

 were cut down to the ground once in two or three years. We there- 

 fore frequently condemn a tree, without understanding the different 

 chances of vegetation given it. 



Again : Mr. Rappallo thinks the morus multicaulis may do for 

 worms up to the second moulting, and not after. The white mul- 

 berry is a hard tree ; the black second only to the locust, and if you 

 try to cut it, beware of your axe when you strike it. These remarks 

 are thrown out to harmonize the strong views I hear from gentlemen. 



Mr. Ward. I was brought into the mulberry speculation in 1841, 

 and fed a few worms. In 184 i I was elected to the Legislature. I 

 thought of the many trees grown, and read and consulted on the sub- 

 ject. I am indebted to you, sir, Mr. President, and Mr. Rappallo, 

 for information. I came to the following conclusion, viz : that our 

 soil is good, and our climate the best in the world, so that we can 

 raise and manufacture silk under every advantage. I have not seen 

 any reason since to change my opinion. It can be done in every State 

 with different degrees of success. I was astonished to find such igno- 

 rance in members ; I talked much, and got the silk bill passed. There 

 is still much ignorance ; it is want of information ; I think it should 

 be attached to the business of every farm ; if a man has but one cow 

 he cannot expect a large dairy ; if he goes into it on a small scale, he 

 must be contented with a small profit. 



Mr. Barlow reported a plan of their report, and the same was re- 

 committed to the committee for completion. 



Mr. Barbour remarked on the manner of publishing the report. 

 Last year three thousand copies were published, and had a limited cir- 

 culation, was badly printed and contained some errors. 



This is the commencement of a series of annual reports, and friends 

 wished it stereotyped to keep on hand. He raised $200 at Bos- 

 ton last year, by individual exertion, and then corrected and had the 

 report stereotyped, and published in a neat, convenient form. He 

 hoped this would be done this year, and with as little delay as pos- 

 sible, and measures taken to give it an extensive circulation. 



After some further deliberations, it was referred to the committee 

 for publication. 



Mr. J. P. Van Epps. I planted five thousand trees on a side hill 

 in a three acre lot ; they were the Multicaulus. These we put in the 

 ground about the middle of May ; and I had the pleasure of seeing 

 about eight thousand cocoons made from the foliage. This is one 

 of a thousand of them, (presenting a fine cocoon) fed through the 

 first age on lettuce. On the twenty-seventh of July, I began 

 to feed from the trees. Some of my worms were hatched on 

 the road, and were not fed at all for two or three days. Two hun- 

 dred of the cocoons weighed a pound. After their third moult, on 



