DESCRIPTION OF PLATES. 



Fkoxtispiece. — Old mulberry trees, showing Italian method of pruning, with a group 

 of embryo silk culturists (leaf gatherers) in the foreground, Lombardy, 

 Italy. By this method of pruning, tall trunks from 8 to 10 feet from 

 the ground are produced, necessitating the use of ladders for leaf gath- 

 ering. From a photograph taken August 26, 1902, by Dr. L. 0. Howard. 



Plate I. Branch of the white mulberry. Morns alba, with large undivided leaves, 

 of thick texture and smooth surface. The leaves of this variety are pre- 

 eminently adapted for silkworm food. From photograph of a tree in 

 the grounds of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 

 II. Branch of seedling white mulberry, Morns alba, with divided leaves. Seed- 

 lings from the same parent will sometimes have leaves of the di\-ided 

 form, others a^ssuming the undivided shape shown in Plate I, while some 

 may have both forms on the same tree. 



III. An ornamental variety of mulberry, Moms alia, variety venosn. Of no 



value as food for silkworms. 



IV. Leaves of seedling Eussian mulberry, Morus alba, variety tatarica. This 



mulberry, owing to its extreme hardiness, is used for stocks on which to 

 graft or bud the most valuable varieties in order to perpetuate their 

 characteristics, propagation from seed being altogether unreliable for 

 perpetuating varieties. 

 V. The native red mulberry, Morus rubra. From a specimen in the Herbarium 

 of the U. S. National Museum. The varieties of this species are usually 

 prized for their fruits, being of little yalue as food for silkworms. 



VI. Paper mulberry, Broussonetki papyrifera. Valueless in silk culture. A. — 

 Leaf from old tree. B.— Leaf from 2-year-old seedling. C— Twig with 

 female flowers. 

 VII. The Persian or black mulberry, Morus nigra. This species is cultivated in 

 Europe and Asia for its fruit. From photograph of a tree in the grounds 

 of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 

 VIII. Osai^j ora^e, Toxylon j)omiferu,n. Leaves, fruit, and bark. The mature 

 leaves of this native tree provide excellent food for silkworms. 



IX. Summer cuttings of the white mulberry, with leaves shortened to prevent 

 excessive evaporation. 

 X. "Winter cuttings of 1-year old shoots of white mulberry, ready for planting. 



XI. Root grafting the mulberry. A and B.— Scions fitted on stocks, ready to 

 lie t\ed. C— Stock and scion wrapped and ready to be planted. 

 XII. Scion or sprig budding. This method of propagation can be used on 

 strong seedling stocks or on branches of trees. A and B.— Scions pre- 

 pared for inserting. C— Stock with bark raised, ready for scion. D.— 

 Scion in position, ready to be wrapped. E.— Stock with .scion held in 

 place by wrapping. F.— Stock waxed to exclude air and moisture. 



20 



() 



