CHAP. Cc. URTICA‘CE. MO RUS. 1355 
merce is once free, it will far exceed its former extent. In Australia, the 
culture of silk has been commenced, and it appears likely to succeed in that 
fine climate ; but very little, as yet, can be said on the subject with certainty, 
One great object that we have had in view, in giving this article at such length, 
is, the promotion of silk culture in that interesting part of the world. 
Properties and Uses. The bark, and more especially the leaves, of the white 
mulberry abound in a milky juice, which is found to have more or less of the 
roperties of caoutchouc, according to the climate in which the tree is grown. 
te is thought by many to be owing to this property in the leaves of the mul- 
berry that the cocoons of the silkworm have so much more tenacity of fibre 
than those of any other insect that feeds on the leaves of trees. Hence, also, 
the silk, like the tobacco and the wine, of warm climates, and of poor 
dry soils, is always superior to that produced in colder climates, and from 
rich and moist soils. The fruit of some of the varieties, particularly of J. 
a. multicailis, is used for making robs and syrups; and is said to be remark- 
ably good to eat; for which reason this variety, in warm climates, might be 
introduced into orchards. The bark, according to Rosier, may be converted 
into linen of the fineness of silk. ‘ For this purpose, the young wood is ga- 
thered in August, during the ascent of the second sap, and unmersed for three 
or four days in still water. It is then taken out, at sunset, spread on the 
grass, and returned to the water at sunrise. This is daily repeated; and, 
finally, it is prepared, and spun like flax.” (Amer. Swk-Grow. Guide, p. 24.) 
The bark is also used, like that of the lime tree, for making bast for mats. 
The wood weighs only 44 lb. per cubic foot: that of the branches is used for 
vine props, posts and rails, and fire-wood ; and that of the trunk for making 
wine casks, for which it is highly valued, as it is said to impart an agreeable 
violet-like flavour to white wines. (Dict. des Eaux et Forets,&c.) By far 
the most important use of the white mulberry, however, is as food for the 
silk-moth; and this subject we shall here notice under two heads; viz. that 
of the management of the trees and leaves, and the management of the 
insects. 
Mulberry Plantations. In India and China, these are made much in the 
same manner as those of the sugar-cane, and other agricultural plants. A 
field is laid out into squares of 5 ft. or 6 ft. on the sides; and in the centre 
of each square a hollow is formed; the soil stirred and manured ; and five or 
six mulberry cuttings inserted in a group in the centre. These plants are 
never allowed to grow higher than 3 ft. or 4 ft.; being cut down to the ground 
every year, in the same manner as a raspberry plantation. In the south 
of Europe, the white mulberry is grown in plantations by itself, like willows 
and fruit trees ; also in hedgerows, and as hedges ; but in all cases the plants 
are kept low, for the convenience of gathering the leaves without injuring the 
trees ; the greatest height they are suffered to attain being that of a pollard of 
6 ft., which is annually lopped. In Guernsey, and the north of France, and also 
in some parts of Italy, the mulberry is chiefly grown as a hedgerow pollard, or 
as a pollard by the road side, in the same manner as fruit trees. (See p. 886.) 
The leaves of the mulberry should be gathered for feeding the silkworms, when 
perfectly dry, after the dew has disappeared in the morning. The person 
employed to gather them strips them off upwards, and deposits them in a 
bag kept open with a hoop, and provided with a loop and strap to pass over 
his shoulder. When the leaves are gathered, the trees must be stripped en- 
tirely of every leaf; as this is found not to injure the tree half so much as if 
only part of the leaves were taken off. In America, the operation of stripping 
off the leaves is often repeated a second time the same year; but, in France 
and Italy, the tree is very rarely subjected to so severe a trial. When labour 
is sufficiently cheap, the leaves are best cut off with a pair of scissors. After 
the first stripping, the white mulberry and all its varieties are very soon again 
covered with leaves ; and, if all the leaves were removed at once, the tree does 
not appear to have been at all injured by the operation ; but, if any leaves were 
left on, the tree will be found to have received a severe shock. According 
