11 



in the fall or in the spring. If in the fall, the transplanting should be done when 

 the leaves have matured or fallen. In the spring transplanting may take place as 

 soon as the ground is in good workable condition. The ground should be deeply 

 plowed and thoroughly harrowed. If the ground is hard and the soil poor, large 

 holes should be dug and filled with good soil as the trees are planted. In trans- 

 planting the roots should never be allowed to get dry. When taken up they may 

 be immediately dipped in a mixture of soil and water and then kept covered until 

 planted. 



The distance between the trees should not be less than 10 feet each way. If the 

 grove is to be large, wider spaces should be left at intervals, so that wagons may be 

 driven through. 



Pruning. — Pruning is best done in the fall or winter. The central part of the tree 

 should be kept open to admit light and air. The low, spreading form of tree is much 

 the best, and this form is secured by systematic pruning, which is begun by cutting 

 the young tree back one-half in the fall after it is first planted out. Afterwards 

 three or more strong shoots should be selected to form the main branches, and, if 

 necessary, these may be prevented from growing upright by means of sticks fastened 

 between them in such a way as to force them to spread apart. 



In gathering the leaves always allow enough to remain on the tree to insure its 

 perfect health. If some of the trees show signs of failing vigor as a result of excessive 

 leaf gathering, it is advisable to allow them to grow for a season without picking, 

 and by early pruning out of unnecessary growth permit those growths which are 

 desirable to become ripened. 



Restricting the height of the trunk of the mulberry to 5 or 6 feet 

 makes it possible for old women and children to gather leaf, thus 

 diminishing the cost of labor one-half, a most important point in 

 commercial silk culture. 



It is also important to cultivate trees that bear little or no fruit, 

 for the production of fruit not only consumes part of the strength of 

 the tree, but much labor is involved in being compelled to divest the 

 branches of fruit before they can be used as food for silkworms. 



The stump mulberry, or that growing low like a shrub, the hedge 

 mulberry, and that which grows along walls vegetate much earlier than 

 the medium and high trunk trees. Silkworm rearers should always 

 have a ready supply of leaf for the first ages of the worm, and 

 especially is this necessary if early cultures are desired with a view to 

 escaping the heated days of May and June. 



AMOUNT OF LEAF AND PREPARATION. 



The race, the size of the worms, the variety and age of the mulberry, 

 the nutritive quality of the leaf, the year, the season, and the climate 

 make the requisite quantity of leaf very variable. The following is 

 given as a basis of calculation, all circumstances being considered, and 

 the leaves not being cleaned: For the larvae hatching from 1 ounce of 

 eggs, during the first age, 11 pounds of leaves; during the second age, 

 26 to 33 pounds; during the third age, 88 to 145 pounds; during the 

 fourth age, 264 to 352 pounds; during the fifth age, 1,640 to 1,760 

 pounds; or about 2,200 pounds in all, of which one-half is consumed 

 in the last six or seven days of the fifth age. 



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