[ 175 ] 



46 



are to be left but three or four branches to form the head of the tree. 

 Tlie buds on these branches shouhl be on the outside of them, that the 

 shoots may di^scribe a circle round the stem, and that the interior o^ 

 the tree rrufy be kept open ; and as the buds come out, take off all those 

 Avhich appear upon ths body of the tree. For several years after, 

 every .spr i;^, open the heads of the trees when too thick of wood, and 

 cut olf ;i;iy brancii which crosses or takes the lead of the rest; leaving 

 two buds on the outside of every trimmed branch. Count Verri,* an 

 experienced cultivator of the mulberry tree, recommends to leave only 

 two buds at the end of each branch — preferring those which are out- 

 side and opposite to each other — and when three buds appear together, 

 to leave the middle one, which is always most vigorous, and to detach 

 the tvv'o on each side of it. If the superior buds do not push well, the 

 two next lower ones, only, must ije left. Every farmer and nurseryman, 

 k-"-0\vs the very great importance of dressing the ground round young 

 trees, twice in the course of the year, and of planting stakes by them, 

 to ensure an upr'ght, straight growth, and to prevent their being shaken 

 by wind, or levelled by storms. 



2 and 3. Grafting and budding may be performed on the mulberry 

 tree, in the modes usually adopted for other trees. So great is the pre- 

 judice in Italy in favor of grafting the mulberry trees, that Dandolo 

 says, "even the hedge mulberry trees are grafted." The reason for 

 this is, that the grafted tree yields more leaves than those produced 

 from seed; but he decides, as will be hereafter seen, in favor of the 

 latter. Nevertheless, as it may be wished to propagate a particular 

 species, or variet}"" of mulberry tree, the leaves of which arc found to 

 produce better silk than common, the process may be adopted which 

 is generally preferred in France for grafting the mulberry and large 

 chestnut, and is as follows: 



A branch must be selected, sound, and of the growth of the preced- 

 ing year, when possible, and while the sap is running: this is to be cut 

 off some inches from the trunk, or further off, according to its strength 

 or size. The annexed cut represents a piece of a branch, separated; 

 but we must suppose it attached to the trunk. From the 

 point A to the point B, the bark is to be slit in strips 

 by the edge of a pruning knife; and these strips are to 

 be gently detached from the wood, (without bruising 

 them,) as is seen at E. While an assistant is- engaged 

 in this operation, another prepares a cylinder, or tube, 

 C, having a bud, D, or several buds, and of equal dia- 

 ' meter to that of the wood. A, when barked. Then, 

 ijj without loss of time, it is to be slid upon the wood, un- 

 til its lower extremity touches the basis of the strips. If 

 the cylinder applied to the wood is proportioned to it, 

 and if it covers all the wood, and unites exactly with it, 

 the strips are to be cut off below the cylinder, by a cir- 

 cular cut; and after having made the two barks join. 



I.'Avt fie Tultlver Les Muriers. A I.yon, p. 60. 1826. 



