Mr. Murray on the Culture of the Silk Worm. 61 



The comparative trials of Count Dandolo clearly prove, 

 that the wild mulberry is decidedly preferable to the engraft- 

 ed mulberry, in the value of the leaves furnished to the silk- 

 worm. The following is the Count's conclusion : 



«« Questi fatti adunque dimostrano che nella foglia tratta 

 dal gelso selvatico comparata alia foglia innestata avvi sotto 

 ad uno stesso peso copia maggiore di sostanza ahmentaria, 

 maggior copia di sostanza alimentaria, maggior copia di sos- 

 tanza resinoza, e meno d'inutile sostanza parenchimosa." 



Many different substances have been proposed as a substi- 

 tute for the leaves of the mulberry, as those of the lettuce, 

 oak, elm, beet, mallow, rose, spinage, nettle, &c. but the mul- 

 berry stands prominent, though perhaps lettuce might be 

 used in the first period of the evolution from the ova, and 

 until the mulberry puts forth its leaves. Only sixty lbs. 

 weight of leaves were in 1813 consumed by the young silk- 

 worms of five ounces of ova, during the two first periods. 

 The experiments of Mr. Knight show that the mulberry can 

 be easily forced, and perhaps the same room which contains 

 the ova would serve this purpose. In the « British Review" 

 of July 1 788, a writer recommends the powder of dried mul- 

 berry leaves ; and Bertezen, (see « Thoughts;' &c. London, 

 1789, p. 22,) tells us that " one seed of black mulberry leaves 

 is worth more than two of white.'" 



Management of the Silk Worms, produced from five Ounces 



of Ova. 



• Th« common pound of silk (libra groisa) contains eight light ounces, 

 t Corresponding to 17° Reaumur. 



