CHAP. C. fllTlCA'CE.E. 3/0>vUS. \355 



merce is once free, it will far exceed its former extent. In Australia, the 

 culture of silk has been coninienced, 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 

 properties of caoutchouc, according to the climate in which the tree is grown. 

 It is thought by many to be owing to this property in the leaves of the nud- 

 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 M. 

 a. multicauiis, 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 immer>,ed 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. Silk-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. {Diet, des Eaiu- et Forets, &c.) By far 

 the most important use of the white nudberry, 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. 



Mulberrj/ 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 

 G 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 

 hif 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 nuich 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 Ital}', 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 nudberry 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 receivetl a severe shock. According 



