CROPS. 491 



engrafting, or by layers ; the two latter modes are of course the 

 only certain modes of securing the best kinds. The principal 

 kinds propagated in France are four ; but they differ somewhat 

 in their product, as the experiments of one of the first cultivators 

 of silk in France, with whom I have the pleasure of an acquaint 

 ance, seem to show. What appears to be wanted in a mulberry 

 leaf (excepting for the worms in their first age) is a leaf of a 

 good deal of thickness and weight. The four principal mul 

 berry-trees cultivated in France are, 



Le murier rose, or the rose-leaved mulberry. 

 Le murier multicaule. or the multicaulis, well known in the 

 United States. 



Le murier Moretti, a mulberry, which takes its name from a 

 physician who first produced it. 



Le murier sauvageon, or wild mulberry, which is our common 

 white mulberry. 



The multicaulis is condemned in France in the strongest man 

 ner. It is of very easy cultivation ; it yields a great deal of 

 foliage ; it produces a fair quantity of silk ; but it is considered 

 too watery, and to create disease among the worms. One of the 

 most eminent silk culturists in France denounced it to me in no 

 measured terms. The rose mulberry, is upon the whole, pro 

 nounced superior to all others. Its leaves have too much thick 

 ness and strength for the worms in their first age ; but in such 

 case it is necessary to select the youngest and most tender leaves, 

 and to moisten them with water. The leaves of the common 

 wild mulberry are complained of, as fading rapidly after being 

 gathered, and becoming too soon unfit for use. The time for 

 hatching the worms should correspond as nearly as possible with 

 the condition of the leaves, taking care that the leaves should be 

 considerably advanced, as the consumption of them in too young 

 a state is necessarily wasteful. Experiments have been made to 

 test the comparative value of the different mulberry leaves in the 

 production of silk I refer to its quality and quantity; but 

 though conducted with much care, they do not appear to lead to 

 any important practical results. 



The difference in the worms deserves attention, some produ 

 cing a large, and others a smaller, cocoon ; and some giving, con 

 sequently, a larger return in silk than others. This difference is 

 considerable, some producing from a certain weight of cocoons 



