190 On the Italian Mulberry Tree. 



begins to ripen, and fall off about the time early cherries 

 ripen, and continues to ripen, and fall oiF for nearly two 

 months : it is pleasant to our own taste, and wholesome 

 and nutritive to swine and poultry, and so grateful to birds, 

 that they will do little injury to cherries or other fruit, 

 while they can obtain enough of mulberries. 



3d. The timber is excellent for boats or ships, posts, or 

 stakes for fencing, and for fuel, and the growth so rapid, 

 that having planted a number of trees near the margin of the 

 Delaware, they obstructed the prospect to such a degree, 

 as to induce me to sell many of them to the boat builders. 

 The trees when cut, measured at their buts to the admi- 

 ration of many, from twenty to twenty-six inches in diame- 

 ter. Their age was twenty -three years. The mulberry 

 tree abounds in more heart, than most others of the 

 same age. 



4th. As the leaves of this tree are known to be the favou- 

 rite food for silk worms, and it is probable, as population 

 and industry increase, the culture of silk in the United 

 States may become an object worth attention, it will be 

 advantageous to have trees ready for the purpose. 



The trees may be pn)pagated by planting the seed thin 

 in drills, in ground properly mellowed, and manured : 

 and if it be kept clear from weeds and grass during the 

 summer, they will grow from four to eight feet high the 

 first season. The next spring the small trees should be 

 taken up, and planted in a nursery, where they may re- 

 main until fit to be removed to the places of their desti- 

 nation ; but care should be taken to prevent horses or cat- 

 tle destroying them, until of a proper size to protect them- 

 selves. They may also be raised from cuttings, a method 

 that has some advantages over the former, as you may have 

 the trees to bear fruit, or to remain barren, according to 

 desire, by observing from what trees the cuttings are 

 laken» The same end may be effected by ingrafting, or 



