CULTIVATION OF THE MULBERRY. 39 



squares of ground. Then it must be raised up by a spade, 

 with its roots ; seven inches of the stalk must, be left with 

 the root, and the rest removed ; then the wound must be 

 burnt with a hot iron. 



In each ditch a plant must be placed in the middle of the 

 soft mud, and it must be carefully set at the bottom of the 

 cavity, (when a quick result is required two must be plant- 

 ed.) It must be lifted up lightly four or five times, in or- 

 der that the roots and fibres may take a good direction. 

 The top of the stalk must be even with the ground ; sur- 

 rounded and filled in to the top of the ditch, with well de- 

 cayed (or warm) earth. 



The next day the earth must be pressed or rammed down 

 to make it more compact, until it fills but half the hole. 

 The earth lying under these roots is naturally compact ; 

 without that, the roots would not adhere strongly to the 

 earth, and this defect would cause a great many mulberry 

 trees to perish. 



The upper half of the ditch must be filled with well de- 

 cayed (or warm) earth ; it must be lightly pressed down, 

 so as to level it and fill the hole. 



The earth that touches the stalk must not be very 

 compact ; because the buds will have some difficulty in 

 pushing. 



Above the stalk a small hill must be raised, made of 

 light earth, about five or six inches high. In this manner 

 a small gutter is formed around it, through which the rain 

 and the watering penetrate. When the shoots spring up 

 from the ground to the height of four or five inches, only 

 one or two branches must be left on each plant. 



If they are spaded and watered according to the prescribed 

 rules, they will grow, in one year, to the height of about 

 five feet. 



