46 CULTIVATION OF THE MULBERRV. 



/ 



of four or five yards. The distance of eight yards left be- 

 tween each row of mulberry trees, will allow the plough to 

 pass through them in like manner as four or five yards 

 space left between each tree will allow the ground to be 

 cultivated with a hoe. 



This nursery must be surrounded with thorny hedges. In 

 the last month, the small scions which have pushed during 

 the year upon the horizontal branches must be thinned and 

 pruned in an uniform manner. The following year the 

 leaves of these trees can be gathered to feed the silk worms. 

 [ Nong-sse-pi-yong.'] 



MANNER OF PRUNING LARGE MULBERRY TREES. 



The branches must be thinned, and above all, pruned in 

 time. It ought to be done in order that the branches may 

 acquire strength and push early, and that the silk worms 

 may not want leaves. 



If the branches are cut off. those that remain will acquire 

 strength, and the leaves will become thicker and more nour- 

 ishing. If this year they are pruned at the proper time, 

 the long branches will become strong and vigorous ; the 

 leaves of the next year will shoot out early, and they will 

 be thick and glossy. 



All the branches from the centre must be cut, so that a 

 man may stand up and easily make use of the axe. The 

 branches and leaves fall outside of the tree ; that is much 

 better, than to be obliged to remove all around the tree a 

 heavy ladder. A man thus placed in the centre of the tree, 

 can do as much work as two persons placed outside of the 

 tree. Too many branches must not be allowed to grow, 

 otherwise they cannot be cut without hard work ; moreover, 

 the leaves will be thin and destitute of taste. 



