48 CULTIVATION OF THE MULBERRY. 



the east of the Yellow river ; but a different mode is adopt- 

 ed north of this river, in the province of Chan-tong. 



When the mulberry tree has attained the height of five to 

 seven feet, from the period of its transplantation, the tops of 

 the branches must be cut. As the branches of the centre 

 have been removed, those that remain will grow in a hori- 

 zontal direction, and extend outward. When the tree has 

 become large and strong, a man can stand up in the centre. 



When the tree has attained its maximum of strength and 

 growth, the stalk and the branches must be cut in the 

 centre. 



There are three kinds of branches that must of necessity 

 be removed. 



1st. The branches inclining towards the root ; 



2d. Those which bend inward, towards the trunk ; 



3d. Those which grow in pairs ; one must be cut ; 



4th. Those growing in a good direction, but which are 

 too thick and too bushy. 



The last month of the year, (January,) is the most favor- 

 able for pruning : the month that follows is less so. In the 

 last month of the year the sap is quiescent, and the cessa- 

 tion of labor in the country leaves much leisure to the cul- 

 tivators. Those persons who prune in the Spring, only do 

 it in order to peel them easily, (to make paper,) but that 

 causes the mulberry trees to lose a great quantity of sap. 



Those persons who wish to make use of the bark of the 

 mulberry tree can take the branches, cut in the last month, 

 (January,) and deposite them, with a southern exposure, in 

 a hole, covered up with earth. They must be taken out in 

 the second month, (March,) and they then peel very easily. 

 [ Nong-sse-pi-yong.] 



