CULTIVATION OF THE MULBERRY. 57 



so as to diminish the work, at the period when the ap- 

 proaching new season requires all the mulberry trees to be 

 planted at the same time. 



In each of these holes, which ought to be more than two 

 feet square and deep, spread two chings (two-tenths of a 

 bushel) of rotten manure, which has been well mixed with 

 earth. Raise the ground on the north side, and lower it on 

 the south, in order to retain the snow of Winter, and the 

 rain of Spring. 



In the last month of the year, (January,) take two or 

 three large and long branches of the mulberry tree of Lou, 

 join them together, and cut the lower part; cut with a 

 sharp hatchet, and scar the cut, by passing it lightly through 

 the fire. Bundles are made of forty-five branches, and laid 

 in a hole, exposed to the south, care being taken to separate 

 each bunch by a bundle of rice straw. 



The hole should be three or four feet long, and as many 

 deep. The holes ought to be dug before-hand, for fear of 

 experiencing many difficulties, if it be delayed until the 

 cold has frozen the ground to a certain depth. 



Cover these bundles of branches with a thick bed of 

 earth. After the time called Tchun-fen, (21st of March,) 

 they must be taken out. Then open the first hole, pour 

 three or four chings (three or four tenths of a bushel) of 

 water in, and sow twenty to thirty millet seed there. The 

 branches must then be taken and bent down, (in the form 

 of a circle,) and tied in that position with a straw rope, and 

 covered up in the middle of the hole, and three or four 

 inches of earth put over. If by chance the buds of the 

 branches have pushed two or three inches, the surrounding 

 branches must be covered with a foot of earth. The earth 

 must then be well trodden, in order to make it compact and 

 8 



