THE MULBERRY. 121 



forty to sixty feet in height. They had not the ad- 

 vantages which the Chinese Mulberry, (Morus Mul- 

 ticaulis) confers, of rapid growth, large leaves, easily 

 gathered, and of a superior quality. 



The successful and universal introduction of this 

 species of manufacture, as well as culture, will save 

 the country from sixteen to twenty millions of dol- 

 lars annually in woven fabrics, to say nothing of the 

 sewings, refuse silk, &c. It will give employment 

 to thousands of children and aged persons, who 

 would otherwise be a burthen to their parents, friends, 

 or the public. Advance this business, and the inmates 

 of alms-houses, particularly, in the coantry, would so 

 far from being a burthen to the county, pay the ex- 

 penses of the establishment, and have a surplus. 

 Another great advantage would accrue from the uni- 

 versal establishment of the silk culture. In many of 

 the states, and particularly in Maryland and Dela- 

 ware, there is a vast number of acres of land worn 

 out and turned out, which might be turned to advan- 

 tage, by being planted with the Chinese Mulberry 

 trees. Poor land, and particularly a warm sandy soil, 

 is peculiarly adapted to the Mulberry ; the leaves aire 

 more relished by the worm, and contain more nutri- 

 ment, as well as more of the resin which forms the 

 silk, than leaves produced from a rich soil ; simply be- 

 cause the latter are more crude, and from their rapid 

 growth less compact in their structure. The leaves 



tan a poor soil of course are much smaller; but what 

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