124 CULTIVATION OF 



tree should be chosen, and the soil most suited to its 

 cultivation. 



The varieties of the Mulberry spoken of are as 

 follows: First, the White Italian; second, the Tar- 

 tarean; third, the Shining Leaved; fourth, the Dan- 

 dolo ; and fifth, the Chinese. The last has three va- 

 rieties, viz: the Morus Cucullata, the Morus Multi- 

 caulis, and the Perrottet Mulberry. 



Among the varieties of this tree, not suitable as 

 food for the silk worm, some authors enumerate the 

 Red and Black Mulberry. This is an egregious er- 

 ror, for I have fed worms both on the red and the 

 black ; and though the worms did not grow quite so 

 fast, or so large, yet they spun very compact balls ; 

 they reeled well, and proved to be fine, soft and glos- 

 sy silk. Those worms fed on the White, grew some- 

 what faster, and somewhat larger ; yet the silk pro- 

 duced from the red and black was equal, if not supe- 

 rior. 



I have not the least doubt but that of all the Mul- 

 berry tribe, the Chinese is the best ; both as a food, 

 and in the facility of gathering the leaves. Some cul- 

 turists believe, that the Chinese Mulberry cannot 

 stand the severity of our winters ; but I am of the 

 opinion that they can, after the first winter ; for I left 

 many out the last winter, and not a single one died, 

 though the experiment was tried under very unfavor- 

 able circumstances. In all cases, where the Chinese 

 Mulberry has been killed by the severity of the clir 



