OF SILK. 13 



among tlicm only accidental 5 this might 

 be alcertaincd, by impregnating the kcd 

 of one fort with the farina of another : 

 for if the mules produced from this mix- 

 ture bore fruit whofe feed was prolific, 

 and would grow when fown, then we 

 might conclude them of the fame fpecies ; 

 and this is perhaps the furefl method for 

 diftinguifliing the kinds in all plants and 

 animals, fince it is well known, that mules, 

 both vegetable and animal, are barren; 

 Providence feeming to have fixed this qua- 

 Jity as an obfliacle to the infinite confufioa 

 of fpecies, which would otherv^ife have 

 foUow'd from infinite mixtures ^ but this 

 I only mention occafionally : In treating 

 of filkworms, it is fufficient to preferve the 

 diftinftion of mulberries into the black 

 and white forts. 



Befide the ufe of the mulberry-tree in 

 the production of filk, its timber is faid to 

 be very ferviceable, and it has the property 

 of bearing wet, without rotting, better 

 than any other ; yet there is no tree whofe 

 bark fo readily parts from the wood, if 

 the wet gets between them while in a 

 growing ftate. The inner rind of this 

 tree is tough, like hemp, and might be 



twifled 



