i^ THE CULTl/REi 



they come into leaf a fortnight, or more, 

 fooner than the black, by which means 

 your filkworms can be fed earUer in fpring, 

 and you avoid the inconvenience of hatch- 

 ing them late as mentioned above. Third- 

 ly, the white is a quicker grower, and 

 will not be fo much hurt by pulling its 

 leaves, nor be fo incommoded vi^ith fruit 

 as the black. Laftly, the fiik produced 

 from its leaves is faid to be finer. 



The early budding of the white mul- 

 berry is very advantageous, becaufe the 

 filkworm is often apt to be hatched before 

 there is food for it. The tendernefs of its 

 leaf, and its agreeablenefs to the young 

 filkw^orm, is alfo very ufeful, becaufe the 

 young broods, whofe teeth are tender, 

 cannot fo eafily pierce the thick leaf of the 

 black mulberry j and any one may eafily 

 obferve with what difficulty the worms eat 

 any part of a leaf, except the edge, until 

 they have made a hole in it, and fo form- 

 ed an edge for their teeth to lay hold on. 

 Indeed after their three firft fickneffes are 

 paft, they fcarce have occafion to make 

 holes, becaufe four or five worms attack- 

 ing a leaf on its edge foon devour it. 

 The inconvenience of much litter and 



moiflure. 



