73S 



FARMERS' REGISTER— CHINESE MtLBERRi'. 



the branches out, every branch will take root, and 

 be»ome a young tree— so that every tree one year 

 old, will by proper manairenient, produce from ten 

 to twenty in one summer." 



Last spring we set many cuttings, and though 

 both the ground and tlie season were rather unla- 

 vorable, yet about one-half of them rootedj and 

 one attained the height of three feet. We hope 

 to be able in the coming season to give a better 

 account of our operations in this line. 



It appears from the Ameiican Farmer that "this 

 mulberry was brought Irom tlie Philipi)ine Islands 

 by a French corvette, in July 1821. TJie corvette 

 had been sent out by the French government, 

 under the care of Samuel Percttet, for the express 

 purpose of collecting rare plants, seeds, &c. along 

 the coast of Asia as far as the Philijipine Islands; 

 and returned laden with them, tlie Morus multi- 

 caulis being one of the articles obtained. It was 

 found at the Philippine Islands, whither it had been 

 carried by the Chinese colonists, one of whom 

 remarked that to this plant his country 'owed its 

 immense product of silk.' 31. Perotlet ascertained 

 that it was originally from the north of China; 

 and that it had been transplanted from Canton to 

 Manilla. On its arriv^al in France, it was imme- 

 diately taken to the royal gardens at Paris and 

 Montpelier for propagation and experiment, and 

 the result has been its universal adoption so far as 

 it could be obtained." 



This mulberry is considered much superior to 

 every other kind. It is said not only "to make 

 silk of the best fibre," but it is also "most conge- 

 nial to the constitutions of the worms;" and in- 

 stances have been published of their promptly 

 leaving the white Italian nmlberry leaf for this 

 sort. At the Brooklyn nursery indeed, their tastes 

 were tried with six other kinds of mulberry leaves, 

 but the worms gave the new Chinese a decided 

 preference. 



It has been repeatedly asserted by those who 

 had the best means of knowing, that one pound of 

 the leaves is nearly or quite equal in value to two 

 pounds of the Italian mulberry, though we have 

 seen a subsequent statement that reduced this dif- 

 ference. It is true that a large succulent leaf of 

 the common kind is inferior in its quality to those 

 of smaller size; but the objection does not apply to 

 the Chinese Mulberry, for though its leaves are 

 very large, they are remarkably thin and silky. 



The facility with which the leaves may be gath- 

 ered, is another inportant consideration. Their 

 great size (often eight inches by ten,*) enables a 

 person to collect an armful in a few minutes; and 

 their low growth is particularly favorable for old 

 people and children who can perform this labor 

 without climbing. From all our observations we 

 conclude that this mulberry has more the habit of 

 a large shrub than a tree; at least it is much in- 

 clinecl to grow bushj^; and by cutting it off near 

 the ground, this disposition is much increased. It 

 is doubtless from this cnxumstance, that it derives 

 its specific name, mult icaulis or many stalked. 



There is one point of great importance however, 

 which remains to be considered. The question is 

 oflen asked, Is this mulberry hardy? and we are 

 willing to answer with a slight exception, that it 

 is so in the vicinity of our principal lakes. It is 



♦Some leaves have been measured that were 1.3 

 inches wide and 15 inches Ions. 



true that the ends of the branches are killed every 

 winter; but ours we think, have not been damaged 

 in this way to a greater extent than ten or twelve 

 inches; and when we consider that the tree con- 

 tinues to grow until it is nipt by the fiost, it is just 

 what we ought to expect. Wood that is immature 

 ai\d succulent as a weed, cannot resist a low tem- 

 perature. All our native trees complete their ve- 

 getation in summer, in due time fur the wood to 

 harden and the buds to become perfect; but if by- 

 planting in a richer soil, we could prolong their 

 growth till late in autumn, the ends of their branch- 

 es would without doubt perish in the same manner. 

 The poorer the ground, the sooner in the season 

 the tree ceases to grow, and therefore this mulberry 

 will be most likely to withstand the winter best on 

 thin soils. 



We consider the losses of these exfrcmities how- 

 ever, as a matter of small account, for it will 

 rarely amount to one-fourth of the growth of one 

 season; and as the trees become older, they will 

 also become hardier. The current of the sap ia 

 diminished in velocity by being separated into so 

 many branches; and as it consequently sooner 

 ceases to flow in autumn, the wood has more time 

 to harden. 



In mountainous districts where the winters are 

 severe, and where of course, a much greater part 

 of the young shoot is killed by the cold — this mul- 

 berry we think, with a little management, may 

 still be cultivated to advantage. The vigor of its 

 vegetal ion will bear some proportion to the close- 

 ness of its pruning; and if most of the branches 

 perish in winter, a luxuriant growth may be ex- 

 pected in summer from the old stool or stump. 

 The leaves however, would come later than where 

 they opened from buds ready formed; but this dif- 

 ficulty may be obviated in three ways: 1. Postpone 

 the hatching of the silk worms by keeping the 

 eggs hi an ice-house. 2. Cultivate hardier kinds 

 of mulberry for the spring supply. 3. Dry the 

 leaves of the mulberry in autumn, to be used in 

 the succeeding spring. A correspondent of the 

 National Intelligencer says, "In the month of 

 September Judge Bry of Louisiana, gathered a 

 quantity of the best full grown leaves from the 

 mulberry tree, taking care they should be ircc from 

 dirt. They were carefully dried in the shade on 

 linen and other cloth; and when perfectly so, 

 were put into sacks, hung in an airy and dry place, 

 until the proper season arrived for hatching the 

 worm. When ready to use them, he pounded 

 the leaves fine, and moistened them with steam — 

 which upon experiment proved to be equally good, 

 if not better nourishment, than the best young 

 leaves." 



We would remind our readers that three succes- 

 sive broods of the silk worm may be raised in one 

 season; and that the constant and vigorous vegeta- 

 tion of the Chinese mulberry is admirably adapted 

 to the support of the latter broods. 



This mulberry from the great size of its leaves, 

 is very ornamental; and we cannot conclude with- 

 out strongly recommending to every freeholder 

 who would embellish his door-yard, to procure 

 a tree. The price will not exceed a few shil- 

 lings. 



