354 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 6 



many leaves, as those of Lou. Branches of the 

 mulberry tree of Lou may be grafted upon them ; 

 they then live for a long time, and yield an abun- 

 dance of leaves. 



If the mulberry trees of Lou be employed to 

 obtain the species of tree called ii-saiig, (dwarf 

 trees) and if they be reproduced by twigs, they 

 propagate without interruption, and last an infinite 

 time. 



The silkworms that are fed with the leaves of 

 the mulberry trees of Kliing, produce a firm and 

 etrong silk ; it is fit to make dm and lo-cha, (kinds 

 of thick gauze and crape.) 



The leaves of the mulberry trees of Lou agree 

 with the worms that are large ; those ot the trees 

 of Khlng with the small worms. \_Nong-sang- 

 thong-khioue.'] 



Propagation of mulberry trees. 



The work entitled TTisi-min-yao-chou, describes 

 (he manner of obtaining the best seed of the black 

 mulberry trees. 



The two ends of the mulberry must be cut off 

 with a pair of scissors, and only the middle part 

 taken. The seed of the two extremities are com- 

 paratively smaller than the others, and if sown 

 they produce little mulberry trees, called khi-sang, 

 (chicken mulberry trees) and hoa-sang, (flowering 

 jnulberry trees.) 



The intermedial part of the mulberry has larger 

 and harder seed. The trees that proceed from 

 them have firmer and stronger branches, and they 

 bear thick and nourishing leaves. [Nong-sang- 

 thoag-khioue.^ 



The mulberry trees called ti-sang (dwarf tree.':) 

 ought to be planted in a garden near a well. If 

 grass springs up around the roots of the trees, the 

 earth must be turned up with a spade. When it 

 does not rain they must be watered. When the 

 silkworms are hatched they ought to be watered 

 three times a^day ; the leaves will then grow very 

 quickly. 



Among the different kinds of mulberry trees 

 there are some that sprout out early, others late. 

 It is from among the mulberry trees which are in 

 leaf^ the earliest, that those are chosen, from 

 which the trees called ti-sang, or dwarf mulberry 

 trees, are formed. [Nong-tching-tsiouen-chou:] 



In the work, entitled Tchong-hoa-min, it is 

 read : There are two kinds of mulberry trees: one 

 bears the fruit of which we sow the seed : it 

 sprouts out in the first or second month, (Februa- 

 ry or March.) 



The following is the manner the other kind is 

 multiplied : 



A pliant branch is bent to the ground, and main- 

 tained in that position by a clod of clay. Each 

 bud produces a branch. When this mulberry tree 

 has attained the height of two or three feet, its 

 roots are then formed. The mother branch (o 

 which it belongs is then cut, and it is transplanted 

 in another place. It soon becomes a tree. [Same 

 work.] 



Observations upon the choice of mulberry plants. 

 The mulberry with a wrinkled bark yields only 



small and thin leaves; those of which the bark is 

 white, the joints long, and have large buds, are 

 the leafy trees of Chi, (diospyros; they always 

 bear large and thick leaves. The cocoons spun 

 by worms fed on them are firm, and iurni.sh a 

 great deal of silk. 



The tall white mulberries succeed well upon the 

 declivity of hills, in the angle of a wall, or by the 

 side of a hedge. 



The mulberry trees of less height, with a black 

 bark, should be planted in moist ground. [Same 

 work.] 



The mulberry trees with black bark, which pro- 

 duce no seed, when the leaves are not too thick, 

 are good for the nourishment of newly hatched 

 silkworms. (Same work.) 



The trees of the country of Wang-ha'i, are 

 mulliplied in the same manner as those with the 

 white bark. The tree called thse-teng-snng (or 

 mulberry tree with rose-like branches) grows high 

 and strong. 



The white mulberry tree, or the tree with white 

 bark, yields very little seed, it is multiplied by lay- 

 ers, if a person has seed they can sow it, but it 

 must be in the shade. Heavy well filled cocoons 

 will be formed, which will produce twice as much 

 silk as the ordinary ones. [Same work.] 



Manner of pruning large mulberry trees. 



The branches must be thinned, and above all, 

 pruned in time. It ought to be done in order that 

 the branches may acquire strength and push early, 

 and that the silkworms may not want leaves. 



If the branches are cut off, those that remain 

 will acquire strength, and the leaves will become 

 thicker and more nourishing. If this year they 

 are pruned at the proper time, the long branches 

 will become strong and vigorous ; the leaves of the 

 next year will shoot out early, and they will be 

 thick and gloss}'. 



All the branches from the centre must be cut, 

 so that a man may stand up and easily make use 

 of the axe. The branches and leaves fall out- 

 side of the tree; that is much better, than to be 

 obliged to remove all around the tree a heavy lad- 

 der. A man thus placed in the centre of the tree, 

 can do as much work as two persons placed out- 

 side of the tree. Too many branches must not 

 be allowed to grow, otherwise they cannot be cut 

 without hard work ; moreover, the leaves will be 

 thin and destitute of taste. 



Moreover, the art of properly pruning the mul- 

 berry trees, is one of the most important points for 

 the raising of silkworms. Many persons do not 

 know how to make beforehand the necessary pre- 

 parations when the cessation of agricultural work 

 gives them leisure. They only occupy themselves 

 with the mulberry trees, when the season of tend- 

 ing the silkworms has overloaded them with trou- 

 ble. In this manner they are overcharged with 

 double work, and often the silk worms want ne- 

 cessary nourishment. If], on the contrary, these 

 mulberry trees have been pruned, according to the 

 rules, so that the branches can be easily reached, 

 and the leaves obtained with facility, the silk- 

 worms will not wait lor their ibod, the leaves will 

 come in proper time, and, moreover, they will be 

 thick and glossj'. 



The method used in the country of TTisin is 

 called lo-sang. In the last month of the year, 



