208 S Y L V A BOOK ii 



again in a few months : They likewise (in Virginia) 

 have planted them in hedges, as near together as we 

 do gooseberries and currans, for their more convenient 

 clipping, which they pretend to do with scissers. 



8. The mulberry is much improv'd by stirring the 

 mould at root, and letation. 



9. We have already mentioned some of the uses of 

 this excellent tree, especially of the white, so called 

 because the fruit is of a paler colour, which is also of 

 a more luscious taste, and lesser than the black ; the 

 rind likewise is whiter, and the leaves of a mealy 

 clear green colour, and far tenderer, and sooner 

 produc'd by at least a fortnight, which is a marvelous 

 advantage to the newly disclos'd silk-worm : Also 

 they arrive sooner to their maturity, and the food 

 produces a finer web. Nor is this tree less beautiful 

 to the eye than the fairest elm, very proper for walks 

 and avenues : The timber (amongst other properties) 

 will last in the water as well as the most solid oak, 

 and the bark makes good and tough bast-ropes. It 

 suffers no kind of vermin to breed on it, whether 

 standing or fell'd, nor dares any caterpillar attack it, 

 save the silk-worm only. The loppings are excellent 

 fuel : But that for which this tree is in greatest and 

 most worthy esteem, is for the leaves, which (besides 

 the silk-worm) nourishes cows, sheep, and other 

 cattle ; especially young porkers, being boil'd with a 

 little bran ; and the fruit excellent to feed poultrey. 

 In sum, whatever eats of them, will with difficulty 

 be reduc'd to endure any thing else, as long as they 

 can come by them : To say nothing of their other 

 soveraign qualities, as relaxing of the belly, being 

 eaten in the morning, and curing inflamations and 

 ulcers of the mouth and throat, mix'd with Mel 



