307- 

 MULBERRY. 



MURIER. Moms. . 



THERE are several species of the Morus or Mulberry, 

 The white kind is commonly cultivated for its leaves to feed 

 silkworms, though in some parts of Spain, and in Persia, 

 they are said to piefer the Black Mulberry. In China, .it 

 appears that both sorts are grown for the same purpose. 

 The most esteemed variety of the white is one grown in 

 Italy, and especially in Lombardy, with vigorous shoots, 

 and much larger leaves than the otlien. The Morus multi- 

 caulis is caltivated in many parts of France, and is by some 

 preferred to all other varieties. Jt is said that a less quan- 

 tity of foliage from this variety will satisfy the silkworms. 

 The late Andrew Parmentier, Esq., was the means of 

 introducing several choice varieties from that country ; and 

 our nurserymen generally, have, of late years, turned their 

 attention to the cultivation of such as are best adapted for 

 silkworms, which are sold at moderate prices. 



In France, the white Mulberry is grown as pollard Elms 

 are in England. In Lombardy, it is grown in low marshy 

 ground. In China, it is also grown in moist loamy soil, 

 and both there and in the East Indies, as low bushes, and 

 the plantations rooted up and renewed every three or four 

 years. In many parts, when the leaves are wanted for the 

 worms,, they are stripped off the young shoots, which are 

 left naked on the tree ; in other places, the shoots are cut 

 off, which is not so injurious to the tree, while the points of 

 the shoots, as well as the leaves, are eaten by the worms. 



The plants are sometimes raised from seed, and one ounce 

 of seed will produce 5000 trees, if sovvn in rich loamy soil, 

 the latter end of April, or early in May ; but the young 

 plants will require protection the first Winter ; they are 

 more commonly propagated by layers and cuttings, put 

 down in the Spring. The Italian variety is frequently 

 grafted on seedling stocks of the common sort, in order to 

 preserve it from degenerating. In the East Indies, the plant? 



