220 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



abont 12,000 people, the plantations extending approximately over 

 150 sqnare miles (Dr. S. Forbes Watson). In that district alone a 

 quarter of a million people derive their support from the trade and 

 other branches of the silk-industries. Great Britain imported in 1884 

 4,519,000 Ibs. of raw silk, to a value of 3,341,000 of thrown silk; 

 husks and waste to the value of 907,000, irrespective of manufac- 

 tured silk-goods, the cost of which amounted to nearly eleven 

 million pounds sterling. Superior varieties of mulberry can be 

 grafted with ease on ordinary stock. M. Indica, L., M. macrophylla, 

 Moretti, M. Morettiana, Jacq., M. Chinensis, BertoL, M. latifolia, 

 Poir., M. Italica, Poir., M. Japonica, Nois., M, Byzantina, Sieb., 

 M. nervosa, Del., M. pumila, Nois., M. tortuosa, Audib., as well as 

 M. Constantinopolitana, Lamarck, with which, according to Prof. C. 

 Koch, is identical M. multicaulis of Perrottet, are merely forms of 

 M. alba, to which probably also M. Tatarica, L. and M. pabularia, 

 Jacquin, belong. The variety known as M. Indica produces black 

 fruits. The raising of Mulberry-trees has recently assumed enor- 

 mous dimensions in California, where between seven and eight 

 millions were planted since 1870. The process of rearing the silk- 

 insect is simple, and involves no laborious exertions. The cocoons, 

 after they have been properly steamed, dried and pressed, readily 

 find purchasers in Europe, the price ranging according to quality 

 from 3s. to 6s. per Ib. The eggs of the silk-moth sell at a price from 

 16s. to 2 per ounce; in 1870, Japan had to provide two millions of 

 ounces of silk-ova for Europe, where the worms had extensively 

 fallen victims to disease. As an example of the profit to be realized, 

 a Californian fact may be cited, according to which 700 were the 

 clear gain from 3J acres, the working expenses having been 93. 

 The Commissioner of Agriculture of the United States has estimated 

 that under ordinary circumstances an acre should support from 700 to 

 1,000 mulberry trees, producing, when four years old, 5,000 Ibs. of 

 leaves fit for food. On this quantity of leaves can be reared 140,000 

 worms, from which ova at a net-profit, ranging from 80 to 240 per 

 acre, will be obtained by the work of one person. Mr. C. Brady, of 

 Sydney, thinks the probable proceeds of silk-culture to be from 60 

 to 150 for the acre. The discrepancies in calculations of this kind 

 are explained by differences in clime, soil, attention, treatment and 

 also rate of labor. 



A very palatable fruit is obtained from a variety cultivated in 

 Beloochistan and Afghanistan. Morus Tatarica, L., resembles M. 

 alba; its juicy fruit is insipid and small. The leaves are not gener- 

 ally used for silkworms. The white-fruited tree was found apparently 

 ' wild by Dr. A. v. Regel, at Taschkent and Tutkaul; the stems there 

 were 7 feet thick. ,-. 



The results of Mr. Brady's experience on the varieties of Morus 

 alba are as follows : In the normal form the fruits are white with a 

 purplish tinge more or less deep ; the bark is pale ; the leaf is also 

 of a pale hue, not very early, nor very tender, nor very abundant. 

 It may be grown on moist ground, so long as such is drained, or it will 



