34 



unwearied researches of the Hon. H. A. S. Dearborn : 

 and the first complete history and account of this plant, 

 from the " Annales d'Horticulture," and the "Anna- 

 les Royal Horticole de Fromont :" was communicated 

 to the public from his luminous pen : even before the 

 plant was known by name in this section of the country. 

 I am happy in thus being enabled to ascribe honor, 

 where honor is so justly due. To the introduction of 

 this plant, more than to any other cause, is to be ascrib- 

 ed the awakening and mighty impulse to the cause of 

 silk in this decisive day. [See the various communica- 

 tions of Gen. Dearborn in Vols. VIII and IX of the 

 New England Farmer for 1830 and 1831.] From 

 this history chiefly, and from all other sources, as well as 

 from much personal knowledge of the plant, I have 

 emoodied the following account. 



The silk-worms, and the plants whereon they most 

 delight to feed, are the natives of China. These, the 

 common white Mulberry, which is sometimes, though 

 improperly called the Italian, and the Morus Multicau- 

 Us, all being alike the natives of the same climate and 

 country. 



The Morus Multicaulis is also called, by way of ex- 

 cellence, the Chinese Mulberry ; a tree of surpassing 

 beauty ; a new and most valuable variety for the nour- 

 ishment of silk-worms; a tree which is represented as 

 possessing such decided superiority over all others, that 

 it will speedily be substituted for them all, in every region 

 of the globe. 



Of all the varieties of mulberries for silk, the Chi- 

 nese mulberry or Morus Multicaulis appears that which 

 is most eminently adapted to our wants. It originated 

 in the elevated regions of China, a country famous from 

 antiquity for its silk and renowned for its industry ; a 

 parallel only to our own, in its climates and divers lati- 

 tudes. It is to this tree, that the disciples of Confu- 



