SOIL, SITUATION AND CLIMATE. 45 



eties of the mulberry, to those especially which late in 

 autumn have been transplanted to new positions, or the 

 forced trees of but a single summer's growth ; defence- 

 less, unprotected, and all exposed, on an unsuitable and 

 naked soil, they meet the frosts of autumn and of win- 

 ter unprepared. 



A dry, sterile sand is unsuitable ; and a shallow soil 

 on a foundation of clay produces leaves of bad quality. 

 In low, rich grounds, and extensive plains or prairies, 

 near ponds, and in the valleys of rivers, the mulberry 

 tree indeed grows most vigorously, yet the leaves being 

 more watery, though voraciously devoured, they prolong 

 the labors of the insect by inducing weakness, and in- 

 jure the quality of the produce. These grounds are 

 alike exposed to the destructive frosts of winter and of 

 summer : the moisture of the atmosphere in such situa- 

 tions causes the leaves to become spotted and to mildew, 

 and the leaves thus infected, if given to the insects, are 

 the sure sources of disease and of death. 



Sunny expositions and the declivities of hills, those 

 especially which slope to the south, east, or west, are 

 favorable. The cocoons of mountainous countries are 

 deemed superior to those of the plains; although not so 

 large, they are usually of a whiter color. Plant the 

 mulberry tree on the high uplands, and on the hills, for 

 here they are neither exposed to suffer from the early 

 and the latter frosts, nor are the leaves liable to become 

 spotted or diseased from the mildew ; and from these 

 combined causes, the growth of the tree will be conse- 

 quently prolonged for a double length of time. 



Prepare the soil by suitable nutriment, to the depth of 

 eighteen inches beneath the tree, and to a proper dis- 

 tance around. The roots of the mulberry tree strike 

 downwards; other plants may therefore be profitably 

 cultivated beneath its shade, which is not deemed per- 

 nicious, the whole ground being kept as a garden during 

 the first years. 



The climate of the countries bordering on the great 



