282 



MUL 



MUR 



A layer of mud will be no bad 

 ingredient in a heap of compost. 

 But it should be contiguous to a 

 stratum of lime, if that can be ob- 

 tained. But where this is want- 

 ing, new horse dung isi-the best 

 substitute, to excite a strong fer- 

 mentation. 



The best method of rrianaging 

 all sorts of mud, were it not for in- 

 creasing the labour, would be to 

 lay it in farm yards, and let it be 

 thoroughly mixed with the dung 

 and stale of animals. When it is 

 so managed, the compost is excel- 

 lent, and fit for almost any soil, 

 though best for light ones. Per- 

 haps the advantage of it is so great 

 as to pay for the increased expense 

 of twice carting. For it will ab- 

 sorb the stale of cattle, and retain 

 it better than straw, and other light 

 suDst^nccs 



MULBERRY, Moms, a well 

 known tree, the leaves of which 

 are the proper food of silk worms. 

 The only mulberry, in any degree 

 proper for the food, or successful 

 culture of silk worms, is the white 

 mulberry. All attempts to raise 

 them on the leaves of the common 

 black mulberry will be unsuccess- 

 ful. 



It would be right for us to pro- 

 pagate these trees, as it might be 

 done with the greatest ease. We 

 may do it by their seeds, or by 

 layers, cuttings or slips. If we 

 are not disposed to make use of 

 them for the feeding of silk worms, 

 they would pay for the trouble of 

 rearing them, by their fruit and 

 their timber. They suit our cli- 

 mate, and grow rapidly, at least in 



Connecticut, and in the western^ 

 part of Massachusetts. 



Possibly the time may come 

 when we may be glad to make silk 

 for our own use in this country. 

 If this should happen, it will be re- 

 gretted if there be no trees in the 

 country from which the worms can 

 be fed. They will grow well in 

 a deep dry soil which is mode- 

 rately rich. 



MULCH, rubbish of decayed 

 vegetables. Litter is a word of 

 the same import. 



MURRAIN. " Murrain, a con- 

 tagious disease incident to cattle ; 

 it is known by the animals hanging 

 down their heads, which are swol- 

 len ; by short and hot breathing ; 

 palpitation of the heart ; stagger- 

 ing ; an abundant secretion of vis- 

 cid matter in the eyes ; rattling in 

 the throat and a shining tongue. 



" The murrain is occasioned by 

 various causes, but principally by 

 a hot, dry season, or a general 

 corruption of the air. It raged 

 about the nuddle of the last cen- 

 tury in various parts of Europe, 

 and carried off great numbers of 

 cattle. The remedy then employ- 

 ed both for prevention and cure, 

 consisted in a mixture of equal 

 parts of gun-powder, salt, soot, 

 and brimstone ; one spoonful of 

 this composition was given for a 

 dose, and was hid down v/ith warm 

 water. 



" In the 36th volume of Annals 

 of Jlgricidture, the following re- 

 cipe is inserted for the murrain in 

 hogs ;— A handful of nettles is to 

 be previously boiled in a gallon of 

 small beer, when half a pound of 



