192 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. 



(whence, probably, the name M. multicaulis, Perr.) with large, 

 strong leaves, which are stripped from the switches either on the 

 spot or at home. The latter is usually the case. At a little 

 distance these plantations do not look unlike a vineyard in level 

 country, especially in the Mediterranean region, without supports 

 for the vines. 



2. The limited tree-shaped (Taka-kabu, i.e. high stump). In this 

 branch of the industry actual stems are obtained, as in raising 

 willows for barrel hoops ; but these trunks are headed at a height 

 of I to 2 meters. This is mulberry-culture as practised, for 

 example, in Northern Italy and Spain particularly (with Morus 

 alba, L., a, vulgaris Morettiana, J acq.). In Japan it is especially 

 common in hilly regions, but does not afford so fine an appearance 

 as in Northern Italy, where it is carried out with more regularity 

 and attention. As we see here, it admits of other plants being 

 raised alongside of it, and this is also the case in Japan if the 

 trees, as is commonly the case, are placed wide apart, or on the 

 borders of the fields. 



3. The free tree-shaped (Taka-gi, i.e. high tree). As already 

 remarked, this is most frequently M. alba, L., indica, and is most 

 frequent in valleys, or rather on their slopes. Owing partly to 

 their situation, and the poverty of their owners, these trees look 

 somewhat neglected. They seldom become more than 30 to 40 

 years old, and rarely exhibit a finely shaped crown. Manure, of 

 which they require more than the better situated trees and shrubs 

 in the plain, is seldom applied to them. 



All silk, Jap. Kinu, originates in the cocoons or pupa coverings 

 of a group of moths which are designated by the name of Bomby- 

 cides, or spinners. Of these, the Bombyx mori, L., the mulberry- 

 spinner, is the best known and by far the most important. To it 

 all the foregoing observations directly apply, and, as a rule, this 

 is true of all remarks on silk and silk-culture. As in the case of 

 our other domestic animals, and many cultivated plants, their 

 culture, lasting for thousands of years, has gradually resulted in 

 the production of a large number of species. These differ from one 

 another in all their stages of development, as eggs, caterpillars, 

 cocoons (pupse), and butterflies, but especially as to the length of 

 life, size, and form of the caterpillars, and also the size, form, and 

 colour of the cocoons. Almost all of them are characterized, in 

 the caterpillar stage, by a lazy, sociable life, four castings, and the 

 fact that they feed on fresh leaves of Morus alba, L. They are 

 thus grouped : — 



(a) Season-spinner breed, Ital. Annuali, Jap. Haru-ko, i.e. spring- 

 children. They breed only once, in spring and early summer, and 

 produce by far the greatest quantity and best silk. 



{b) Breeds that fly repeatedly, Zwei und Dreispinner, Ital. Bivol- 

 tini and Trivoltini, Jap. Natsu-go, i.e., summer-children, with several 

 changes of breeding in one summer. They are not much valued, 

 and but seldom cultivated. 



