196 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Moringa pterygosperma, Gaertner. 



The Horse-Radish Tree of India, abundant into the middle regions 

 of the mountains. The long pods are edible ; the seeds are some- 

 what almond-like and rich in oil. M. aptera, Gaertner, occurs from 

 Abyssinia and Egypt to Arabia and Syria. 



Morus alba, Linne.* 



The White Mulberry Tree. China. This tree in several varieties 

 provides the food for the ordinary Chinese silk insect (Bombyx 

 Mori). Silk was produced in Italy 600 years ago, and there this 

 branch of industry has nourished ever since. In China silk has been 

 , reeled for 4,500 years. This may demonstrate the permanency of an 

 industry which we wish to establish here extensively under a similar 

 sky. " One pound of silk is worth its weight in silver, and this 

 pound may be produced (so far as the food of the Bombyx is con- 

 cerned) from thirty pounds of mulberry leaves or from a single tree, 

 which thus may be brought to yield annually the material for 1 6 

 yards of Gros de Naples." The White Mulberry tree is of 

 extremely easy growth from cuttings, also readily raised from well- 

 matured seeds. It is usually unisexual, and attains finally a very 

 large size. It can be grown in climes where olives will 110 longer 

 thrive. Spots for mulberry culture must not be over moist, when 

 the leaves are to be utilised for the Bombyx. In 1870, according 

 to the British Trade Journal, the produce of cocoons amounted in 

 Europe to 16,588,000; in Asia to 28,112,000; in Africa to 

 44,000 ; in the South Sea Islands to 24,000 ; in America to 

 20,000 thus giving a general total of 44,788,000. In 1875 the 

 yield of raw silk in the district of Rajshahye (British India) was 

 estimated at 400,000, employing about 12,000 people, the plant- 

 ations extending approximately over 150 square miles (Dr. S. Forbes 

 Watson). In that district alone a quarter of a million of people 

 derived their support from the trade and other branches of the silk 

 industries. Superior varieties of mulberry can be grafted with ease 

 on ordinary stock. M. Indica (L.), M. macrophylla (Morett), M. 

 multicaulis (Perott), M. Morettiana (Jacq.), M. Chinensis (Bertol), 

 M. latifolia (Poir.), M. Italica (Poir.), M. Japonica (JSTois.), M. 

 Byzantina (Sieb.), M. nervosa (Del), M. pumila (Nois.), M. tortuosa 

 (Audib.), as well as the Constantinople Mulberry, are merely forms 

 of M. alba, to which probably also M. Tatarica (L.) and M. 

 pabularia (Jacquin.) belong. The variety known as M. Indica pro- 

 duces black [fruits. The planting of Mulberry trees has recently 

 assumed enormous dimensions in California, where in 18 70 between 

 seven and eight millions were planted. 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 



