Vol. it. 



SilkWorm ^ Sugar Beet. 



247 



SilU "Worm &• Sugar Beet. 



, The following letter contains the reply of Mr. 

 , Stone, to certain queries addressed to him by Mr. 

 I Randolph, Chairman of the Committe on Agricul- 

 I tare. We publish it, with the view of dissemina- 

 ( ting information on the important subject to which 

 it refers. 



Xo the Honorable, the Committee onJtgrlculiure inth e 

 House of Representatives of the United States, 



I had the honor of receiving, Oirough the medium of 

 your chairman, a number of interrujjatories, and solici- 

 ting my speedy answer to the same; to whicli I remit 

 you the following, as being my deliberate views and best 

 understanding on the subjeci. 



1st. Interrogatory. "Are you acquainted with the 

 culture of the Mulberry and Sugar beet, or eillier of 

 them ?" 



I am practically acquainted uiih the culture of sere- 

 lal species of Mulberries and the French Sugar beet. 



2nd. Interrogatory. "What kind of soil, and what 

 situation and exposure are the bi-st for the production?" 

 A mellow, sandy ham is decidedly pnferable for the 

 Mulberry. As for situation, undulating and high 

 grounds are decidedly best. Much miglit be »aid re- 

 spectuig soils, but 1 will nientio;i some known facts on 

 the subject. 



Mulberries will flourish veiy well on low, damp, rich 

 soils, for one year and after that grow less thrifty, be 

 less hardy to endure the winter, as the rout will not ma- 

 ture as well ; the foliage will be of a watery, crude, and 

 coarse lexiuie ; will nut be eaten by the worms as readi- 

 ly, nor is it so well adapted to ther health ; and the silk 

 will be of a harsh quality. 



But Mulberries propogated on undulating grounds, 

 having a siil of a sandy loam, will flourish about the 

 same the first year, as those on low rich grounds, and 

 much better for succeeding years— will be more hardy 

 to endure the winters— the foliage in every respect f.ir 

 superior, Kxpcrienced persons will be sure to select tlie 

 like locations and soils, to plant Mulberries, from which 

 to produce silk. Our most sandy soils, by being a little 



I nourished, will do for the business very well, A sunny 

 situation as a matter of course is required. 



I A mellow, sandy sub-soil, is most congenial to the 



I quantity and quality of the sugar beet 



3d. Interriigi.toiy. " What species of Mulberry is the 



' most valui.ble, taking into consideration the capability 



I of enduring cold and frost ; the quantity and quality of 



I the foliage, and the labor of culture and sliipping ?" 



I There are many species of Mulberries, all of which the 

 silk wo. ins will eat, and produce silk ; but it is natural 

 to suppose some to be betterthan others. Some few are 

 found indigeneous in the United States. It is Weil 

 known that iu Europe, in the silk growing districts, the 

 White Mulberry, (Moms Alba) is very universally used 

 in the business. They are planted iu hedge rows or 



' orchards, &c. 



! There is a new kind of Mulberry introduced within .1 

 few years into Europe, and from thence into the United 



I States, wliicli will iu time supercede all otiiers, without 

 any doubt, for the purpose of raising loliaga for silk 

 ■Worms. 



This new species of Mulberry is called the Mulberry 

 of many stems or stalks, (Morus Multicaulis) from the 

 fact of its roots being capable to send up many stems or 

 stalks. The leaves of the Multicaulis tree are at least 

 five times the size of those of the White Mulberry 

 which pioves one vei-y important uem of Us superiority 

 — the saviug of labor required to gather the foliage. It 

 isfuriher proved not only in this country, but also in 

 France ami Italy, that a given weight of foliage of tin 

 Multicaulis will produce more silk, and of a better ijuali 

 ty than the same weight of any other species of ihi 

 Mulberry known ; it having more nuiriincnt and beiiij 

 of a finer texture. 



j It is also a known fact that the silk worms will eat 

 the foliage from this tree, more readily than from any 

 other, which is a very correct criterion to test the supe- 

 riority of its foliage ; for if worms are fed on Mulb rry 

 leaves tiny dislike, and which they eat with reluctance, 

 ihey are sure to make but little silk, and of a very poor 

 g'lalit). In the silk growing districts of Knrope, most 

 Qf those who propagate the Mulberry (White Mulberry) 

 <jo iiot feed the worms themselves, but sell the foliage 

 hy weight to the peasantry, who feed the worms aud 



reel the silk. Though in many instances, the reeling is 

 done in large filatures by water or steam power. 



In this case you will perceive that the buyer will 

 have to pay as much for the Multicaulis foliage »s for 

 tlie White, and the seller will get as much pay for his 

 White, as for the Multicaulis ; so in this case a changa 

 will be slowly eflVcted from their old system. And as 

 they have a more dense population than we have, and 

 all mast have some employ, and system or scheme to 

 save labor is met with opposition, and not encouraged. 

 But in the United States we have different views, wb 

 are ever ready to adopt a system or a machinery inten- 

 <led to expedite business and save labur. So with us in 

 the United States, who are just beginning in the busi- 

 ness, we are sure to satisiy ourselves which is the best 

 species of Mulberi-y known, and obtain it at first. Ke- 

 specting the hardihood of the Multicaulis tree, to en- 

 dure the winter, it has to my knowledge, been success- 

 fully propogated, as far north as 42°, and I see no reason 

 why it may not be acclimated, and become as hardy as 

 the White Mulberry. 



Respecting the quantity of foliage to the acre, I will 

 give it as my esamate tliMt 5000 lbs., can be i»roduced 

 from the first years growth of trees, and the labor for 

 culture and stripping $75, and by calculating JOO lbs. 

 foliage to the pound of silk, the 5000 lbs. loliage will 

 produce 50 lbs. of silk, and fOr a few succeeding years 

 will somewhat increase. 



By the best accounts, we have in the United States, a 

 far greater auionnt of Multicaulis trees, that can be 

 found in all Europe. They are there scarcely known 

 among the silk growers, but principally confined to the 

 nursery men, who raise them to sell. But no informa- 

 tion of any trees to be imported into the United States 

 the coming spring. 



4th. Interrogatory. «' What is the best mode of culti- 

 vating the Mulberry ; at what age may it be stripped ; 

 and what is it» value, expense, and profit per acre ?" 



All species ot'Mulberries used in the silk business, 

 save the Morus Multicaulis, are grown from the seed, 

 and first sown iu nurseries, and afterwards transplant- 

 ed. 



The Multicaulis tree is propogated from the bud by 

 ciittiogs, having one or more bud, or by layers, and no 

 other way m its purity. /> s it is abundantly given to fo- 

 liage, it does not produce much fruit, and tlie seed is not 

 sure to produce us kind if planted. As I consider the 

 Multicaulis tree the only species worthy the attention of 

 the American silk grower, I shall mention min-e particu- 

 larly its ru-opagation. My views for planting out a Mul- 

 berry field, from which to produce silk are, first— after 

 selecting high grounds with a soil of sandy loam, layout 

 the field in rows, about eight fee' asunder, and plant 

 the trees about four feet apart in the rows ; the manure 

 for the business should be a compost of many difterent 

 kinds. The ground should be cultivated to prevent ihu 

 weeds and grass from growing. Kut to propagate the 

 Multicaulis tree for sale, only with the intent to take 

 them up in the autumn, tliey may be planted in rows 

 three or four feet apart and ni the rows, one f.^ot. 



But when planted out with the intention to remain in 

 the field, in rows of eight feet as above descrioed, I 

 would cut them down near the ground every autumn, 

 when cold weather will be setting in The roots in the 

 following spring will send up several stalks wliere but 

 one grew the prior year. 



The While Mulberry may be transplanted from the 

 nursery at the age of one or two years into orchards 

 or hedge rows, and at the age of about four years, it may 

 be robbed of a iiortion of its foliage, and after a few 

 years growth ladders will be wauled to get up to the fu, 

 liage. 



But quiet different with the Multicaulis. This tree 

 will grow to the heighth, in many instances the fir-l 

 year, of six feet or more, and weigii down its hranches 

 ,viih f .l.age the same as a fruit tree wlun heavily laden 

 with fruit ; and is capable of imparling at least two 

 thirds of Its burthen without injury to the tree ; and no 

 ladders are required in any wise. I will here mentioa 

 that m my estimate in answer to interrogatory thiid— 

 that 5000 lbs. foliage can be produced on one acre, it 

 will not do to rob the trees iif all their foliage, for fear of 

 doing an injury to them, but two thirds may be taken 

 witliout injury. The value from the Multicaulis tree at 

 present is' from 25 dollars to 50 dollars per centum, 0110 

 years growth, and is allowed 10 multiply about tenfold 

 every year with good attention. 



As to the profits to the acre in producing silk, I feel 

 convinced that after proper fixturei, cocooneries, &o. 

 are prepared, and stock for trees on hand, 50 dollars ply^ 



