PRACTICAL FARMER 



25 



early part of the season, by frequent hoeing and 

 stirring the earth about the plant — and by or be- 

 fore the middle of the month of August, it will 

 be necessary wholly to omit stirring the earth 

 about the roots, to impede the growth of the tree. 

 To use the leaves for feeding worms, or for dry- 

 ing in a shade with a sprinkling of salt and pack- 

 ed away for early use the next spring. By this 

 method the tre6 may acquire a more firm tex- 

 ture or wood. On light soil the plant will soon- 

 est cease to grow, therefore our poor light land 

 will best answer for the propagation of the Chi- 

 nese mulberry, and on such land be more likely 

 to acquire firm wood and the capability of with- 

 standing the severity of northern winters. But as 

 the plant may be multiplied by cuttings or layers, 

 to a great extent, should any person fear the se- 

 verity of winter, the plants may be easily secured 

 by laying down the plant and covering with earth, 

 or by drawing up the earth a few inches above 

 where the sprouts start from the foot stalk — or by 

 taking up the roots and setting out in a cellar or 

 out house. These several methods have been 

 adopted with success, and have preserved the 

 roots in a healthy condition ; but the tender plants 

 which were left in the field without any protection 

 have suffered severely, especially in consequence 

 of the early frost, which proved the death not only 

 of the Chinese mulberry stock, but also some of 

 our most hardy trees. The free circulation of the 

 sap being thus impeded, and retained in the body 

 of the tree, tuitil the winter frost set in, froze the 

 sap and in many instances opened large crevices 

 in the bark and wood of the grape, peach, cherry 

 and perha])s some other trees, some of which are 

 apparently dead above the openings, and no plant 

 in its green state, could withstand such attacks 

 without some protection — where this has been 

 attended to, the roots appear healthy. In setting 

 out this spring, if the stalks of the seedling had 

 not been killed the cuUivator would have cut 

 away the stalk to about one or two inches above 

 the root before transplanting, that vigorous shoots 

 should put forth from the root to form layers. 

 The coming season, a leading stalk may be left for 

 a standard tree, the lower branches bent down for 

 layers, secured in place by forked sticks, covered 

 a few inches with earth, every eye or bud would 

 give out a branch or tree equal to the original 

 stalk, and a corresponding root ; and when want- 

 ed for removal or transplanting can be separated 

 from the parent stock Avithout injury. 



I have this day examined a standard tree, M. 

 Multicaulis, which was set in an exposed situa- 

 tion, and has stood the severity of the last three 

 winters, as uninjured as an elm, oak, or any of 

 the most hardy forest trees. It has attained about 

 ' its greatest height, 8 feet, and is in full life to the 

 extremity of the topmost shoot. The. grass has 



grown about the roots, therefore, has not been 

 much disturbed by hoeing, and in consequence 

 acquired hard wood, the very result wanted by 

 the cultivator of the Chinese mulberry. From 

 the above experiment, may we not expect, that by 

 setting the Morus Multicaulis for standard trees, 

 and leave the earth about the roots undisturbed, 

 that this tree will be so acclimated as to withstand 

 our severest winters ? The experiment will un- 

 doubtedly be made and the writer would be much 

 obliged to have all and any facts which shall comet 

 to the knowledge of his friends, respecting the 

 culture of the Morus Multicaulis, communicated 

 to him, that the public may have the benefit of the 

 information. 



Different forms of setting out the plants or 

 roots will probably be adopted by different culti- 

 vators, adapted to the several objects in view. If 

 the intention shall be only to multiply the plant, 

 the rows may be 4 to 6 feet apart and the plants 

 three feet apart in the rows — the space between 

 the rows may be planted with potatoes without in- 

 jury to the plants and without much loss of ground. 



But if the intention should be to form standard 

 trees, for feeding worms and also for multiplying 

 layers, then it would be proper to have the plants 

 set in rows about six or eight feet apart, and the 

 same distance apart in the rows, and the space 

 between the rows may be used for potatoes, tur- 

 nips, cabbages, or other low vegetables, which 

 would not require lioemg after the first or middle 

 of August. — JVorthampton Courier. 



AVASHING SHKKP. 



It may seem somewhat early in the day, to think 

 or say anything upon this subject, when the hills 

 and the mountains on our frontier look so much 

 like January, and the clouds and the air look and 

 feel more like November than lovely smiling May. 

 But in all ))rol)ability the tiine is not far distant 

 when sheep must be sheared, and ought previously 

 to be washed. By loashed, we mean what the 

 word was originally designed to mean — a thorough 

 purification from all dirt and extraneous matter by 

 ivater, not mere sopping in a mud puddle, and 

 then a drying upon a sand bank. But to be seri- 

 ous. The State of Maine annually suffers a se- 

 vere loss by neglect in washing the wool upon the 

 sheep as it ought to be. Tlany seem to think that 

 the more dirt they can sell the more gain. No 

 such thing. Saying nothing of the iniquity of the 

 thing, it is exceedingly injurious to the reputation 

 of the wool-grower. The buyer looks narrowly 

 at the quality and cleanliness of the fleece, and he 

 makes up his mind accordingly." If it be clean 

 he will give a fair price, if it be dirty he makes a 

 deduction, and always enough to bring the seller 

 a loss on the actual value of the wool. 



We earnestly hope that our wool-growers will 



