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Utility of the Italian Mulberry Tree^ and on making 

 Wine. By Joseph Cooper, 



Read March 8th, 1808. 



Cooper's Point, Feb, 22d, 1808. 

 Respected Friend, 



I received your note of 16th, two days past. I 

 searched but cannot find a copy of the piece concern- 

 ing the Italian mulberry tree, but still remain of opini- 

 on, that the bark would answer well to make paper of 

 a superior quality, as the trees if properly trimmed will 

 produce a great number of shoots from 3 to 10 feet long, 

 the first summer, which may have the bark stripped off, 

 rotted like hemp or flax, and reduced into a matter re- 



This may be tried on the stocks oi hedges, at no great trou- 

 ble or expence. If it succeeds, it will effectually guard 

 against the entrance of horses, or cattle. On the Schuylkill, 

 near Reading, I have seen large Button-xvood trees thus con- 

 nected. Whether tortuitously, or not, I cannot say. I have 

 a large hemlock, consisting of two distinct trees, which I 

 planted when a youth, in the same hole ; and twisted around 

 each other. They have completely embodied ; and appear 

 like one stock ; save that the spiral junction can be perceiv- 

 ed, on close examination. I have no doubt of its being 

 practicable to connect the plants of an whole hemlock hedge, 

 by approach-grajting of some of the limbs, in imitation of 

 the Oxford experiment. In deciduous trees, there is more 

 probability oi success. One horizontal string of limbs thu'? 

 engraited, would be sufficient. 



