322 On the Use of the Osage Orange^ 



some of which I would occasionally lay on the shelves, where 

 they would suffer them to remain until compelled by hunger to 

 eat them. On the contraiy, when those which had the red mul- 

 berry leaves assigned them, were furnished with a few of the 

 maclura, they would collect around the latter and devour them 

 with avidily, before they would begin to feed on their accustomed 

 diet. 



The relative value, however, of the maclura and Chinese 

 mulberry, for the production of silk, was only to be fully deter- 

 mined after the formation of the cocoons. It may be recollected 

 by those who read the article of M. Bonafons, that he regarded 

 the maclura as chiefly valuable for feeding the worms during 

 their early ages ; that subsequently they should be supplied with 

 the mulberry, their natural food ; and that, though the former 

 would produce silk of a fair quality, yet it would be inferior, and 

 in diminished quantity, compared with the product of the mul- 

 berry. I find this to be true as it regards the maclura and Chi- 

 nese mulberry — so far, at least, as respects the size of the cocoon ; 

 but the maclura is at least of equal value with the red or native 

 mulberry. The worms fed on the Chinese mulberry spun 

 cocoons weighing from thirty to forty-five grains ; — those raised 

 on the maclura and Chinese mulberry combined made their balls 

 somewhat lighter on the average, — while the weight of those ob- 

 tained from the maclura and the red mulberry respectively was 

 about equal, and still less than either of the preceding. The 

 quality of the thread for manufacturing purposes I am unable to 

 pronounce upon, not having yet submitted specimens to a com- 

 petent judge. The cocoons were nearly all of a pale straw 

 color. 



If the value of the maclura consisted only in furnishing food 

 for the silk-worm, it might, from its extreme hardiness, and con- 

 sequent exemption from late spring frosts, be deemed well wor- 

 thy of planting ; but when to this, other important uses to which 

 it may be applied are superadded, it appears to present irresisti- 

 ble claims to the notice of the farmer and horticulturist. I may 

 therefore be excused for dwelling more at large on its merits, 

 which have as yet scarcely began to be appreciated, or even 

 known. 



In many parts of the United States, the scarcity of timber 

 has for many years been sensibly felt ; notwithstanding which, 

 our forests still continue to disappear. To mitigate the evils of 

 this alarming destruction, efforts have frequently been made to 

 substitute live for dead fences ; but it is believed that hedges 

 have not, to any considerable extent, answered the purposes of 

 an enclosure. After all the trouble and expense that have been 

 bestowed upon them, they have, in most instances, finally dwin- 

 dled away and been rooted out. Hence it may be inferred, that 



