ON MULBERRY TREES. 69 



ounce of seed in eight rows thirty-nine feet in length and thir- 

 teen inches apart. The soil was moist and prepared in the 

 same manner as for the reception of garden seeds, and the seed 

 sown without any previous preparation. 



" The soil was loosened with a hoe and kept clear of weeds 

 through the summer. Novemher 27th the trees were covered 

 with fine houghs, which were removed early in the spring. 



" In April, 1831, between the 14th and 23d, the trees were 

 transplanted and set on 45 rods of ground, in rows five feet 

 apart. The roots were trimmed and the tops cut down as far 

 as they had been killed the preceding winter. The ground to 

 which the trees were transplanted is level and moist. It was 

 planted the preceding year with corn and potatoes, and after the 

 crop was taken off it was laid in ridges in the fall. The ground 

 was ploughed in the spring and furrowed deep by passing the 

 plough twice in a furrow. The trees were then set in the fur- 

 rows on an average 2-1 inches apart, the roots were covered by 

 hand and the furrows levelled with a hoe. They were plough- 

 ed and hoed twice in June, once in July, and once in August. 

 In June, 1832, they were ploughed and hoed twice, and trimmed 

 immediately after hoeing. In August they were hoed once 

 without ploughing." 



Mrs. Abbot produced to your committee a small parcel of 

 silk, which she had reeled from a few cocoons made by worms 

 which she had reared. As a first experiment the committee 

 thought favorably of it. They recommend that a premium of 

 fifteen dollars be awarded to Mr. Abbot. 



The nursery of Thomas Bailey was on a lot of land contain- 

 ing about 60 rods, and appeared uncommonly well. It appear- 

 ed by the statement of Mr. Bailey, that in 1831 he sowed one 

 ounce of seed which produced about 7000 trees, and at the 

 time of examination had grown from 4 to 6 feet in height, many 

 of them 7 feet, and one of them measured 8 feet in height. 



In 1832 he sowed 3 ounces of seed, producing from 25,000 

 to 30,000 trees. They were planted in rows from 14 inches to 

 3 feet distance. The committee recommend a premium of ten 

 dollars to Mr. Bailey. 



