ON MULBERRY TREES. 61 



sistance, until the last age, when she had one girl two and a half 

 days, and myself two days, in picking leaves, and setting up brush 

 for the worms to spin on. At the same time Mrs. Currier took 

 care of the worms, she did the work necessary in a family of 

 seven persons, with a dairy of six cows half of the time. Mrs. 

 Currier reeled a few pounds of the cocoons, and made them into 

 sewing silk. We have found the process of cultivation simple 

 and easy, and not difficult to be managed. We shall exhibit to 

 you the cocoons and silk, as above stated. 

 Respectfully yours, 



Stephen Currier, 

 Methuen, Sep. 26th, 1832. 



ASA A. ABBOT'S STATEMENT. 



TO THE COMMITTEE OP THE ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY ON 

 THE CULTIVATION OF MULBERRY TREES, SiC. 



Gentlemen, — 



My nursery of white mulberry trees now con- 

 sists of 1600 trees of three years growth. 



The first of May 1830 I sowed about one sixth of an ounce 

 of seed in eight rows thirty-nine feet in length and thirteen in- 

 ches apart. The soil was moist and prepared in the same man- 

 ner as for the reception of garden seeds and the seed sown with- 

 out any previous preparation. 



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

 through the summer ; 27th of November the trees were covered 

 with pine boughs, 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. After the crop was 

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

 ploughed in the spring, and furrowed by passing the plough 

 twice in a furrow. The trees were then set in the furrow on 



