58 ON MULBERRY TREES, &.C. 



the fact that a given number of worms in our climate consume 

 almost precisely the same quantity of leaves as in the most suc- 

 cessful silk countries, that is, every two worms will require 50 

 pounds of leaves, and that the weight of cocoons and the 

 quality and quantity of silk obtained will bear a very favourable 

 comparison. There is no mystery in the culture of silk. The 

 whole process from the rearing of the mulberry tree to the pro- 

 duction of silk is simple and easy, and our farmers by turning 

 their care and attention to this business would obtain a much 

 more profitable reward than in the usual course of field husband- 

 ry. 



Ebenezer Moseley, per order. 



ABEL NICHOLS S STATEMENT. 



To the Committee of the Essex Agricultural Society, on the 



cultivation of Mulberry Trees, ^c. 



Having entered a claim for a premium for my nursery of white 

 mulberry trees, which is submitted to your examination, I now 

 present you with the following statement of the preparation of 

 the ground, the planting and management of the same, with an 

 estimate of the expense attending these operations. The ground 

 chosen for this nursery is situated on the southern side of a large 

 hill, formed like the Topsfield hills and many others in[the coun- 

 ty;, not of ledges of rocks covered with vegetable mould, but of 

 rolled stones of every size mixed with a hard clayey gravel. — 

 This ground was of course originally very rocky — but having 

 been cultivated from the first settlement of the country, about 

 six inches of the surface is now free from stones. This having 

 been in grass for several years, was, in the spring of 1832, well 

 turned over with the plough. On the space occupied by the 

 seedlings this year, twenty-one square rods, about six feet of ma- 

 nure was spread and the new surface to the depth of three or 

 four inches, leaving the sward undisturbed beneath, was well 

 pulverized with a harrow. Nine ounces of white mulberry seed 

 was now sown in drills on one half of the ground^ these were 



