THE MULBERRY TREE. 27 



These objects are attained by cultivation, pruning 

 and picking. Though trees from eight to ten years 

 old will do well in grass land, yet if the ground is 

 manured and cultivated they will produce a greater 

 abundance of foliage. The health and form of trees 

 also depend much on pruning. Trees left to take 

 care of themselves produce small leaves, and they of- 

 ten assume a form which renders it extremely diffi- 

 cult and unpleasant to gather them. 



Great care in pruning is necessary the first year 

 they are picked. After gathering the leaves, all dam- 

 a*ged and decayed branches ought to be removed as 

 well as such as are either too tardy or too vigorous in 

 their growth. Regard should also be had to the form 

 of the tree in pruning. It should not be permitted to 

 grow too high, to throw out its lateral branches too 

 far, or to have them hang in a drooping position. 



To prevent these consequences the tree should be 

 headed down by shortening its top shoots, as should 

 also the lateral branches. Those that droop should 

 be entirely cut away unless they can be made to take 

 an upright, or at least a horizontal, direction by short- 

 ening. Such branches as have been displaced by 

 picking the leaves, should be replaced in order that 

 they take their proper direction. In other respects 

 they may be pruned in the manner of common fruit 

 trees. 



PICKING LEAVES. 



It is the prevailing opinion in the silk growing dis- 

 tricts of Connecticut, that trees only two years old 

 may be stripped of their leaves without injury, provi- 

 ded the leaves nearest the ends of the main stem and 

 lateral branches are left. There is no doubt that the 



