30 THE MULBERRY 



the plants are covered with foliage, they may be 

 mowed down, in the same manner that farmers mow 

 small bushes in their pastures, and given to the worms 

 for food. These mowings may be repeated until the 

 stock becomes so exhausted as to be unable to send 

 out shoots, when the land must be seeded again. 

 This crop can be daily made, except after very dry 

 weather, in different portions of the ground, and each 

 plant will bear to be topped three times at least. 



This method has several important advantages. 

 The leaves are gathered with trifling labor and ex- 

 pense the same area of ground will produce more 

 foliage it enables the culturist to commence the ma- 

 king of silk in the course of one year tenants from 

 year to year, as well as owners of the soil, can secure 

 a yearly crop of silk and the quantity can be increas- 

 ed or diminished according to the demand. 



This method of sowing is practised extensively in 

 China and found to answer a good purpose. It has 

 also been successfully tried in New England ; but 

 culturists generally prefer standard trees or hedges. 



CHINESE MULBERRY. 



Of all species and varieties of the Mulberry the 

 Multicauiis is beyond controversy the best for the 

 culture of silk and consequently the culturist ought to 

 cultivate it extensively on his plantation. Fears have 

 hitherto been entertained that it could not endure the 

 severity of our climate ; but its superior excellence 

 has induced many nursery men to experiment upon 

 its cultivation, and their results have afforded strong 

 evidence that, with suitable location and proper "treat- 

 ment, it may be depended upon, to furnish an annual 

 supply of food for the silk worm. These experi- 



