THE SILK WORM. 69 



be relied on as a substitute for the foliage of the Mul- 

 berry tree. 



There may be other substances in the vegetable 

 kingdom, which will enable them to perform the work 

 assigned them by their Creator, but it would be grati- 

 fying a mere idle curiosity to attempt to discover them. 

 The Mulberry is as easily cultivated as any other 

 tree, shrub, or plant. And why should the culturist 

 be speculating about a substitute, when he can with- 

 out difficulty furnish in abundance, the food most con- 

 genial to their tastes and best adapted to their labor. 

 It is like enquiring whether there is not some other 

 vegetable that may be substituted for wheat and corn 

 as bread stuff. As long as these grains are growed 

 with little labor and in rich abundance, why should 

 not man be contented with them? When a fine sir- 

 loin of beef is set before an epicure, he never stops to 

 think \vhether something else eatable, but less palata- 

 ble, would not satisfy hunger, 



SUCCESSIVE CROPS. 



The project of rearing successive families of Worms 

 is engaging the attention of some culturists, and there 

 is little doubt of its practicability in this climate. 

 The Mulberry renews its foliage in quick succession, 

 and may be deprived of it two or three times during 

 the season, without essentially injuring its constitution* 

 In Tuscany they make two crops of silk annually ; 

 and the same may be done in this country. The two 

 crops are obtained by the aid of a peculiar variety of 

 the Silk Worm, commonly called the " Two crop 

 Worm" or White Worm." This Worm, hatched 

 at the usual season of hatching, will make its cocoon, 

 eat out and deposit its eggs ; which may be again 



