ON MULBERRY TREES AND SILK. 115 



ON MULBERRY TREES AND SILK. 



The Committee on Mulberry Trees and Silk, having, 

 since the annual meeting of the Society, viewed the trees 

 entered by Mr. Joshua Toppan, of Newbury, the same 

 being the only lot this year entered for premium, Rk- 



PORT : 



That the number of trees raised by Mr. Toppan, 

 is only large enough to bring them within the terms pre- 

 scribed by the Society, but as they appear in a thrifty 

 and healthy condition, without any special pains having 

 been taken to stimulate an unnatural growth, they think 

 he is entitled to the first premium of ^10,00, and would 

 recommend that the same be awarded him. 



Judging from the kw entries for premiums on silk 

 and on mulberry trees the present year, it would seem 

 that there is less interest manifested in these subjects, 

 than has existed in past years. The inquiry naturally 

 suggests itself whether the business of raising trees and 

 silk worms is declining among us ; and if so, to what 

 cause is it to be attributed ? We may safely infer that it 

 is not increasing, or there would be more competition 

 for the premiums offered by the Society. Indeed, unless 

 silk is raised in larger quantities than it has been in this 

 county, the rearing of mulberry trees must soon cease, 

 as the demand for them will cease to exist. It is an easy 

 matter to raise mulberry trees of three or four years 

 growth ; but if raised solely for the purpose of obtaining 

 premiums, and if afterwards the culture of them is aban- 

 doned and they are not used for the legitimate purpose 

 for which they should be raised, it is obvious that they 

 will soon cease to be raised at all. The day has gone 

 by for speculation in mulberry trees ; the demand for 

 them is limited; silk is hardly as yet a staple manufac- 

 ture, and there seems no sufficient inducenjent to enter 

 largely into their cultivation. Hence it is that, as we 

 believe, so little is now doing in this department among 

 us. 



It is suggested whether it might not subserve the pub- 



