116 ON IMULBERRY TREES AND SILK. 



lie interest to offer preniinins for mulberry trees of ten or 

 fifteen years growth that have never been used for feed- 

 ing worms. Young trees transplanted and fed, do not 

 thrive well, and soon become of little value. We are 

 aware that it is desirable for the purpose of convenience 

 in gathering the leaves to have trees of little height ; but 

 this object may be preserved by heading down the trees 

 as they advance in age, and training the branches later- 

 ally. The theory that worms may be fed by cutting up 

 small trees for that purpose, appears plausible, and is very 

 generally advocated; but if we consider the liberal en- 

 couragement which for a series of years has been held 

 out by the State, and the amount of premiums offered by 

 agricultural societies, and then inquire how much silk is 

 actually produced, we must come to the conclusion, ei- 

 ther that the business is unprofitable, or the theory a poor 

 one. At all events, we think it deserving of trial to of- 

 fer inducements for the raising of mulberry trees to the 

 age we have named ; and if they answered no other ob- 

 ject, they would make the most durable of timber, said 

 to last for posts as long as the locust. 



For the Committee, 



ALLEN W. DODGE. 

 Hamilton, Dec. 17, 1842. 



JOSHUA TOPPAN'S STATEMENT. 



To the Committee on Mulberry Trees : 



The subscriber presents to you for premium five hun- 

 dred and twenty one mulberry trees, two years old; av- 

 erage height, from 5 to 5} feet, and at the present time 

 in a very thriving state, and belonging to the species 

 called Alpine. Last year the leaves were culled to feed 

 silk worms. This year the leaves have remained on the 

 trees. The labor spent upon them has been small, care 

 only being taken to free them from weeds. 



JOSHUA TOPPAN. 



Newbury, Sept. 27, 1842. 



