1840.] SENATE— No. 36, 121 



to the cold of the first winter. There are few, even of the 

 hardy kinds, which are not likely to snffer by such exposure. 



Private interests have been, and are still so much mixed up 

 with the subject of mulberry trees, that great differences of 

 opinion may be expected to exist. Without having the inter- 

 est of one cent in any mulberry speculation whatever, I have 

 endeavored to collect the most authentic information which I 

 could obtain on the subject ; and in cases where what I have 

 stated has not been verified by my own personal observation, 

 I have relied upon persons in whose credibility I know that 

 I can place confidence. 



V. Mulberries from Seed. — In attempts to produce mul- 

 berry trees from seed, severe disappointments have been often 

 experienced. New varieties are often produced ; but inferior 

 plants likewise often show themselves. G. B. Perry, of Brad- 

 ford, in an excellent essay on the culture of the mulberry, giv- 

 en in the Essex Agricultural Transactions for 1839-40, ex- 

 presses an opinion that this may often arise from sowing im- 

 proper seed, or the seed of inferior plants ; and in a German 

 treatise on the silk culture, which I have recently received, 

 a caution is given not to sow seed from plants whose leaves 

 have been stripped for feeding the same year. These are rea- 

 sonable and valuable suggestions. 



As far then as the trees are concerned, the farmers of Massa- 

 chusetts have within their reach the best varieties yet known. 

 These may be propagated with perfect ease and to an indefi- 

 nite extent. It would be desirable even to increase these vari- 

 eties ; and for every farmer engaged in the culture of silk to 

 cultivate some of the earlier kinds as well as the later, that he 

 may begin the feeding of worms early, or that in case his eggs 

 should prematurely be hatched, he may have a supply of food 

 at hand before it can be expected to be obtained from the ten- 

 der varieties. This is recommended by the experience of Miss 

 R-app, already referred to, as well as of many others. 



It is not within my province to give a full treatise on the 

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