March.1 THE NURSERY. 



283 



worm, very active, and naturally crawls about in search of food; at 

 this period it should be fed with the youngest and most tender 

 leaves; in eight or ten days it will increase in size to about a quar- 

 ter of an inch in length. It is then attacked with its first sickness, 

 which is a kind of lethargic sleep, for about two or three days con- 

 tinuance; during which time it changes its skin, preserving the 

 same bulk. It undergoes similar sickness and changes three or 

 four times, at intervals of about eight days, before it arrives at its 

 full size; which is from an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half 

 in length; and the intervals between these changes, and consequent- 

 ly the periods of its arrival at maturity for work, are said to vary in 

 different climates, which is very probable. 



After it has formed its cocoon or ball of silk, and undergone its 

 change in the heart of it, it comes forth a heavy dull-looking moth 

 with wings, but these it seldom uses for flying; it only flutters and 

 crawls slowly about in quest of its mate; soon after copulation the 

 female lays its eggs, and both die without tasting food in this stage 

 of their existence. 



When in the worm or caterpillar state, they are of a blackish, or 

 a milk or pearl colour; the former are esteemed the best. The body 

 is divided into seven rings to each of which are joined two very short 

 feet. It has a smali point like a thorn exactly over the anus. 

 There are a considerable variety of breeds, some of which possess 

 qualities much superior to others. This is a particular of much 

 importance to be adverted to at the time of beginning to breed; for 

 it will make a great difference in the profit to the undertaker. The 

 eggs, when obtained, should be kept in a cool, dry place, neither 

 exposed to heat nor to excessive frosts, till wanted for hatching 

 the ensuing season. 



The Morus nigra, or black mulberry, is more esteemed for its 

 fruit than the white, and when cultivated for such, layers or cut- 

 tings from good fruit-bearing trees ought to be preferred to raising 

 them by seed; for monoecious trees, until arrived at a good age, 

 bear male flowers chiefly and very little fruit. The cuttings if taken 

 off' in March, rightly chosen, and skilfully managed, will do very 

 well; though, in general, they do not take as freely in this way as 

 many other trees; however, if placed under bell-glasses, they will 

 strike with great certainty; but where there is no such conveniency, 

 the ground about them should be covered with moss to prevent its 

 drying; and where this is carefully done, they will want but little 

 water, and will succeed much better than with having too much 

 wet. 



The Morus rubra, or red American mulberry, is admired by 

 some on account of the pleasing acidity of its fruit, and is said to 

 answer the end of feeding silk-worms very well. It is cultivated 

 like every other kind by layers, cuttings, and seed. 



The white mulberry prospers best, in a moist rich loam, the black, 

 in a dry sandy soil, and the red in a mean between both these 

 kinds. 



The Morus mvlticaulis. Since the preceding was written this new 

 variety of the mulberry has been introduced to the attention of the 



