MULBERRY CULTURE. 



AT the beginning of the culture of silk in 

 Europe, the Black Mulberry, Morus Nigra, was 

 principally used; but upon mature experience 

 it was found that the Morus Jllba, the white 

 Italian Mulberry, was better adapted to the cul- 

 ture. This however must be considered rela- 

 tively only, and as alluding exclusively to a com- 

 parison between these two particular varieties, 

 and it must be considered too, as having relation 

 to a period long before the Morus Multicaulis, 

 the broad silky leaved, new variety, of the Chi- 

 nese or many stalked Mulberry, was introduced 

 either into Europe or America, that being on- 

 ly within the last ten or twelve years known 

 in either country. It may, therefore, perhaps, be 

 proper to express our opinion of it, and this we 

 shall do with perfect integrity of purpose. Like 

 most of the exotic trees of China origin, which 

 have been introduced into America within 

 the last few years, sufficient time has not yet 

 elapsed to test whether it will become accli- 

 mated or not. The last severe winter, however, 

 would go very far to settle the question, if the 

 fate of all the trees planted in our country were 

 known, for it may be fairly affirmed, that no 

 winter, within the recollection of living witness- 

 es, has ever been more intensely cold than it was ; 

 nor were there ever one better calculated to test 

 the ability of foreign trees to withstand frosts. 

 What effect it had upon the Morus Multicaulis, 

 then, becomes a matter of deep moment, of pro- 

 found and absorbing interest. It it known that 

 the whole tribe of Mulberries are tenacious of 

 life, and will, where but the least chance is giv- 

 en them, support vitality ; sometimes, indeed, in 

 despite of the harshest and most neglectful treat- 

 ment, they willlive on lo shew to those by whom 

 they have been thus rudely treated, how uncon- 

 querable are their powers of preserving exist- 

 ence. And so far as our experience goes, and 

 as we have been able to derive any information 

 upon the subject, the Morus Multicaulis does not 

 form an exception to the general rule. In most 

 of the eastern states, where this beautiful tree 

 has been introduced, it suffered greatly from 

 the frosts of last winter; generally being killed 

 down to the ground. Dr. Stebbins, the intelli- 

 gent Secretary of Hampshire County Agricultu- 

 ral Society,ofMassachusetts,in theaccount of his 

 inspection of several establishments where it was 



grosvn, states, " that he had examined a standard 

 tree of the Morus Muliicaulis, which was set in 

 an exposed situation, and has withstood the se- 

 verity of the three last winters, as uninjured as 

 an elm or oak, or any of the most hardy for- 

 est trees. It has attained about its greatest 

 height, 8 feet, and is in full life to the extremity 

 of the topmost shoot. The grass that has grown 

 about the roots, therefore, has not been much 

 disturbed by hoeing, and in consequence acquir- 

 ed hard wosd, the very result wanted by the cul- 

 tivator of the Chinese Mulberry. In the New 

 England Farmer, Vol. Xfl, page 393, in an arti- 

 cle by Mr. William Kenrick,it is observed: "this 

 Mulberry braves the most rigorous winters of 

 France, not having suffered in the least even du- 

 ring the severe winter of 1829 30. I have ta- 

 ken particular pains to ascertain how they have 

 fared in the extreme north of that country, and 

 have very lately been informed by letter from M. 

 Eyries, a gentleman from Havre, that they have 

 supported well, during ten years the most rigor- 

 ous winters of the north of France." Again he 

 says : 



" Very late in the spring of 1833, more than a 

 hundred young trees of the Morus Multicaulis 

 were set out on the place of S. V. Wilder, Esq. 

 in Boston, Worcester county, Mass. The soil 

 springy, the exposition cold and sloping to the 

 north ; Mr. Joseph Breck, a distinguished bota- 

 nist, having especial charge of these plants, has 

 lately very critically examined them. Thus un- 

 favorably situated and unprotected, they have 

 borne the last winter, 1833 34, without injury, 

 except only the top of the twigs. Mr. Breck is 

 persuaded that they are even hardier than the 

 common White Mulberry, since some hundred of 

 the latter which stood very near were killed half 

 way down to the ground by the same winter. 



Another correspondent of the same Journal, 

 who writes under the signature of R. advances 

 the opinion, and "cites facts to maintain his be- 

 lief, that the Chinese Mulberry is more hardy 

 than many of our orchard, or even forest trees, 

 but may be killed when young, if planted in a 

 rich moist soil." 



In North Carolina, we learn from an esteem- 

 ed friend and valuable correspondent, Mr. Sid- 

 ney Weller, that his trees "endured the severe 

 frosts very well. The only injury is, that the 



