49 



as standard trees, Or in hedges, which latter mode is considered 

 more convenient for gathering the leaves. 



This tree continues to flourish many years. So early as the year 

 1492, the very year of the discovery of America, a white mulberry 

 tree was introduced into France from Italy, by Guy Papo, of St. 

 Auben, and was flourishing so late as 1802, more than three cen- 

 turies after it was planted. Leachaux, to evince his respect for this 

 monument of agriculture, and parent of all the white mulberry trees 

 in France, had built a wall around it. Nor is there any thing to 

 fear from tlie cold of more northern climates ; for the white mul- 

 berry tree flourishes in Sweden, and also at Pekin in China, although 

 the thermometer descends, in this latter place, almost every winter, 

 twenty degrees below zero. It appears to your Committee that ex- 

 periments have been made in the vicinity of this capital, by which 

 it is shown, that the tender plants of the white mulberry, raised 

 from the seed, havo withstood the cold of our winters with perfect 

 security. 



The seed of the white mulberry may be easily procured to any 

 required extent. The growth of the plant is rapid, and if suitable 

 encouragement be given, may be multiplied and spread over the 

 Commonwealth, so that in four or five years the means of feeding 

 the silk worm, and of producing an abundance of silk, may be 

 brought to the door of every farmer in the State. As the work of 

 feeding the worms can bo attended to by the domestic part of every 

 family, without interfering in the least with the ordinary business of 

 the farm, it is believed by your Committee, that a new and rich 

 source of wealth may be, with little expense, created for the people 

 of Massachusetts. 



Your Committee do not feel it necessary, at this time, to go into 

 an elaborate historical review of the introduction of the culture of 

 silk into the different nations of Europe, nor to advert, generally, to 

 the labours of patriotic individuals, and societies, by whose efforts 

 this source of wealth has been introduced into France, Italy, Ger- 

 many, and several of the States of this country. But your Commit- 

 tee will take the liberty of adverting to the course pursued in a 

 neighbouring State in relation to this subject. The culture of silk 

 was commenced in tho State of Connecticut as early as 1760, by 

 Mr. N. Aspinwall, who planted large nurseries of the mulberry tree 

 in New Haven and the town of Mansfield. This patriotic individual 

 was active in obtaining of the Legislature of Connecticut, an act, 



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