II 



THE STRANGE BISTORY OF THE 

 MULBERRIES 



When the history of American agriculture shall be 

 written, the record of the many attempts to raise 

 silk-worms and to establish a great Bilk-growing 

 industry will form an importanl and suggestive 

 chapter. Sketches of these attempts have been made 

 from time to time, but there still larks any full 

 collation of tin- subject with collateral events. Tim 

 Literature of American silk-growing from tin- manu- 

 facturer's Bide, however, i- ;is extensive and >;ii i>- 

 Eactorj ;i- that of any other agricultural-manufacturing 

 industry. It i< not my purpose to explore these 

 interesting fields, '"it rather to presenl ;i rapid view 

 of tli<' rise and extent of mulberry -planting, more 

 especially in the earlier days, and then to make 

 observations on tin- subsequent evolution of the mul- 

 berry fruits, — a Bubjecl which, strangely enough, 

 bas escaped the attention both of botanists ami of 

 writers. 



Sn in ma iij sl.i hli of Hn Early sill: Industry 



We have Been (page 10), when reviewing the 

 earl} attempts ;it grape culture, that "silke worme 

 iced" was Bent to Virginia in 162] by Mi'- London 

 Company, along with grape yines. If we were to 



