53 

 THE CULTIVATION OF THE MULBERRY. 



Read by A. Maktklli, Esq., at a Meeting licld September 15, 1804. 



" From a ploughed field is not only springing up wheat, but the entire 

 civilization of a country." — Lamartine. 



Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen, — I would crave your in- 

 dulgence and attention to this paper on the cultivation of the mul- 

 berry, as it is one of great importance to the future welfare of the 

 colony. In support of this remark I may mention that in two 

 provinces of Northern Italy, viz., Piedmont and Lombardy, with an 

 area of about twenty-five millions of acres, that after supplying the 

 home market, the annual value of raw silk and cocoons exported 

 amounts to upwards of six millions sterling. It will be no exagger- 

 ation to foresee that Victoria, with a surface of sixty millions of 

 acres, a soil and climate better adapted if anything than that of the 

 North of Italy for the production of Silk, will be in a position, in 

 a few years, with a properly directed movement, to export more than 

 twelve millions worth of silk and cocoons annually. The obstacle to 

 this great success is however not confined to silk alone. The great evil 

 of all countries is the listlessness that pervades the monied classes in all 

 matters relating to agricultural interests, and it is against this apathy 

 that we should endeavour to fight, by setting an example of activity 

 to the poorer classes of the community, and by raising up an intelli- 

 gent body of men fitted to carry out the projects designed for the 

 furtherance of the cultivation of the soil. Complaint is useless 

 where work is necessary to build up the future greatness of a country. 

 Give a just direction to agricultural progress, specially by promoting 

 the more industrious cultures, amongst which that of silk may be 

 considered as one of the greatest sources of riches to a country, by 

 the large returns on the distribution of a comparitavely small capital 

 amongst the labouring classes, and you will have been worthily 

 assisting in the great work of the erection of the edifice of social 

 happiness and well-being. It will now be necessary to bring under 

 your notice some principles of vegetable physiology, in order that wo 

 may draw deductions from them for the practical cultivation of the 

 mulberry. Every tree that grows draws the elements of its existence 

 from the decomposition of mineral and organic substances, by the action 

 of the atmosphere and the dampness of the soil in which it is planted. 

 This is clone not only by the exterior roots, but also by the leaves 

 and the skin of the younger branches, Nature beneficently provding 

 the trunk of the tree with a thicker skin to withstand the rigour of 

 the elements. There exists such harmony in the provisions for the 

 growth of trees, that the leaves and roots are working simultaneously 

 in the absorption of the principles necessary for the perfection of 

 their vegetation. Those principles materially aid in the circulation 

 of the sap, which is very rapid in the summer and under favourable 

 circumstances, but it is nearly suspended during the winter months, 

 and the powers of the tree recruited and strengthened for the pro- 



