THE MULBERRy-TREE. 217 



For cold climates it has been found that the black 

 is the best adapted ; and, besides, it has another 

 advantage, — that of producing nearly double the 

 quantity of leaves to those of other species. Although 

 the mulberry giows with much vigour in moist lands, 

 it has been found that those produced in sucli situa- 

 tions are not so nutritious to the womis, in whose 

 constitution they induce a weakness. Hence it is 

 found, that although in dry soils the foliage is less 

 abundant, the reduction in quantity is amply com- 

 pensated by the additional nutriment which they 

 afford, and the consequent finer quality and even 

 additional quantity of the silk produced. 



The mulberry -tree can be easily raised either 

 from cuttings, layers, or seeds. The plan adopted 

 in France for raising plants from seeds is curious, as 

 will appear from the following description : — " Take 

 the ripe berries when they are full of juice and seeds. 

 Next take a rough horsehair line, or rope, such as 

 we dry linen on, with a good handful of ripe mul- 

 ben-ies ; run your hand along the line, bruising the 

 berries, and mashing them as much as possible, as 

 youi- hand runs along, so that the pulp and seed of 

 the ben'ies may adhere in great abundance to the 

 rope, or line. Next dig a trench in the ground where 

 you wish to plant them, much like what is practised 

 in kitchen gardens in England for crops of various 

 kinds. Next cut the rope, or hair line, into lengths, 

 according to the length of the trench you think fit to 



VOL. II. P 



