THE MULBEKRY-TREE. '219 



The most simple and speedy method of producing 

 niulbeny plants, is from cuttings ; they are always 

 more rapid in their growth, and stronger. But this 

 is most successfully practised in moist climates. 



The Chinese never allow mulbcity-trees to grow 

 above the height to which a man can reach. Tliey 

 carefully cut out the main central stem, and allow 

 the side branches to expand in all directions, taking 

 care to prune them when they show signs of growing 

 high. Besides, they always cut the centre of the 

 tree into a hollow cylinder, into which the person 

 who pulls the leaves enters, and removes them, 

 without damaging the trees. 



It has been ascertained that the true mode of 

 producing the most abundant crop of leaves, is to 

 deprive the tree of all its strong and leading stems. 

 In Tuscany considerable attention has been paid to 

 the cultivation of the trees ; and M. Nollet says 

 the inhabitants of these provinces, particularly in 

 Florence, do not cultivate lialf the nimrber of trees 

 which are raised in Piedmont, in proportion to the 

 number of Silkworms which are reared, and the 

 quantity of silk produced by them. This plan of 

 saving, is in consequence of their causing the cater- 

 pillars to be hatched at two different seasons ; the 

 first in spring, and the second, after the first have 

 spun their cones. In the Isle of France, M. Chazel 

 reared three generations of caterpillars between 



