132 



SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



where no longer olives will thrive. Spots for Mulberry- 

 culture must not be over-moist, when the leaves are to be 

 utilised for the Bombyx. In 1870, according to the Bintish 

 Trade Journal, the produce of cocoons amounted in Europe 

 to £16,588,000; in Asia to £28,112,000; in Africa to 

 £44,000; in the South Sea Islands to £24,000; in America 

 to £20,000;— thus giving a general total of £44,788,000. 

 Superior varieties of Mulberry can be grafted with ease on 

 ordinary stock. M. Indica (L.), M. macrophylla (Morett.), 

 M. multicaulis (Perott.), M. Morettiana (Jacq.), M. Chinen- 

 sis (BertoL), M. latifolia (Poii-.), M. Italica (Poir.), M. 

 Japonica (Nois.), M. Byzantina (Sieb.), M. nervosa (Del.), 

 M. pumila (Nois.), M. tortuosa (Audib.), as well as the Con- 

 stantinople Mulberry are merely forms of M. alba, to which 

 probably also M. Tartarica (L.) and M. pabularia (Jacquem.) 

 belong. The variety known as M. Indica produces black 

 fruits. The planting of Mulberry-trees has recently assumed 

 enormous dimensions in California, where in 1870 between 

 seven and eight millions were planted. The process of rearing 

 the silk-insect is simple and involves no laborious exertions. 

 The cocoons, after they have been j^i'operly steamed, dried 

 and pressed, find readily purchasers in Euroj^e, the price 

 ranging according to quality from 3s. to 6s. per lb. The eggs 

 of the silkworm sell at a price from 16s, to £2 per ounce, 

 and in 1870 Japan had to provide two millions of ounces of 

 silk-ova for Europe, where the worms had extensively fallen 

 victims to disease. Instances have been recorded in Cali- 

 fornia, where eight tons of leaves were gathered in the first 

 year from the Mulberry-trees of one acre, and thirty tons in 

 the next year. As an example of the profit thus to be 

 realised, a Californian fact may be cited, according to which 

 £700 were the clear gain from three and a-half acres, the 

 working expenses having been £93. The Commissioner of 

 Agriculture of the United States has estimated that under 

 ordinary circumstances an acre should support from 700 to 

 1000 Mulberry-trees, producing 50001bs. of leaves fit for 

 food when four years old. On this quantity of leaves can be 

 reared 140,000 worms, from which ova at a net profit 

 ranging from £80 to £240 per acre will be obtained by the 

 work of one person. Mr. C. Brady, of Sydney, thinks the 

 likely proceeds of silk-culture to be from £60 to £150 for 

 the acre. The discrepancies in calculations of this kind are 

 explained by differences in clime, soil, attention and treat- 

 ment. 



The White Mulberry-tree has been very copiously distributed 

 from the Melbourne Botanic Garden since many years. A 

 very palatable fruit is obtained from a variety cultivated in 



