RAW SILK. 



69 



23 Nov. 1812. 



substantial. At present there are but few trees (G.) 

 in the Botanic Garden ; but as it grows readily ^JfRoxbur'^h 

 from cuttings, I will venture to assure the Board, ^^^^^^^""^ 

 that in a very short space of time hundreds of the 

 plants, and their cuttings, will be ready for dis- 

 tribution, should they be wanted. 



Observations on the Indian Mulberry-Tree 

 {Minis Indica. — Linn, sp, pi. ed. Willd. vol. iv. 

 p. 370.) 



For the cultivation of this plant over Bengal for 

 feeding silk-worms, a light rich elevated soil is 

 made choice of ; for the Hindoo cultivators say, 

 clayey ground, or such as allows the water to set- 

 tle about the roots of the bushes, will not do. 

 The plantations, they say, require to be renewed 

 once in three or four years, to insure a constant 

 succession of the best leaves, cuttings are em.- 

 ployed and planted about the close of the rains, in 

 rows three feet asunder, and about half that dis- 

 tance in the rows. 



A plantation once formed requires no great 

 labour to keep it in order, as the close luxuriant 

 growth of the plants keeps the weeds pretty well 

 under. However, it is necessary to dress the 

 ground now and then, and to earth up the plants 

 while young or when the rain washes away the 

 earth from their roots. The ground is generally 

 so moist at all times of the year in Bengal, as to 



render 



