120 



RAW-SILK. 



(K.) from those of which Mr. Shakespear was so kind 



Enclosure 2. . p -i 



as to lorward specimens. 



The "Jmj/," or indigenous mulberr}', is culti- 

 vated about Poena and in the southern Mahratta 

 country. The ba-dessy I take to be the same as 

 a third variety I received from St. Helena, with 

 entire pointed leaves and a whitish bark. 



Admitting the moras alba and moras Indica to be 

 originally specially distinct, I should say that the 

 dessy and ba-dessy are varieties of moras indica, ! 

 and that the larger white mulberry (entire leaves), ' 

 and the doppia foglia are varieties of moras alba. 

 However, the several kinds of mulberry used for 

 feeding worms have been so modified by cultiva- 

 tion, as to render the distinguishing marks between 

 a species and a mere variety extremely difficult to 

 ascertain. In order to prepare the way for more 

 correct information on the subject, I herewith for- 

 ward specimens of several kinds of mulberry, with 

 an outline of the arrangement of the genus moras, 

 which I beg to request may be sent to Bengal for 

 comment or correction. 



5. There are two important points yet to be 

 established with regard to the several kinds of 

 mulberry. 



1st. What kinds do the worm prefer ? 



2d. What kinds will grow best as standard 

 trees, and what are the best adapted for the 

 field-cultivation on the Bengal plan? 



6. It is with a view to decide the above ques- 



tion, 



