RAW -SILK. 



121 



tion, that I wish to continue the subject brought 

 forward by Mr. Shakespear. I was before aware 

 of the system of cultivation pursued in Bengal, so 

 far as it is published in a work considered as 

 authority, " on the husbandry and commerce of 

 Bengal;" but as there are some crude notions 

 abroad in this presidency on the subject of mul- 

 berry cultivation, a decision of these questions, 

 from competent authority and experience, may 

 prevent much waste of time and capital. 



Bengal Cultivation as de- Experimental Cultivation 

 scribed by Mr. Shakespear. in Western India. 



7 The Indian mulberry- The mode introduced at 



(K.) 



Eiiclo-iure 2. 



plant is not allowed to rise 

 above a foot and a-half or 

 two feet. It is cut twice a 

 day, as required, to feed the 

 worms The plant is thus 

 exhausted in about the third 

 year, and is then rooted out; 

 but is easily renewed by cut- 

 tings, and planted in rows, 

 with just room enough be- 

 tween to admit of the culti- 

 vators weeding, dressing, and 

 earthing up the roots. 



Darwar and Poona, about 

 ten years since, differs but 

 little from that described op- 

 posite. The mulberry cut- 

 tings are allowed to grow 

 about three or four feet high, 

 and as they are always irri- 

 gated, they produce leaves at 

 this height. They are not 

 rooted out under seven years. 

 1 am myself convinced, that 

 the more frequently tliis kind 

 of mulberry is cut down the 

 better, and more tender leaves 

 are produced, and that old 

 trees become straggling and 

 produce inferior leaves : but 

 my experience only amount- 

 ing to four years, during 

 which 



