RAW-SILK. 



12 



2. Boppiafoglia. ^^^^ 

 The above varieties differ in the form of the Enclosure, 

 leaves. There appear to be others depending on 

 the colour of the fruit. 



The cause of the confusion that exists in the 

 nomenclature of species and varieties of this 

 genus, may be traced to the circumstance of 

 botanists having taken their characters^ almost 

 exclusively, from the leaves. Now it happens 

 that, in those species which have not been culti- 

 vated for fruit or leaves (as the Morus Mauritiana, 

 M. Scandeiis,^ and perhaps in the M. latifoUa) 

 the character of the leaf is sufficiently marked to 

 determine the species, while in those kinds of 

 mulberry on which silk- worms are fed an almost 

 endless variety of leaf may be found. This being 

 the case, it becomes of importance that characters 

 should be taken from the fruit, stem, stipuia, or 

 parts of the plant. To do this properly, every 

 known variety must be procured for comparison ; 

 a task which can scarcely be completed satis- 

 factorily by any individual in India. 



* Both these are growing in the botanical garden, Calcutta, 

 and at Dapooree. 



