50 



A DISCOURSE 



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HOOK II. without cutting the root, provided you eradicate them with care, only 

 ''•■''"'><'"^ trimming the head a little. The season is from September to November, 

 in the new moon ; and if the holes or pits, you set them in, were dug and 

 prepared some months before, it would much secure their taking. Some 

 cast horns, bones, shells, &c, into them, the better to loosen the earth, 

 which should be rich, and well refreshed all summer. A light and dry 

 mould is best, well exposed to the sun and air, which above all things, 

 this tree affects, and hates watery, low grounds. In sum, being a very 

 lasting tree, it thrives best where Vines prosper most, whose society 

 it exceedingly cherishes ; nor does it less delight to be amongst corn, 

 no way prejudicing it with its shade. The distance of these standards 

 should be twenty or twenty-four feet every way, if you would design 

 walks or groves of them ; if the environs of fields, banks of rivers, 

 highways, kc. twelve or fourteen feet may suffice, but the farther distant 

 the better : the White speads its roots much farther than the Black, 

 and likes the valley more than the higher ground. 



5. Another expedient to increase Mulberries, is by layers from the 

 suckers at the foot ; this should be done in spring, leaving not above two 

 buds out of the earth, which you must diligently water, and the second 

 year they will be rooted. They will also take by passing any branch, 

 or arm, slit and kept a little open with a wedge, or stone, through 

 a basket of earth, which is a very sure way. Nay the very cuttings will 

 strike in spring ; but let them be from shoots of two years' growth, with 

 some of the old wood, though of seven or eight years ; these set in rills, 

 like vines, having two or three buds at the top, will root infallibly, 

 especially if you twist the old wood a little, or at least hack it ; though 

 some slit the foot, inserting a stone, or grain of an oat to suckle and 

 entertain the plant with moisture. 



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6. They may also be propagated by grafting them on the Black 

 Mulberry in spring, or inoculated in July, taking the cions from some 

 old tree that has broad, even, and round leaves, which causes it to pro- 

 duce very ample and tender leaves, of great emolument to the silk- 

 master. 



7. Some experienced husbandmen advise to poll our Mulberries every 

 three or four years, as we do our Willows ; others not till eight years ; 



