THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
117 
Scientific American, James I. of England who hated tobacco and 
was resolved to replace its culture in Virginia by the rearing of 
silk worms may be said to have started the mischief, but it was 
not until the Chinese mulberry (Morns multicaulis) began to be 
advocated as a food for the silk-worm that it assumed its alarm- 
ing proportions. Silk-worms were raised in considerable num- 
bers in Virginia and the coronation robe of Charles IT. was made 
from such silk. In 1759, 10,000 pounds of raw silk was ex- 
ported from Georgia. At first the worms were fed on the leaves 
of the white mulberry (Morns alba)hut as soon as the qualities 
of the Chinese mulberry became known, a speculative fever seized 
upon all classes. It raged with particular virulence in Connecticut. 
Everybody expected to get rich in growing mulberry trees. At 
first these sold for three to five dollars a hundred, but the price 
rapidly advanced to five dollars each, and single trees were sold 
for as high as one hundred dollars. Cuttings were available for 
planting and slender switches, two feet long were sold for 
twenty-five dollars a dozen. The trees upon ten acres of land 
brought $38,000. So interested were the people in raising trees 
that the rearing of silk-worms was nearly forgotten. When the 
crash came many who had invested in the business were totally 
ruined. In the reaction that ensued the trees were pulled up and 
burned and in 1844 a violent storm followed by a general blight 
finished the mulberries and thus ended the culture of silk in Am- 
erica. 
Tortoises and Toadstools.— It seems that man is not the only 
animal with a taste for the higher fungi. Dr. Harshberger in the 
October Journal of Mycology notes that the box tortoise (Cistndo 
Virginica) is very fond of the green russula (R. virescens) a 
toadstool not uncommon in America. 
Fruit of Yew not Poisonous. —In the September number, 
you ask if the fruit of the ground hemlock (Taxns canadensis) 
is poisonous. I would say that I know of at least six persons, in- 
cluding myself, who have eaten of the fruit without ill effects. 
One person says that she has even eaten a small handful at a 
time. The Century Dictionary says that the leaves of the yew 
are poisonous, but makes no mention of the fruit.~i^a/^ Harri- 
son, Wellshoro, Pa. 
