16 
OULTITRB OF BII.EWQBM8. 
The buali varieties of mulberry liave hitherto been only con- 
sidered, but it appeiurs that tiie tree varieties are in some situa- 
tions tt> be preferried, or at least, might lie advantageously planted 
in conjunction with the bush varieties. They need not be weeded 
after attaining some size, which to a Malay is a j^^reat consider- 
ation. Tliey tmn Iks pUmted aniongHt other ti-ees, and as he<lges 
to fields, kamiKmgs, etc. The worms api>ear to eat the leaves, 
and thrive on them. I have found nn difference in thia res]>ect, 
between the two varieties, except tliat the bush mulbeny is more 
suited to the worms when very yoimg, as the leaves are much 
softer- 
Tlie muIl>oiTies Ciiu readily he propagated by cuttings. These 
are best made when the plant is at rest, thoujjh tliey may, with 
earc, be got to strike at any time of the year. Pieces about il sjmn 
long are the best, and they should l>e cut at the bottom end, close 
Ijcneath a joiEt, otherwise they are very a^it to dam|> off. They 
grow^ best when planted upright, and with not more tlian thiTce 
inches of tlie cutting beneath the surface of the ground. If 
treated as the Chinese and Javanese usually treat cuttings, that 
is, planting them diagonally with three- quarte^rs of the whole 
length of the shps beneath the ground, not one iu tea will strike j 
whereas if planted as reconmiended, not one in t«n will fail. 
Apparently, four or five }>roods of silkworms coidd be 
raised m the year. The muJlierry appears to have two growing 
seasons during each year in Perak, lint sufficient experience has 
not yet been acquired to enable it to lie definitely stated when it 
would be best to rear the broods. 
The refuse from the rearing houses should all l>e burned 
before it is returned to the land as manure, as it would ap[>ear by 
the cxiH'rienec gained in Intlia that the disease germs coaf^uned 
in this refuse get on tfl the leaves and infect worms fed on them. 
This can lx> easily understood when it is remembered that the 
germs retain their vitality for a period of at least eight months. 
LABOUB. 
The main condition that must l>e fulfilled to ensure the 
Bueeessful breeding of silkworms in Penik, or anj^where else 
for that matter, is employment of cheap labom-. The mining in 
this State has raiscnl the wages of all classes, jiarticularly amongst 
the Chinese, and though I have not been able to collect any 
reliable information on the subject, I do not think that silk could 
be produced by means of Chinese labour at a piice that would be 
remunemtive. If it is to be successfully grown, I believe it 
would l>e by the Malays, as amongst them the wiigca are lower, 
and women and children cuuld l»c employed for aU the light 
portions of the industry ; which they can do not only cheaper. 
