March.] THE NURSERY. 2g3 
worm, very active, and naturally crawls about in search of food; at 
this period it should be fed with the youngest and most tender 
leaves; in eight or ten days it will increase in size to about a quar- 
ter of an inch in length. It is then attacked with its first sickness, 
which is a kind of lethargic sleep, for about two or three days con- 
tinuance; during which time it changes its skin, preserving the 
same bulk. It undergoes similar sickness and changes three or 
four times, at intervals of about eight days, before it arrives at its 
full size; which is from an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half 
in length; and the intervals between these changes, and consequent- 
ly the periods of its arrival at maturity for work, are said to vary in 
different climates, which is very probable. 
After it has formed its cocoon or ball of silk, and undergone its 
change in the heart of it, it comes forth a heavy dull-looking moth 
with wings, but these it seldom uses for flying; it only flutters and 
crawls slowly about in quest of its mate; soon after copulation the 
female lays its eggs, and both die without tasting food in this stage 
of their existence. 
When in the worm or caterpillar state, they are of a blackish, or 
a milk or pearl colour; the former are esteemed the best. The body 
is divided into seven rings to each of which are joined two very short 
feet. It has a small point like a thorn exactly over the anus. 
There are a considerable variety of breeds, some of which possess 
qualities much superior to others. This is a particular of much 
importance to be adverted to at the time of beginning to breed; for 
it will make a great difference in the profit to the undertaker. The 
eggs, when obtained, should be kept in a cool, dry place, neither 
exposed to heat nor to excessive frosts, till wanted for hatching 
the ensuing season. 
The Morus nigra, or black mulberry, is more esteemed for its 
fruit than the white, and when cultivated for such, layers or cut- 
tings from good fruit-bearing trees ought to be preferred to raising 
them by seed; for monoecious trees, until arrived at a good age, 
bear male flowers chiefly and very little fruit. The cuttings if taken 
off" in March, rightly chosen, and skilfully managed, will do very 
well; though, in general, they do not take as freely in this way as 
many other trees; however, if placed under bell-glasses, they will 
strike with great certainty; but where there is no such conveniency, 
the ground about them should be covered with moss to prevent its 
drying; and where this is carefully done, they will want but little 
water, and will succeed much better than with having too much 
wet. 
The Morus rubra, or red American mulberry, is admired by 
some on account of the pleasing acidity of its fruit, and is said to 
answer the end of feeding silk-worms very well. It is cultivated 
like every other kind by layers, cuttings, and seed. 
The white mulberry prospers best in a moist rich loam, the black, 
in a dry sandy soil, and the red in a mean between both these 
kinds. 
The Morus muUicaulis. Since the preceding was written this new 
variety of the mulberry has been introduced to the attention of the 
