Un the Management of the Silk-fVunu. 419 
The Black Mulberry is well known to be but of slow growth, (most of 
the large Mulberry trees about London are supposed to have been planted 
in the reign of James I., when he attempted the growth of silk in this 
country,) and indeed, cultivated in very few countries, for the sake of 
its leaves as food of Silk-worms, — Spain and Sicily excepted. 
The White Mulberry is much preferable to the Black, as being of 
much quicker growth, comes earlier into leaf, and the Silk-worms when 
fed upon it, produce much finer silk. It is therefore the White Mul- 
berry that we have to look to for a supply of food for our Silk-worms. 
With respect to its growing vigorously in this country, there is not the 
least doubt, as various experiments have been tried of late years, and 
where they have made shoots in one season, in many instances, from 
6 to 8 feet in length, 'J'hey are of easy culture, and will grow in any 
dry loam, or light sandy soil ; but the richer the soil the more vigorous 
their growth. They make excellent hedges, and in that case I call the 
attention of landed proprietors, that where they plant hedges, to substi- 
tute the White Mulberry in the place of Quick, (particularly in favour- 
able situations,) it will bear the same treatment, and would yield a 
supply of food for the cottagers' Silk-worms. It may be asked. Where 
can a supply of White Mulberry plants be had, but at a very great ex- 
pense ? In answer, they can he supplied at a price not much greater 
than that of Quick. Suppose a landed proprietor should procure a 
quantity of one, or two-year-old seedlings from France, where they can 
be purchased for about the price of Quick in this country. The carriage 
would ! e the principal difference, and that would be no great sum. 
The strongest might be planted at once, in the same manner as Quick, 
and the smaller bedded out in the nursery for a year or two ; also seed 
might be had and sown in the natural ground, or in a slight hot-bed, 
and transplanted ; by that means a quantity of plants might be obtained 
at a cheap rate. The landed proprietor might supply his tenants with 
Mulberry plants, to plant hedges where wanted, in favourable situations, 
and the labourer might root out the Quick hedges that surround his gar- 
den, and plant the White Mulberry. There are many improved varieties 
of the White Mulberry cultivated in France and Italy, that produce very 
large leaves, but it is unnecessary here to enter upon their merits, as 
they would not suit this climate so well as^ the common seedling White 
Mulberry. 
I therefore conclude, that I sincerely hope some spirited land-holder 
will try the experiment, as there is a prospect of much good to be done 
at a very trifling expense, and of opening a new road to industry among 
the labouring classes of this country. 
A HoRTICULTUniST. 
