THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR 
115 
First age to small to be represented. 
Moth. 
Cocoon. 
Moth and its 
AN ESSAY ON THE CEETEIIE AND H AN U FACT ERE OF 
Experience of past ages has fully proved that 
the c:irnate of the Unite 1 Scales is as wetl adapt- 
ed to toe nature and habits of the silkworm, and 
the production of silk, as that of any other 
country. Several varieties of the mulberry be- 
ing indiirenous in our soil, and those generally 
used in the native country of the silkworm suc- 
ceed equally well in our own soil and climate. 
Hence, from ihe nature and habits of American 
people, we must soon become ihe greatest silk 
gro wing nation on the earth. The first step i >- 
wards the | reduction of siltr, is to secure a sup- 
ply of suitanle food lor the silkworm. 
Having tried all the varieties introduced into 
our country, I find the morus raulticaulis and 
the Canton varieties, all things considered, most 
suitable for that purpose. 
PROPAGATION op THE MULBERRY. 
Although the experience of some years past 
has rendered this subject familiar to many, yet 
those now most likely to engage in the le 
giumate business of silk growing may be le.ss 
acquainted with the propagation of the tree. I 
shall give some brief directions on the subject. 
Almost any soil that is high anddry, and that 
will mature Indian corn, is suitable for the mul- 
berry. Thai, however, which is inclined to be 
light or sandy is the best 
The morus multicaulis may be propagatfd 
by nuttings or layers, (or a good variety may 
be raised from the .seed.) Cuttings maybe tit 
one or m >re buds planted perpendi ulaily in a 
light, mellovv bed of good soil. They should 
be planted when ih> spring has fully opened, or 
about the usual lime of planting corn. They 
may be planted in the rows, about 12 inches 
apart, and the rows at a sufficient distance to 
admit of thorough cultivation with a plow or 
cultivator. The ground should be kepi mellow 
until past mid summer. 
Select a suit ible piece of ground for a per- 
manent orchard. It would be well if broken 
up in the fall, and again plowed in the spring, 
and, it followed with the subsoil plow, it would 
be advantageous. After a thorough harrowing 
it should be laid off in rows each way eigk' 
leet by four, with the plow. The trees at one 
year old from the nursery should he taken up, 
the tops cut off near the roots, and one planted 
in each of the squares or hills. 
H. P. BYRAM, BBANDEKBURG, MEADE COUNTY, 
Having tried various methods of planting 
and different distances, f preferthose here given. 
This will admit the free use of the plow and 
Qa\\\yAiov b'tUi wavs. 
In latitudes north of 38 or 40^, where land is 
dear, they may be planted much nearer, ff a 
sufficient quantity of cuttings Irom old trees 
cannot at once be procured, the trees Irom the 
nursery should b? taken up in the tall, and bu- 
ried in a cellar, or upon the northside of a bank 
or hill, in alternate layers of trees and earth, 
and the whole protected by a shed from the 
rains of winter, as theplants seldom sufficiently 
mature, the first season from the cuttings, to 
withstand the winters fd a northern climate, 
particularly that portion above the ground. 
South ot 38® of latitude these precautions may 
not be necessary. 
The Canton mulberry is a more hardy kind, 
resembling in some degree the varieties known 
as the comm in Italian, producing a large, lull, 
thick leaf. This variety is prtipagated from seed 
a-’d frmi layers, but does not readily strike root 
from cutiings. 
In 1838, I procured a quantity of this seed 
Irom Canton, which produced a varie/y of plants 
Tnose produeing the greatest quantity ot fruit 
yield an inferior leaf. 
They are now propagating this variety very 
extensively at the silk growingestablishmeni at 
Economy, Pennsylvania, which, in connection 
with the morus muliicaul's, constitute the prin- 
ciple food used at this establishment. 
The (ruit should be gathered when fuliv ripe, 
and the seed washed out and dried. If south 
of the 3ff;h parallel of 1 ititude, they may be 
planted the same season. N-rthol this, they 
should be planted in Ihe following spring, in a 
bed of rich earth prepared as lor beets or onions, 
and planted in drills about apart. 
The young plants should be thinned to the dis- 
tance ol from one to three inches from each 
other. They should be well cultivated, when 
they will attain the height ot three or lour feet 
the first season. In the fall, in a northern cli- 
mate, tne voung trees should be taken up and 
protected during the winter, as directed for the 
morus multicaulis. ^ [This is not necessary in 
the Southern States.]— So. Cult. 
In the following spring the branches naay be 
taken off near the main stem, the top shortened, 
and the whole tree planted, completely covering 
roots and the main stem from one to two inches 
deep. In this way two or more trees may be 
produced from each plant If a full supply 
can be procured, the raofs of the young plants 
may at once be removed to the orchard. They 
may be allowed to s'and mu'-h nearer than the 
multicaulis, leaving only sufficient room for 
cultivation . 
When seed is required it would be well to 
plant out a portion Irom the seed bed at once, as 
standards lor this purpose, always selecting 
those bearing full, heart-shaved leaves. 
The leaves of the white Italian produce a 
good heavy cocoon, arid should always be used 
in the last age of the worms when other larger 
leaved varieties cannot'be obtained. 
cultivation. 
The mulberry orchard should be annually 
cultivated. The ground kept mellow and free 
from weeds until the middle of July, 
The fields should be divided into three equal 
parts, and. after the second .season from plant- 
ing, one third each year should b? cut down 
near the ground. This will cause a more vi- 
gorous growth, and an abundant crop of fo- 
liage, 
FEEDING apartments. 
Various plans have been proposed and adopt- 
ed for cocooneries or feeding sheds for the silk 
worms; none of which, I think, are without ob- 
jection, except a perfect laboratory, so con- 
structed as to be able to fully control the atmos- 
phere and temperature within. These, howev- 
er, would he too expensive, and require too 
much skill and judgment for general adoption. 
Open or shed feeding has been employed 
witn success of late years, and for general use 
may be the mo.st successful for family establish- 
ments, This, however, confines the whole bu- 
siness, particularly in the Northern States, to 
one or two crops in the season. South ot Ohio 
more can be succes.sfully fed. 
These sheds may be cheaply made, by setting 
some durable posts in the ground, say from six 
to eight leet high, with a root of shingles or 
boards. The roof should project two feet over 
the sides. There should be some lemporarr 
protection to the ends and sides of the 
