1861.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
The New Chinese or Ailantus Silkworm. 
In last month’s Agriculturist, page 40, we refer¬ 
red briefly to the fact that a considerable degree 
of interest is awakened in regard to a new silk¬ 
worm, which feeds upon the common Ailantus 
tree (Ailantus Glandulosa). It is claimed that it 
produces a silk which, though not equal in lus¬ 
ter to that of the mulberry silkworm, is yet strong, 
takes most dyes well, and must be cheap, as 
the tree on which it feeds grows rapidly in al¬ 
most every climate, and the worms are easily 
cared for. Indeed it is hoped by some enthusi¬ 
astic French gentlemen that the new silk will 
soon take the place not only of the common silk, 
but also of Cotton in a great measure. This is a 
matter of much doubt, yet the most sanguine 
expectations may yet be realized. We have 
thought the subject of sufficient interest to pre¬ 
sent our readers with the accompanying en¬ 
gravings, and give a brief account of the matter. 
[We have also sent to our French correspond¬ 
ent to procure for us some eggs, for experiment 
here. If obtained, the results will be published.] 
The Ailantus tree is too well known to need 
description. It grows rapidly, and endures our 
hardy winters. Those who dislike the Ailantus 
so much as to become nervous at the bare idea 
of having our country stocked with the trees, 
will be quieted with the statement that, while 
the bombyx, or new silkworm, will feed upon 
the leaves of the full grown tree, it flourishes 
best on the leaves of young shoots. The plan 
recommended is to set out the young trees close¬ 
ly in rows, like a nursery, and cut them down 
to the ground every Spring. The abundant 
suckers sent up will furnish a full supply of 
large tender leaves for the worms. There need 
therefore, be no tall blossoming trees with their 
disagreeable odor, but simply a thick copse of 
young shoots, annually renewed. The Ailantus 
grows freely on the poorest stony soils; and 
should the new silkworm prove to be valuable, 
the hill sides of our northern States may yet 
rival the mulberry plantations of Italy, and the 
Cotton fields of the Southern States. 
The engraving represents the full grown moth 
or butterfly, which is superior in size and ap¬ 
pearance to the mulberry silkworm moth. The 
caterpillar or worm is also larger than the com¬ 
mon silkworm. It is of a nearly green color, 
marked with black spots ; its spiny tubercles are 
bluish green; the feet, head, and the last seg¬ 
ment or ring of the body are light yellow. It 
must therefore be a beautiful caterpillar, far ex¬ 
celling in this respect the mulberry silkworm, 
which, though laboring to deck others in showy 
silks, is itself very homely clad. The cocoons-, 
one of which is shown on the leaf, in reduced 
size, are oval, and of the exact color of a dead leaf. 
The eggs of the Ailantus silkworm hatch at 
a temperature of 64° to 68°( Fahrenheit) or 18° 
to 20° centigrade. They must therefore be kept 
in a cool place until the Ailantus plants are in 
leaf. When hatched, the young worms may be 
placed on fresh leaves in a tray, or better still, 
on young branches furnished with leaves, the 
lower ends of the branches being stuck into 
jars of water. After the first moulting they may 
be transferred to the growing trees, and left 
there in the open air until the cocoons are ready 
to be gathered. Those familiar with the details 
of producing the mulberry silk—the required 
house for protection, the careful nursing of both 
, the plants and worms, the trouble of gathering 
fresh leaves daily, etc.—-will readily appreciate 
the advantages of this new insect. 
In conclusion, we advise that no one be in 
the new silkworm (Saturiiia Oytithid ) — caterpillar , moth , and cocoon . 
(Engraved for the American Agriculturist.) 
haste to invest his all in the new enterprise. Re¬ 
member the Morus Multicaulis! The accounts 
that have reached us, thus far, are all rose color¬ 
ed, and we confess to a hope that much will come 
of the new enterprise. The experiments of the 
present year will throw further light on the sub¬ 
ject, and we shall be ready to chronicle its suc¬ 
cess or failure, as the case may be. It may be 
well for a few who have the adequate leisure, 
and facility, to experiment in a small way the 
present year if they can get the eggs. It will be 
several weeks before we can receive ours from 
Paris, if they are to be obtained at all this year. 
We fear that all that will be available, have al¬ 
ready been secured by interested persons in va¬ 
rious parts of Europe. 
--—-*“«*-- 
How the Chinese Make Dwarf Trees. 
We have all known, from childhood, how the 
Chinese cramp their women’s feet, and so man¬ 
age to make them “ keepers at home,” but how 
they contrive to grow miniature pines and oaks 
in flower pots for half a century, has always 
been much of a secret. With the breaking down 
of their famous wall, and of their exclusiveness, 
this, among other curious nonsense, has been 
partly discovered and understood. It is the pro¬ 
duct chiefly of skillful, long continued root prun 
ing. They aim, first and last, at the seat of 
vigorous growth, endeavoring to weaken it as 
i far as may consist with the preservation of life. 
They begin at the beginning. Taking a young 
! plant, (say a seedling or cutting of a cedar,) when 
| only two or three inches fflgh, they cut off its 
tap-root, as soon as it has other rootlets enough 
to live upon, and replant it in a shallow earthen 
pot or pan. The end of the tap-root is general¬ 
ly made to rest on the bottom of the pan, or on 
a flat stone within it. Alluvial clay is then put 
into the pot, much of it in bits the size of beans, 
and just enough in kind and quantity to furnish 
a scanty nourishment to the plant. Water enough 
is given to keep it in growth, but not enough to 
excite a vigorous habit. So, likewise, in the ap¬ 
plication of light and heat. As the Chinese 
pride themselves, also, on th o. shape of their min¬ 
iature trees, they use strings, wires, and pegs, 
and various other mechanical contrivances to 
promote symmetry of habit, or to fashion their 
pets into odd, fancy figures. 
Thus, by the use of very shallow pots, the 
growth of tap-roots is out of the question; by 
the use of poor soil and little of it, and little 
water, strong growth is prevented. Then, too, 
the top and side roots being within easy reach 
of the gardener, are shortened by his priming- 
knife, or seared with his hot iron. So, the little 
tree, finding itself headed off on every side, gives 
up the idea of strong growth, asking only for 
life, and just growth enough to live and look 
well. Accordingly, each new set of leaves be¬ 
comes more and more stunted, the buds and 
rootlets are diminished in proportion, and at 
length a balance is established between every 
part of the tree, making it a dwarf in all respects. 
In some kinds of trees, this end is reached in 
three or four years, in others ten or fifteen years 
are necessary. Such is fancy horticulture among 
the “celestials!” 
