RAISING OF SILK WORMS AND MuLBERRY


TREES, AND PROFITS OF THE CULTIyA

JERSEY Cry, February 81, 1888
TO Me Corresponding Secretary
of The american Ilsfif,fn.
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ofthe lmcrican Institute:


SIR Your letter of yesterday enclosing certain
interrogatores TO the Institute, from the Commit
tee on Agriculture in the House of Representa-
tlves Of the United States, is now before me- and
checrfully comply with your request to reply TO
that part which relates to mulberry trees and the
culture of silk OF the nine interroga,ories, six
only relate to my subject, viz:


''lst. Are you acquainted with the culture OF
the mulberry and the sugar-bcct or either of
them?''


To the above, would say, have some prac-
tical acquaintance with the culture of the muber-
ry, and with It's application as food for the silk
worm.


''2d. What kind Of soil, and what situation
and exposure, are the best for the production!''


rich, light, sandy soil, is the best for the
mulberry, though it will thrive weH on any soil
which is not wholly silcious, like the immediate
border on our Atlantic coast. Next to pure siex
the soil least adapted to the mulberry is that pure
ly argillaceous, compact and hardened clay.
Gently rising ground or a moderate emncnce,
open to the full action of the sun, is the best slu
alton, and the south is the best exposure.
''3d. What species of mulberry is the most
valuable, taking into consideration the capabiIty
lofenduring cold and frost the quantity and quality
Of the foliage, and the labor Of culture and strip-
lping!'


Taking into consideration all those properties,
the Brussa mulberry is the best species for feed
ing the silk-worm. wish however, to be IN
derstood that by Brussa | do not mean all those
various kinds which are sold under that name bu,
have direct reference to the tree or trees
4 which Mr.. Charles Rhind brought from Brussa
TO this country.


would remark, that species is very ndef-
IL H..
| ry, because, among the many millions of trees
from the seeds of each species, there arc mo-, two
trees equally valuable or perfectly alike; each in.
divdual tree considered food for the silkworm)
forms a distinct variety, differing as much from
each other as each individual OF the human race
differs from all other individuals of the same spe-
cies, or as much the fruit of one individual tree
OILERS from the fruit of all other individual trees
raised from seed of the same species. Mulberry
'rees' which produce leaves perfectly alike TO the
! delicate taste Of the silk worm, must be not only