Litchfield enquirer., 1829-04-23
AGRICULTURAL.
THE MULBERRY TREE,


 The soil in which the mulberry tree is planted should be friable, with a consider able mixture of sand, for the plain reason, ] that the roots of tho tree do not often take downward direction, but shoot off hori- zontatly like those of the elm. They should be planted at considerable dis tance from ponds or rivers, because in the vicinity of them, the white frost in spring, would perhaps be liable to injure them in some measure. The young mulberry se- tected from the nursery for planting. should be of mlddIing size with bark of light or yellowish browns surface rough, but without crevices. It should be furnished with at least three roots-rather slender than otherwise. 1.-the nursery is on good ground, the trees should be transplanted when three years old-en mean soil four. They should be from five to ten feet in height, five or six inches in circumference nearest the ground. In planting them the holes should be made according to the roots generally about eighteen inches deep, and about six feet in diameter. The bot toms of these holes should be covered with three or four inches of loose mould. If any otthe roots become bruised or broken in their removal, they should be cut off just above the injured parts. The roots should be covered with foot or more of loose, we'll manured earth, entirely free from stones, and which should be trodden down around the tree. It would be we'll befors filling the hole entirely, to pour in few gallons of water.
 When the trees have nearly attained their growth two dressings a year will be sufficient. The first should be given to- wards the last of March-the second in August--after gathering the leaves. Young trees newly set out require frequent dress ings, perhaps four in year. ''There is," says M. De La Brousse, 6 a freshness and strength communicated to the tree by att tentive tillage, and the benefit is so visible, that even an unpractised eye will at once distinguish the plantation of the industri- ous, from that of the negligent proprietor. !"
 It is generally allowed that nothing is gained by planting or sowing the ground set apart for the rearing of the mulberry tree. On this point we quo,e the words of Vernon:
 Memo duObus, is a maxim so true in agriculture, that every proprietor who has attempted to take at the same time two full crops from the same land .has unwisely ex. hausted the soil, and finally diminished his income. By maturing well our fields, and recurring but one crop at time, we shall make better harvests, and receive better rent"
 If the trees when transplanted have not been already grafted, it may be done the next spring. It is necessary to visit them frequently during the first year, of their growth, and to Top off the shoots which seem likc v to injure the beauty and retard the growth of the tree, according to De La Brousse: rI
 |" The pruning knife must take off not only the dry and ,he withered twigs, tut also every thing that relates to an excres- cence. Under this head we comprise the twisted, tue slender, and most of the short shoots which grow along the large branch es, but more especially those so we'll known by the name of suckers. We must also amputate those well favoured branch- es which crowd too closely upon the neigh boring ones and above all, those that in- terferc, and by their frictions, cause wounds which become gangrenous by the admission of moisture, and certainly ter- minate in the death of the branches, if not of the tree. .''-Am. Manuf ufacturer.
 Advantage of Trees. Cattle thrive much better in fields even but moderately sheltered with trees than they do in an open exposed country. An Italian Gau- tieri) has enumerated and illustrated the advantages in point of climate which tracts of country derive from woods and forests. Y" These," he says, are arresting the progress of impetuous and dangerous winds maintaining the temperatpre of the air 1; regulating the season lessening intense cold; opposing the formation of and increase of ice; moderating intense heats; producing abundance of water in the rivers; discl.arging the electricity of the atmosphere; opposing barrier to washing away or undermining banks pre- serving from inundations; preserving the soil on hills and mountains"