Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-03-13

Extract from hHcr from Mr.. Chanecy
Stone Of Burlington, NJ.
In replying ioyour questions it will be ne.
cesar; foi M briefly to rccaptula;e them.
l. Have You been long engaged IN cuI-
ti:ai;ng the mulberry 7
=. What species of morus DO you deem
preferable. aad what kind of soil suits it tesl
5. What is the best mode Of propaga,lns,
planting, and managiug it?
i. What is the value, expense and profit
on an acre Of mulberry trees for the first
five years inclusive ?
5. Wha, kind of worm do you consider
the most valuable?
6. What help does it require TO raise 100
pounds of silk?
First.-I am one of the number who first
commenced the silk business in this vicini-
ty, and have devoted the two last years
with close application practically 10 the cul.
:ure Of The mor1s mult!cauls and rearing
The silk worm.
Sccond.-I have taken much interest
during the las: few years ia comparing the
relative qualities ofthe different mulherries
and q, present | know Of none better than
the morus muticaulis for this and the more
southern !atitudcs for the silk business. The
Alpine, the Canon, and the Brussa, areIeX-
celIent species, and may be well adapted to
the more northern lalitudes. Most Of the
different species have seen, which arc four.
teen or fifteen varieties, require four or five
years' growth before having much foliage
10 part with but the multicaulis will yield
a large quantity the firrt years growth
without injury to the free, and is eaten with
great av;diy by the silk worm. The null
berry that ismosi productive Of fruit is less
productive of foliage. The mullicauls pro.
duces very little fruit, and is not oftengrown
from the seed. 1t will furnish on all soils
where. the peach does.
TO select 4 location On which to plant a
field for the silk business, | would prefer
undu!a,ins grounds, having deep mellow
loan, and mixed with sand and gravel suffi-
cient 10 prevent lie soil from banking or
cru>tng.
Third.-Ancr having the ground made*
mellow, lay out the field in rows about
four feet apart; an the sures: mode, TAX
ing one season with another, is to lay the
tree down full length and cover Gecp enough
to keep MOST The lin for planting in
tbs latitude, thin. will be during the frs
and second weeks in April. in common sea.
sons. By planting field ofm:lbelres In
this mode they mus, be taken up in the au.
tumn, as they will stand too near each 9TH
er to remain in the ground. But 10 plant
Il field OF mulbcrries not to be taken up in
the fall, my own views are 10 lay out The
rows alb u, five feet apart, and in the autumn
take up every other tree in the rows. leav.
ing them standing four feet apart; the re-
mainder to have tie tops cut of near the
ground IN he fall. I 10 tnc following spring.
many sh OTIS from each stump will s.art up
with vigor. and produce an abundance oil
foliage, and easy 10 be gathered. And
where the field is large, | think every fifth
row may be omitted and not pian'ed, but
used as passage for a cart or wagon in
which to transport the loliege to the cocoon.
cry. Our experiments made this season
have proyed.the feasibility, that mulberry
trees treated in tie above manner will fulfil
the most sanguire anticipatons.
Fourth.-To answer this question It will
require some philosophical specula.lons,
as The feeding ofsiIk worms from an aero
of tnul,icau!i ofGour or five years growth
has not bcen done by me, or under my %.
servation. A, the rate of fifty pounds OF
reeled silk 20 the acre has been produced
from Inc frs: years growth oftrccs'--s5n'
from an acre to be planted in the manner
have described, 80 pounds the first year
will be fair production, and by leaving the
roo's in the ground and pruning the tops IN
the autumn, deem it not extravagnt to estI-
nate one hundred pounds reeled silk yearly
on an average, the fonr succeeding years
after the first years growth of trees. :,
After the cocooneries and fixtures for feed
ing are prepared, We can feed the silk worms
and reel the silk al an expense not over two
dollars and fifty cents per pound and 1t IS
hen worth from four dollars and fifty cents
10 six dollars pound 10 the manufacturer
Fylh.--At present | know of mono pre-
fer 10 the white mammoth worm. so Calico
but We have IA kind that spins large yell
low cocoon, and is very good kind. The
@In South or North Carolina tho growth OF
the trees is so much more luxuriant than in New
Jersey and The price Of land so lou that the rows
ought to be or 9 feet apart except in very poor
land.
+Layiog the trees and limbs lcngthwisc along
the low, viii doubtless DO well but more wood
for the subsequent propagation Of the tree, as