Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-01-05
Yours, truly,
THOMAS RlTCHlE.
SrpSrY, (Henrico CO. } 29ih Dec, 1893.

SrDSrY, (Ilenrco coy 29ih Dec, 1888.
Dear Sir: Yours Of the 22d, in which you ask sundry
questions concerning the Mous Alullicauiis, and the
rearing Of Silk, in this Stale, is before me, and
proceed 10 your queries as far my experience
and information upon The subject extend:
To your lst question: answer that it is he best kind
Of Mulberry for feeding WORMS, for seve1n! reasons 1t
affords much larger amount Of leaves than any other
kind The leaves may be sahe red for 10th Of the expense
required by any other variety; the silk is of superior
quality; stronger fibre, and more easily reeled; and with
regard to lis propapagalo 1t is more easily propagaled
than any variety known to me-
"a. With regard TO this question have not much e1.
perIence; but according TO tic best Information can
Obtain from 10 be relied on answer, that from
may be gathered The first season they are planted
10 900 lbs and will increase perhaps I'D TO ANNUALLY
20, several years. 1000 lbs have been taken from
acre when The trees were years old, in that proper
lion.
3D. As TO this queLtion, canno! say much from my
own experience; hut, have taken pains 10 acquire the
most accurate information upon the subject and find,
thai IN acre planted with cuttings Of buds each, will
afford the Isl after planting from sO TO lUO lbs OF
sh and at the uge Of yec!s, from 375 10 400 lbs of
recled silk-t!e value of which is s. to sc per ID. As
10 The value Of per To- have m certain lntor
m a.ion but find ha! il is considered most profitable 10
ref hem instead Of selling them in that state.
9TH As 10 propagation. Let the ground be property
pre- pared by poughing and narrowing; take cuttings Of
IDS each insert them in the ground their full length
with the upper bud little under the surface Of the earth:
after they commence growing, the utmost care should
be taken TO keep tneln Clear VI Slass
ground kept light and OPEN by frequently running
cuvaor between the rows, which may be feet or any
other convenient distance apart and 10 IL inches in
the row AS 10 The sol--They will grow we'll in any
rich anI; but, for the purpose Of raising silk light,
sandy graveily soil is considered preferable
5h. As consider this question pi more than ordinary
slportance ] will endeavor 10 answer 1t inliy ms
variety was introduced into France in the year 1871
where it received the mans Of h!n'tcouIis. IN 1897 il
was introduced into the U. S. under this but,
less it be cut down either by frost the knife it will
not in any instance become MuIlicaus, but will,
when puned or treated another tree become as Largo
a tree as any other variety Of the Mulberry consider
this fact abundanty proved BY trees now IN my posses
sion which are only years old from the cuttings, and
IS inches in circumference, foot above
the ground and their trunks 10 10 II feet in heghtn
lis nature The Mulberry is altogether different from the
Flbert Hazel il will never throw up stem or bud
from its For the purpose Of raising silk Is NEST
valuable as busk in this state the leaves can be ga
aheTed with more facility than from large trees.
9th her important question this believe II mas
been long and generally known that our native mulher-
~ il one of the most valuable timber trees producing
The durable posts, rails, &c, and from my "bsef.
vali0ns and comparison Of the wood Of the two trees,
feel confident that the Mnrus Multiccufs will prove
equally as valuable The native for timber any other
purposes 10 which il is applied.
Az TO the leaves being valuable FOR feeding cattle,
FI,ve had occasion know that fact; for, early after
commenced raising The trees, my stock OF trees accu.
n,uiaed be yond the then demandn and as they remained
several years in the ground, they afforded great guam
t,y OF leaves and young branches, which was IN the
daily habit OF having cut OFF and feeding 10 my mich
cQTs found them 10 lie fond Of them; and 10 thrive