u% A DISCOURSE

Book. II. through a Basket of Earth, which is a very sure Way: Nay, the veryCuttings will strike in Spring, but let them be from Shoots of twoYears Growth, with some of the «>/^Wood, though of seven or eightYears; these set in Rills , like Vines , having two or three Buds at theTop, will root infallibly, especially if yon twist the old Wood a little,or at least hack it; though some slit the Foot, inserting a Stone, or Grainof an Oat, to suckle and entertain the Riant with Moisture.

6. They may also be propagated by Graffing them on the blackMulberry in Spring, or Inoculated in July, taking the Cyons fromsome old Tree, that has broad, even, and round Leaves, which causes itto produce very ample and tender Leaves, of great Emolument to theSilk-majter.

7. Some experienced Husbandmen advise to Poll our Mulberriesevery three or four Years, as we do our Willows ; others not till eightYears; both erroneously. The best way is yearly to prune them oftheir dry and superfluous Branches, and to form their Heads round andnatural. The first Year of Removal where they are to abide, cutoffall the Shoots , to five or fix of the most promising ; the next Yearleave not above three of these, which dispose in Triangle as near asmay be, and then disturb them no more, unless it be to purge them (aswe taught) of dead Seare-wood , and extravagant Parts, which mayimpeach the rest; and if afterward any pruned Branch shoot above threeor four Cyons , reduce them to that number. One of the best Ways ofPruning, is what they practise in Sicily and Provence , to make the Headhollow , and like a Bell, by cleansing them of their inmost Branches;and this may be done, either before they bud, viz. in the New-Moonof March, or when they are full of Leaves in June or July , if theSeason prove any Thing fresh. Here I must not omit what I read ofthe Chinese Culture, and which they now also imitate in Virginia,where they have found a Way to raise these Rlants of the Seeds, whichthey mow and cut like a Crop of Grafs , which sprout, and bear Leavesagain in a few Months: They likewise (in Virginia ) have planted themin Hedges, as near together as we do Goosberries and Currans , fortheir more convenient Clipping, which they pretend to do with Scijfers.

8. The Mulberry is much improved by stirring the Mould at Root,and Letation.

<>. We have already mentioned some of the Vsts of this excellentTree, especially of the White, so called, because the Fruit is of apaler Colour, which is also of a more luscious Taste, and lesser thanthe Black ; the Rind likewise is whiter , and the Leaves of a mealy clearare en Colour, and far tenderer, and sooner produced by at least aFortnight, which is a marvelous Advantage to the newly disclosed SiIVworm : Also they arrive sooner to their Maturity, and the Food pro-duces a finer Web. Nor is this Tree less beautiful to the Eye than thefairest Elm, very proper for Walks and Avenues The Timber(amongst other Properties) will last in the Water as well as the mostsolid Oak, and the Bark makes good and tough Bast-ropes. It suffers noKind of Vermin to breed on it, whether standing or felled, nor daresany Caterpillar attack it, save the Silk-wormon\y. The Loppings areexcellent Fuel : But that for which this Tree is in greatest and mostworthy Esteem, is for the Leaves, which (besides the Silk-wortn)nourishes ' Cows, Sheep, and other Cattle, especially young Rorkers,being boiled with a little Bran ; and the Fruit excellent to seed Poultry-2 - in

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