so

A DISCOURSE

without cutting the root, provided you eradicate them with care, onlytrimming the head a little. The season is from September to November,in the new moon ; and if the holes, or pits, you set them in were dug andprepared somemonths before, it would much secure their taking. Somecast horns, bones, shells, &c. into them, the better to loosen the earth,,which should be rich,, and well refreshed all summer. A light and drymould is best, well exposed to the sun and air, which above all thingsthis tree affects, and hates watery low grounds. In sum, being a verylasting tree, it thrives best where Vines prosper most, whose societyit exceedingly cherishes ; nor does it lefs delight to be amongst Corn,no way prejudicing it with its shade. The distance of these standardsshould be twenty or twenty-four feet every way, if you would designwalks or groves of them; if the environs of fields, banks of rivers,highways, &c. twelve or fourteen feet may suffice, but the farther distantthe better : The White spreads its roots much farther than the Black,and likes the valley more than the higher ground.

5. Another expedient to increase Mulberries , is by layers from thesuckers at the foot; this should be done in spring, leaving not above twobuds out of the earth, which you must diligently water, and the secondyear they will be rooted. They will also take by pafsing any branch,or arm, slit and kept a little open with a wedge, or stone, througha basket of earth, which is a very sure way. Nay the very cuttings willstrike in spring ; but let them be from shoots of two years growth, withsome of the old wood, though of seven or eight years ; these set in rills,like vines, having two or three buds at the top, will root infallibly,especially if you twist the old wood a little, or at least hack it; though

some slit the foot, inserting a stone, or grain of an oat to suckle andentertain the plant with moisture.

6. They may also be propagated by graffing them on the BlackMulberry in spring, or inoculated in July, taking the cions from someold tree that has broad, even, and round leaves, which causes it to pro-duce very ample and tender leaves, of great emolument to the silk-master.

7. Some experienced husbandmen advise to poll our Mulberries everythree or four years, as we do our Willows y others not till eight years y