OF FOREST-TREES.

51

botli erroneously. The best way is yearly to prune them of their dry chap.and superfluous branches, and to form their heads round and natural.—

The first year of removal where they are to abide, cut off all the shootsto five or six of the most promising; the next year, leave not above threeof these, which dispose in triangle as near as may be, and then disturbthem no more, unlefs it be to purge them (as we taught,) of dead sear-wood and extravagant parts, which may impeach the rest; and if after-ward any pruned branch shoot above three or four cions, reduce themto that number, One of the best ways of pruning, is what they practicein Sicily and Provence , to make the head hollow find like a bell, bycleansing them of their inmost branches ; and this may be done eitherbefore they bud, viz. in the new moon of March, or when they are fullof leaves in June or July, if the season prove any thing fresh. HereI must not omit what I read of the Chinese culture, and' which they nowalso imitate in Virginia, where they have found a way to raise theseplants of the seeds, which they mow and cpt like a crop of grafs, whichsprout and bear leaves again in a few months. They likewise in Virginiahave planted them in hedges, as near together as we do gooseberries andcurrants, for their more convenient clipping, which they pretend to dowith scifsors,

8. The Mulberry is much improved by stirring the mould at the root,and Letation.

5. We have already mentioned some of tlie uses of this excellent tree,especially of the White, so called because the fruit is of a paler colour,which is also of a more luscious taste and lefs than the Black; the rindlikewise is whiter, and the leaves of a mealy clear green colour, fartenderer, and sooner produced by at least a fortnight, which is amarvellous advantage to the newly-disclosed silk-worm ; also they arrivesooner at their maturity, and the food produces a finer web. Nor is thistree lefs beautiful to the eye than the fairest Elm, very proper for walks -and avenues. The timber, amongst other properties, will last in thewater as well as the most solid Oak, and the bark makes good and toughbast ropes. It suffers no kind of vermine to .breed on it, whether standingor felled, nor dare any caterpillar attack it, save the silk-worm only. Theloppings are excellent fuel; but it is for the leaves that this tree is ingreatest and most worthy esteem, which, besides the silk-worm, nourish