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132 SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE
where no longer olives will thrive. Spots for Mulbeny-
culture must not be over-moist, when the leaves are to be
utilised for the Bombyx. In 1870, according to the British
Trade Journal, the produce of cocoons amounted in Europe
to £16,588,000; in Asia to £28,112,000; in Africa to
£14,000; in tbe South Sea Islands to £24,000; in America
to £ 2 0 ,0 0 0 ;—thus giving a general total of £44,788,000.
Superior varieties of Mulberry can be grafted with ease on
ordinary stock. M. Indica (L.), M. macrophylla (Morett.),
M. multicaulis (Perott.), M. Morettiana (Jacq.), M. Chinensis
(BertoL), M. latifolia (Poir.), M. Italica (Poir.), M,
Japónica (Nois.), M. Byzantina (Sieb.), M. nervosa (Del),
M. pnmila (Nois.), M. tortuosa (Audib.), as well as the Constantinople
Mulberry are merely forms of M. alba, to whicli
probably also M. Tartarica (L.) and M. pabularia (Jacqueni.)
belong. The variety known as M. Indica produces black
fruits. The planting of Mulberry-trees has recently assumed
enormous dimensions in California, where in 1870 between
seven and eight millions were planted. The process of rearing
the silk-insect is simple and involves no laborious exertions,
Tbe cocoons, after they have been properly steamed, dried
and pressed, find readily purchasers in Europe, the price
ranging according to quality from 3s. to 6 s. per lb. The eggs
of the silkworm sell at a price from 16 s. to £ 2 per ounce,
and in 1870 Japan had to provide two millions of ounces of
silk-ova for Europe, where the worms had extensively fallen
victims to disease. Instances have been recorded in California,
where eight tons of leaves were gathered in the first
year from tbe Mulberry-trees of one acre, and thirty tons in
the next year. As an example of the profit thus to be
realised, a Californian fact may be cited, according to whick
£700 were the clear gain from three and a-half acres, tlie
working expenses having been £93. The Commissioner of
Agriculture of tbe United States has estimated that under
ordinary circumstances an acre should support from 700 to
1000 Mulberry-trees, producing 50001bs. of leaves fit for
food when four years old. On this quantity of leaves can be
reared 140,000 worms, from which ova at a net profit
ranging from £80 to £240 per acre will be obtamed by the
work of one person. Mr. C. Brady, of Sydney, thinks the
likely proceeds of silk-cnlture to be from £60 to £150 for
the acre. The discrepancies in calculations of tbis kind are
explained by difierences in clime, soil, attention and treatment.
The White Mulberry-tree has been very copiously distributed
from the Melbourne Botanic Garden since many years. A
very palatable fruit is obtained from a variety cultivated in
FOR VICTORIAN INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 133
Beloochistan and Affghanistan. Morus Tartarica (L.) resembles
M. alba. Its juicy fruit is insipid and small. The
leaves are not generally used for silkworms.
The results of Mr. Brady’s experience on the varieties of the
Morus alba are as follows:—In the normal form the fruits
are white with a purplish tinge more or less deep, the bark is
pale, the leaf is also of a pale hue, not very early nor very
tender, nor very abundant. I t may be grown on moist
ground as long as such is drained, or it will live even on
poor loose gravelly soil bordering on running water. The
Gevennes variety is a free grower, afi’ords a large quantity of
leaves though of rather thick consistence; all varieties of the
Morus Bombyx like these leaves at all stages of their age.
It is also called the rose-leaved variety. The silk which it
yields is substantial in quantity and also good in quality. I t
does best on rich dry slopes. The bushy Indian variety has
a fine leaf of beautiful green, which though light in weight
is abundantly produced. I t can be cut back to the stem
three or four times a year; the leaves are fiat, long and
pointed, possess a fine aroma, and are relished by every
variety of tbe ordinary silk-insect, though not all thrive equally
well on it. The silk derived from this variety is excellent,
but not always so heavy in quantity as that produced from
the rosy variety. I t prefers rich low-lying bottoms, is a
greedy feeder, but may tbus be made to cover an extraordinary
breadth of alluvial or manured land in a marvellous
short space of time. A t Sydney, Mr. Brady can provide
leaves from this Indian variety all through the year by the
removal of cuttings, which will strike their roots almost at
any season. I t ripens also seeds readily, and should be kept
at bush size. I t requires naturally less space than the other
kinds. A fourth variety comes from North China; it has
heart-shaped fiat thickish leaves, which form very good food
for the silkworm. Mr. Brady, as well as Mr. Martelli, recommend
very particularly the variety passing under the
name of Morus multicaulis for the worms in their earliest
stages. The former recommends the Cape variety also; the
latter wishes also the variety called Morus Morettiana to be
used on account of its succulent nutritious foliage, so well
adapted for the insect while yet very young, and also on
account of producing the largest amount of food within the
shortest time. The Manila variety, known as Morus multicaulis,
comes several weeks earlier into bearing than most
other sorts, and should therefore be at hand for early hatched
worms.
The Muscardine-disease is produced by Botrytis Bassiana, while
the still more terrible Pedrine-disease is caused by a minute
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