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How did the mulberry push Westward Expansion?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

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December 11, 2001

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Britain's silk industry started in the 1200s, but the cool, damp climate kept production low and sporadic. In 1603, King James I sent silkworm eggs and mulberry (Morus alba) seeds to Virginia. Silk production did not fare much better in the colonies. It was impractical to ship cocoons back to England; the spinning of silk thread was left to the cocoon producers.

The Eggs Duly Hatch into Worms, They are Covered by Mulberry Leaves Giclee Print Jan van der Straet Buy Giclee Print at AllPosters.com

Unlike Europe, the infrastructure for the textile mills was not yet present in the Americas. Silk thread remained a cottage industry, the quality varied, and buyers were hesitant of homespun thread. By the 1750s, cotton and tobacco were the only certain profits for farmers.

A few silk diehards attempted to mechanize and built mills, but the knowledge and experience in textiles were lacking. These small mills could not gear up to handle large amounts of cocoons, then sit idle for months. Compounding the problem were the lack of general infrastructure--roads, transportation, and power. By the 1800s, the silk industry lingered in a few towns, not realizing it had died.

In the 1830s, William Prince imported a "new" mulberry from China, Morus multicaulis, and began propagating it. Prince got an Englishman to bring in one million silkworm eggs which they would sell for 25 cents per thousand. The ad campaign started: "If ye aspire to wealth and ease, Stock well your farm with mulberry trees; The silk-worm will their worth unfold, And coin their foliage into gold."

Silkworms on Mulberry Leaves at a Street Market, Shandong Province, Jinan, China Photographic Print Bruce Behnke Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

Investors lined up for the "new" mulberry and a few caterpillar eggs. Then the winter of 1835-36 hit. The mulberry trees died. "So sorry, the trees were not planted correctly, and, by the way, you planted the wrong mulberry. We do have a better mulberry, of course, it costs a little more..." This time the "genuine" Morus multicaulis started out at five dollars per one hundred trees. "Speak up quick or you'll miss them" escalated to five dollars per tree. Some people even paid 100 dollars per tree. The trees cost more than the silk could ever return.

The first problem remained, however. No infrastructure--no way to get the cocoons to the mills, few mills to take the cocoons, no spinners to make thread, and no weavers for cloth. Some industrialization took place. A few got rich, but not the cocoon producers. People lost more than their investments, they lost their homes and farms. Many had no choice but to go for free land. They packed up their families and headed out to settle in the American West.

Greenfield Village Memories, part of the Wren's Cottage website, has a photograph of the original Hanks Silk Mill. To view the photograph, click on the link:

http://www.wrenscottage.com/gvm/craft/hanks.php

Wren's Cottage website has many interesting links about historical buildings. This site is well worth the time viewing all the information they have to offer.

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Hardy Mulberry Tree

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Hardy Mulberry Trees have juicy, purple-black berries produce mouthwatering jelly and deep purple wine. Hardy 25-to 40-ft. tree is fast growing and fine for shade. Fruit ripens in late July. You get 2 plants for proper pollination.

Zones: 4 - 8 (-20° F.)

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Comments: Juicy, black berries. Withstands drought and salt. Fruit is similar in size and shape to blackberry. Generally bears heavy, reliable crops. Very easy to grow, usually does well without any care. Foliage and unripe fruit may be poisonous. Hardy to -25 degrees F.

Many of the fruits are native species that grow wild in various parts of the country. They are very adaptable and generally carefree. A few are delicious when eaten fresh; others make excellent desserts and wines.

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Popular for Deep Purple Homemade Wine!

Intensely flavored fruit with a rich aroma. Bountiful harvest ripens in August. Tall shrub grows to 12-14 ft. and has attractive, snowy white flowers in the spring.

Plant two Elderberries for proper pollination and top yields.

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Carefree fruits are simply wonderful! Not only do they bear delicious, edible fruits, but the plants also fit beautifully into the home landscape.

Pawpaws, for instance, bear tasty, banana-like fruit, and the trees are gorgeous when planted in full sun.

Fig trees have a stately appearance and produce plump, luscious fruit that’s great for desserts.

Currants, gooseberries and cranberries are ideal for smaller gardens.

Some types, such as the mulberry, also provide valuable food for songbirds.

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