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The Nile Valley and the Oases of the Libyan have long had 'il Morus Alba' and the 'il Morus Niora'. The latter produces a variety of large black ROSSIGNI fruit that have a pleasant sweet acidity which renders it ideal for making syrup, jelly, and preserves identical to those made from the 'rebus Idea' (blackberry). The leaves of this variety of Morone are very large, not very lobed, rough to the touch, leather-like in texture, and dark green in color; they are not _____ to the nutrition of the silk worm. The crude, not transplanted mulberry produces a large tree that is very widespread in lower Egypt, not as common in the middle of the region, and rare in the upper areas. They also revive themselves on the islands in the Libyan desert (Oasis) likely because they were introduced there during the Ancient Greco–Roman civilization, and they preserve themselves despite being neglected until the present day. They achieve the form of a wild tree with small, lobed, split leaves that are almost laciniated. In the Delta, the mulberry tree, as previously discussed, is highly reproduced. The ancient ones, however (between 150 and 200 years old), are not transplanted which is why they are so gigantic and have many more leaves, or they are uncut–lobed. Every once in a while, a few of these ancient trees are cut so that their wood can be used to make boats for the Nile. In regard to the young plants that are about 25 years old, some even only 10, the planting of any useful species of trees has stopped from this period on, and in fact, it is bad luck to say so, many of those prosperous tree plantings are destroyed. Even a large number of young moroni are destroyed because the silk worm is not cultivated, although, when it has protection and proper attention, it produces excellent 'coconi' whose silk is thin, limp, and tough. The mulberry tree prospers marvelously in middle and lower Egypt; its first leaves appear in March and April and they are always abundant. Its trunk is not very vulnerable to breakage, and it does not suffer from damage done by the ignorant Egyptian farmer who is not skilled in the cultivation of trees, except for the date tree. The mulberry tree is reproduced by the use of a scythe, a transplant, or by seeding them. A transplant works out excellently for the plants in this country; Morone of Soria, that is, of Libya, brought a good one from Libya where there is one of the best varieties of mulberries known for producing Europe's Filusello (floss-silk). In Egypt, the mulberry's leaves grow almost a month before those in Libya do, while in February the buds are turgid, and in the beginning of March the tender leaves peel away. The mulberry, which has large cuculate leaves, is born perfectly in Middle and lower Egypt where year-round, one sees it furnished with huge leaves, and it reflowers to produce mature fruit. The cuttings are easily reproduced when they are arranged close to one another in large flowerbeds and are watered abundantly; they generate a great amount of leaves in March and April that rams eat as feed, making them fat. The climate of the Nile Valley is extremely suitable for the cultivation of the common Ricinus (castor plant), which develops into the shape of a tree and stays this way for several years, without suffering any damage during the winer season. The variety of large leaves that grow in the countryside and surround the Capital, and the fields of lower Egypt and of Alexandria, is what is most useful for the rearing of the Calcutta silkworms (Bom byx Cynthia). Therefore, I believe, although I have not been able to preoccupy myself with this yet, I am convinced 'a priori' that the new filusello (a type of silk fabric) of India could be easily successful in Egypt, especially in the regions near Cairo. The castor plant's leaves in its first two years of life are double the size of those that it produces at an older age. They are also more cartilaginous in texture and greater in quantity, so I imagine that for the maturation of the Cintia Silkworm, the large, younger leaves are more suitable than the subsequent ones. To maintain the plant's large leaves it is necessary at first to cut the tops that have flowered, since in the production of the filuselli, it is very important that they do not stick together if one wants them to produce even more good leaves in a shorter period of time. I believe that by take the appropriate precautions when planting the Ricinus, Egypt could have three silk coconi products from India at the beginning of the year. In fact, producing them could be accomplished in the winter months and this way there will be the advantage of providing new eggs to Europe for the first cultivation, which is done in the spring since I hear that in the winter there, they do not hold up and they die. Egypt could have a new silk product if, however, it finds support from the people who preserve their inert assets to their own detriment.
Obituary for Ardilio Carmelo
Our readers will excuse us, we hope to acknowledge in a few words of praise the memory of a man who, if he did not devote his life to glorious endeavors, he sacrificed it for the good of humanity and for his country. Coming from the community, and endangered in 1831 by all of the political turmoil in Italy, Ardilio Carmelo unhesitatingly brought to the altar of his homeland as tribute not only his blood, but his essence and the future of his family. He was firstly forced to emigrate to Constantinople and later to Egypt. Certain that his work could no longer, for circumstances that would be too painful to discuss, be useful for the independence of his country, he dedicated himself generously–with a philanthropy that unfortunately has few examples–to console and help with the misfortunes of not only his fellow citizens, but of strangers, too. And to talk only about how much we, and all of the people who have been here a long time, have seen, we remember how he, without waiting to be asked for help, would search for misfortune in order to aid and comfort it secretly. And without ostentation, like during the epidemic that afflicted this Capital in two different periods, in the moment when the bravest were doubtful, he fearlessly approached the troubled victims of the horrible disease at their bedside and brought them the consolatory words of a friend, the support of art, and the comfort of religion. He was struck by a slow disease in which his end was foreseen and regretted by everyone, and his lack of strength no longer allowed him to continue his philanthropic mission. Without fear, and almost with joy, he watched his final hours approach. On his modest tomb that contains his remains, all of the good people will shed a tear.