'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎168r] (340/610)

From the observations of several owners it appears that tilimbars under the
most favourable conditions produce between 15 and 16 mans shah (lbs 195 to
208) of cocoons but the average for tilimbars containing 2 ounces of grain is 7
to 8 manns shah (lbs 91 to 104). In taking into account the tilimbars of various
sizes I was informed that 12 mans shah was the average production of cocoons
per tilimbar.
Mulberry plantations meet the eye at every turn throughout Gilan. The
tree is raised from seed in the following manner ; the fruit is allowed to hang on the
branches till it falls of itself, when it is crushed into a pulp, and portions put into
holes in the earth 4 inches deep. 1,000 saplings are sold for 1 to 11 krans (in January
1907 equals 41<f. to
The creation of a mulberry plantation costs- 50 tumans (in January 1907—
£9-10-6) by jarib (11- acre) but should the jungle have tp be cleared the cost is
80 tumans (January 1907—£15-4-9) by contract.
Should the proprietor be the owner of a populous village the expense is much
less. The ground is ploughed by Khalkhal labourers at 15 tumans (January
1907—£2-17-11) per jarib (11 acre). The fences to prevent cattle from straying
into the plantation have to be erected by the villagers. A gardener is engaged who
receives an advance of 10 kutis (lbs 650) of rice, value 15 tumans (January
1907—£2-17-11). He plants the saplings and sows garden crops the produce of
which he shares equally with the proprietor who deducts from the former’s
portion the value of the rice which was advanced.
The second year the plantation is left to take care of itself. The third year it
supplies enough leaves per jarib (II acre) for a 30 “ alish ” tilimbar, and the
fourth and the following years the produce of one jarib (11 acre) of mulberry trees
is sufficient for two thirty ‘ alish ’ tilimbars.
The trees are usually 11 feet apart. Both the black and white mulberry are
employed in the plantations, which are only allowed to grow a little above the
ordinary height of a man, for the convenience of gathering the leaves ; the stems
are stripped of their shoots, but a head is encouraged. The closeness of the trees
and the shade which one affords the other render the leaves very tender. The
trees are carefully pruned every spring, the shoots of the year alone affording
the nutriment on which the worms thrive well; the leaves of the old branches are
hard and indigestible, and the inequalities wound the insects. 1
The plantations which are irrigated by river water are said to be superior to
those irrigated from reservoirs. The price of the former (Rasht and Lahijan
districts) is about 300 tumans per jarib (in January 1907 about £57 per 11 acre),
that of the latter (districts of Shaft and Fumen) is only 150 tumans (in January
1907 about £28 per 11 acre).
In 1866 the mulberry plantations were said to extend over 17,713 acres of
land. At present, according to the data given in the preceding page, it is esti
mated that they extend over 25,000 jarib, say 37,500 acres.”
1 The younger the trees are the more prized is the leaf as food for the silk
worm, and old trees are usually cut down to make room for new plantations.
According to local climatic conditions mulberry tree plantations are renewed
every ten or twenty years.