BLACK-FRUITED MULBERRY-TREE. 441 



cated by the Greeks to Minerva, probably because it was anciently considered 

 as the emblem of wisdom, from the slowness of its putting out its leaves; and 

 Jupiter, the Protector, in their language, was called after it, Morcn. From Ovid 

 we learn that the fruit of the nuilberry derives its fuie colour from the blood of 

 those two unfortunate lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe. He says, that it was for- 

 merly snow-white, but that, when Pyramus, in despair at the supposed death of 

 his mistress, fell upon his own sword, it was under the shade of this tree. riiisbe, 

 shortly after, finding him dead, killed herself in the sauie way, and their blood 

 mingling together, was absorbed by the roots and imparted its colour to the fruit. 



" Dark in the rising tide the berries grew, 

 Ami, while no longer, took a sable hue; 



But brishter crimson, springing from the root, - 



Shot through the black, and purpled o'er the fruit." 



Cowley, in the fifth book of his poem on plants, has given a very plain and accu- 

 rate description of the apparently cautious habits of this tree. He also alludes to 

 the fable just named. The Morea, in the Levant, is said to have been so called, 

 from a supposed resemblance of the shape of that peninsula to the leaf of the mul- 

 berry. The roots of this tree are so wonderfully tenacious of life, that an instance 

 is recorded of their sending up shoots after having lain dormant in the ground for 

 twenty-four years. 



Soil^ Situation, Propagation, 6f'c. The Morus nigra will grow in almost 

 any soil or situation that is tolerably dry, and in any climate not much colder 

 than most parts of Britain and the United States. It is very easily propagated 

 by truncheons or pieces of the branches, eight or nine feet in length, and of any 

 thickness, being planted half their depth in tolerably good soil ; when they will 

 bear fruit the following year. As it is extremely tenacious of life, every part 

 of the root, trunk, boughs, and branches may be converted into plants by sepa- 

 ration; the rootlets, and small shoots, or spray, being made into cuttings, the 

 larger boughs into stakes, the arms into truncheons, and the trunk, stool, and 

 roots, being cut into fragments, leaving a portion of the bark on each, and plant- 

 ing them after the Italian mode of propagating the olive-tree. The mulberry 

 may also be increased from seeds, by layers, or by grafting and budding. This 

 tree, from its slowness of putting out its leaves, being rarely injured by spring 

 frosts, and its leaves being seldom or never devoured by any insect, except the 

 silkworm, and never touched with mildew, very seldom fails to produce a good 

 crop of fruit. This fruit, however, though excellent and exceedingly wholesome, 

 does not keep, and is so far troublesome, that it is only good when it is quite 

 ripe, and is best when it is suffered to fall from the tree itself For this reason, 

 mulberry-trees are generally planted on a lawn or grass-plot, to prevent the tVuii 

 that falls from being injured by the gravel or dirt. This practice, however, is 

 objectionable, as no tree, perhaps, receives more benefit from the spade and the 

 dimg-hill than the mulberry, and it ought, tlicrefore, to be frecpuMitly dug about 

 the roots, and occasionally assisted with manure. The ground uiidt>r the tree 

 should be kept free from weeds throughout the summer, particularly when the 

 fruit is ripening, as the reflected light and heat from the bare surface of the soil 

 is thus increased. In a cool, moist climate, like that of Britain, the Iruit is also 

 very fine if the tree be trained as an espalier, with the reflection of the south side 

 of a building or wall. As a standard tree, whether for ornament or fruit, the 

 mulberry requires very little pruning or attention of any kind, other than that 

 which is given above. As it increases in age, it increases in productiveness, and 

 in full-grown trees the fruit is much larger and better flavoured than in those 

 which are young. 



Properties and Usrs. The wood of the Morus nigra is less compact than even 

 that of the white mulberry, and when perfectly dry, weighs only about forty 

 56 



