Mulberries. 329 



It often attains a height of seventy feet in the souths 

 The timber is much used for posts, fencing and lig'ht woodwork. 

 The two accompanying pictm'es are made from wild specimens col- 

 lected in Michigan. 



■Johnson. — 1 have already said that this appeans to have been, 

 the fli-st named variety of mulberry, of any species, originating 

 ujmn American soil. The first record of it, so far as I know, is in 

 the first edition of A. J. Downing's "Fruits and Fruit 

 Trees," 1845, in which it is said that the variety has 

 been " lately I'eceived from Professor Kirtland of Cleveland, 

 one of the most intelligent horticultiurists in the country;" 

 and it is distinctly stated that it is a form of our 

 native species. Charles Downing reaffirms this latter state- 



Wild red mulberry. Full size 



ment in Purdy's Fruit Recorder, in 1872, and in comparing the 

 fruit with that of the wild Morus rubra sayis it is "of about 

 the same quality, but of larger size." In the second edition 

 of "Fruits and Fruit Trees," 1872, by Charles Downing, it is 

 described as follows: "A seedling from Ohio. Fruit very large, 

 oblong cylindric; blackish color, smb-acid and of mild agreeable 

 flavor. Gix)wth of the wood strong and irregnlar. Leaves uncom- 

 monly large." The Johnson is very little known at the present 

 time and will probably soon pass from sight. Mr. Berckmans, of 

 Georgia, writes that the " fniit is la.rge, very good, but too little of 

 it," and that he has " long since discarded it." " The fruit is fully 

 two inches long by three-fourths inch in diameter, very black and 

 of a rich vinous flavor." 



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