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STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIET\^ 



2. The Multicaulis Geoup. — Morus latifolia, Poiret. {M. muUicaulis 

 of Perrottet. 31. alba xar. muUicaulis of Loudon.) 



A strong-growing small tree or giant shrub, with dull, roughish and very- 

 large long-pointed leaves which are seldom or never prominently lobed, 

 and which are often convex above, bearing black sweet fruit. I have 

 already given a sketch of Morus multicaulis in America. Its most prom- 

 inent oflFspring is the 



Downing { Downing' s Everbearing). — This originated at Newburgh, on 



the Hudson, from seeds sown 

 about 1846. It was noticed by the 

 late C. M. HovEY in his Magazine 

 of Horticulture in March, 1858, as 

 "a new seedling raised by C. 

 Downing of Newburgh, N. 

 Y., from the Morus multi- 

 caulis." The Downing 

 often looks very different 

 from the old multicaulis, 

 and I sometimes doubt if 

 its history is correct; but 

 there is probably no doubt 

 as to its origin. For 

 many years the 

 Downing was the 

 leading fruit-bearing 

 mulberry, but it 

 proved to be short- 

 lived and was often 

 injured by the win- 

 ters in the northern 

 states; and even so 

 far south as Texas it 

 frequently suffers 

 from the cold. In 

 Florida it is said to 

 be still popular. The 

 Downing now sold 

 by most nurserymen is the 

 New American, as I have 

 already said. Only the 

 older nurseries still grow 

 the true Downing, so far as I have 

 observed in the eastern states. Most 

 New American and Downing Leaves. planters and perhaps some nursery- 



men are not aware of this substitution. Some nurserymen habitually 

 substitute the New American for the Downing, using the latter name, say- 



