j.JKJ AUnOIlKTU.M AND FUUTICKTL'M. PAIITJII. 



supposed cicatli of liis mistress, killed himself with iiis own bwonl, he fell 

 under one i.f these trees; and when Tliishe, returnini,' and findmi,' linn dead, 

 stabbed herself also, their blood flowing over the roots ol the tree, was 

 absorl)ed i)y them, and gave its colour to the fruit. 



• Dark in the risinR tide the Ijcrries grew, 

 And, white no loiit,'er, t(«)k a sahle hue ; 

 Hut brighter criiinoii, spriiiKiiig from tlie root. 

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



Cowley describes the black mull)crry as being used, in his time, both for its 

 fruit and leaves : — 



" But cautiously the mulberry did move, 



And first the temper of the skies would prove. 

 What sign the sun was in, and if she might 

 (Jive credit yet to Winter's seeming flight : 

 She dares not venture on his first retreat, 

 Nor trusts her ft-uit and leaves to doulitful heat ; 

 Her ready sap within her bark confines. 

 Till she of settled warmth has certain signs ; 

 Then, making rich amends lor the delay, 

 With sudden hjiste, she dons her green array : 

 In two short months, her purple fruit appears. 

 And of two lovers slain the tincture wears. 

 Her fruit is rich, but she doth leaves produce 

 Of far-surpassing worth and noble use." 



Cowi.EY on Plants, book v. 



The destruction of Shaksjicare's mulberry tree in 1756, by its then pro- 

 prietor, Mr. (iastrell, gave rise to several songs, and other pieces of poetry ; 

 but thev rather relate to the individual tree than to the s|)ecics. 



Soil,'Sitn(itk>n, Propagafimi, and Cultun: The black mulberry will grow m 

 almost anvsoil or situation that is tolerably dry, and in any climate not much 

 colder than that of London. In Britain, north of York, it requires a wall, 

 e\cei)t in very favourable situations. It is very easily propagated by trun- 

 cheons or pieces of branches, 8 ft. or 9 ft. in length, and of any thickness, being 

 planted half their depth in tolerably good soil ; when they will bear fruit the fol- 

 lowing year. (See Gavd. il/^/i,'., vol. iii. p. 217., and vol. v. p. 6:i.) Every part 

 of thtTroot, trunk, boughs, anil branches may be turneil into plants by separa- 

 tion ; the small shoots, or spray, and the small roots, being made into 

 cuttini;s, the larger shoots into stakes, the arms into truncheons, and the 

 trunk,'' stool, and roots being cut into fragments, leaving a portion of the bark 

 on each. {Ibid., vol. iv. p. 152.) It is very seldom, if ever, now propagated by 

 seeds, which rarely ripen in Britain. The mulberry, from its slowness^ in 

 putting out its leaves, being rarely injured by spring frosts, ami its leaves being 

 never "devoured by any insect, exce[)t the silkworm, and never attacked by 

 mildew, very seltlom fails to bear a good crop of fruit. This fruit, however, 

 though excellent ami extremely wholesome, does not keep, and is so far trou- 

 ble.so'ine, that it is only good when it is just quite ripe, and is best when it is 

 suHcred to fall li-om the tree itself. For this rea.son, iiuilberry trees are gene- 

 rally i)lanted on a lawn or grass-plot, to prevent tlie fruit that falls from being 

 injured by the dirt or gravel. In a pajjcr bv J. Williams, Es(|., of Pitmaston, 

 piiblishecj in the llorliculliiral 'J'raiLSfic/ioux for 1813, this |)ractice is, however, 

 censured. " The standard mulberry," says Mr. Williams, "receives great in- 

 Jury by being planted on grass-plots with the view of preserving the fruit when 

 it falls s|)ontaneou.sly. No tree, perhaps, receives more benefit from the spade 

 and the dunghill than the mulberry ; it ought therefore to be frequently dug 

 about the roots, and occasionally assisted with manure. The ground under tlie 

 tree should l)c kept free from weeds throughout the sunnncr, |)articu!arly when 

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

 soil is thus increased; more especiall) if the end branches are kept pruned, 

 no as not to bow over too near to, and shade, the ground. The fruit is also 

 very fine if the tree is traiuetl as an espalier, within the reflection of a south 

 wall, or other biiililing. If a wooden trellis were constructed, with the same 

 incliiiation as the roof of a forcing-house, fronting the south, and raised about 



