418 DECIDUOUS TREES. 



strong soil, and somewhat sheltered location, though it may be 

 considered hardy in most parts of the northern States. Though 

 not truly within the scope of this work, we feel it a duty to call 

 attention to a fact which is not well known in many parts of the 

 country, viz : that the wood of this species is almost as durable as 

 that of the black or yellow locust. Its growth is rapid. 



THE WHITE MULBERRY. Morus alba. The varieties of this 

 species are very numerous, and their leaves form the staple food 

 for the silkworm, the Morus multicaulis being one of them. Their 

 fruit is red and black, as well as white, although the species is 

 characterized as white-fruited. The leaves resemble those of the 

 red mulberry in form (see Fig. 134), but are smaller, more pointed, 

 and less often lobed, though very variable in this respect, lighter- 

 colored, and more glossy. The tree is of a more shrubby char- 

 acter, of slenderer though rapid growth, and should be allowed to 

 branch low ; otherwise its tendency to suckers will be increased. 

 Loudon mentions that it is not able to endure great extremes of 

 heat or cold. There are specimens of the white mulberry in the 

 New York Central Park, with luxuriant and glossy leaves, among 

 the most beautiful to be seen there. 



The Morus multicaulis has larger and thinner leaves than the 

 parent species, and black fruit. It is also more tender, and forms 

 rather a luxuriant bush than a tree. 



THE DANDELO MULBERRY, M. morettiana, is another variety, 

 the leaves of which are held in great esteem in France as food for 

 silkworms, and the silk made from it is said to exceed any other 

 in fineness and glossiness. The leaf itself is very beautiful, being 

 thin, large, perfectly flat, deep green, and glossy on both surfaces. 

 Less hardy than the preceding. 



There are scores of other varieties, but none that are at the 

 same time hardy and peculiar enough to be interesting. All the 

 white mulberry trees do best in a dry, sandy, or gravelly soil, and 

 a protected situation, and grow occasionally to considerable size ; 

 from thirty to forty-five feet in height and about equal breadth. 



DOWNING'S EVER-BEARING MULBERRY should, perhaps, be 

 classed as a variety of the M. alba. It is a fine rapid-growing tree, 



