THE CANADIAN H0ETICULTUBI8T. 



189 



told by those who have had thirty 

 years' knowledge of these people that 

 they will almost go without bread to 

 buy flowers. And there is something 

 in the sight of a gaunt, toil-worn Arab, 

 whose sole garments may consist of a 

 piece of coarse sacking and a ragged 

 old turban, with a bunch of delicate 

 spring blossoms drooi)ing their cool 

 freshness against his swarthy cheek, 

 which stirs a strange mingling of sym- 

 pathy and pity and admiration. — All 

 the Year Bound. 



THE RUSSIAN MULBERRY TREE. 



This tree was introduced into the 

 United States by the Mennonites,-a sect 

 which formerly lived in Germany, but 

 who emigrated because the German gov- 

 ernment insisted upon their serving in 

 the army, which their religious scruples 

 forbade their doing. The Czar of Rus- 

 sia ofiered them a tract of land for 

 settlement in 1800, and agreed to ex- 

 empt them from military duty. From 

 Russia a goodly number have emigrated 

 to this country and settled in Kansas, 

 Dakota and Nebraska. The mulberry 

 tree was introduced into the colonies in 

 Russia by the Czar, for the purpose of 

 silk culture. He compelled the Men- 

 nonitesto buy these trees of government. 

 Each land holder must plant a certain 

 number. After cultivating them until 

 they learned their value they voluntarily 

 propagated these trees very extensively, 

 and learned that silk culture was not 

 the only consideration in raising them. 

 They found the timber very desirable 

 fuel. It also furnished the finest ma- 

 terial for cabinet work, and fence posts 

 made from it would outlast those made 

 from any other timber. The tree soon 

 became tlie most highly prized of any 

 Russian timber tree. It also bore edible 

 fruit which was marketable in Russia. 

 When the Mennonites came to this 

 country they brought the seed of this 



mulberry with them. They brought 

 the seed of several other trees, but 

 planted these more extensively than all 

 others combined. They grew quite 

 rapidly. Trees, the seed of which was 

 planted six years ago, are now twenty 

 feet high and large enough for fence 

 posts. The tree resembles the apple 

 tree in its habits of growth. The Rus- 

 sians say that they grow quite large, 

 often reaching the height of forty feet, 

 and from three to five feet in diameter. 

 They bear fruit very young, frequently 

 commencing when two years old, and 

 bear every year. It varies in flavor 

 from sub acid to sweet, color jet black 

 and reddish white, ninety per cent, 

 being black. The bark is grayish white, 

 and branches drooping. The Mennon- 

 ites also use it as a hedge plant, and it 

 makes a beautiful hedge and stands 

 shearing as well as any tree. 



SHAFFER'S COLOSSAL RASPBERRY. 



President T. T. Lyon, of the Michi- 

 gan Pomological Society, thus speaks 

 of this newest novelty in raspberries : 



"Last spring I received for trial, 

 plants of the Shafier Raspberry. Its 

 growth from last spring ' tips ' would 

 seem to justify the title Colossal some- 

 times imposed upon it. Judging from 

 its habit, as well as from the color, tex- 

 ture, and flavor of the fruit, I am led 

 to consider it a hybrid between our 

 two natives, Occidentalis and Strigosus. 

 It ripened a few berries, on canes of 

 the current year, about the middle of 

 August, 1881. It seems to possess 

 much more than the usual vigor of 

 Occidentalis ; and, so far, roots from 

 tips only. The foliage, as well as the 

 wood growth, is very vigorous and 

 healthy. Fruit large, dark purplish- 

 red, with a very slight bloom. Tex- 

 ture rather firm, moderately juicy, with 

 a rich, acid, sprightly flavor." — Rural 

 New-Yorker. 



