MULBERKIES, MEDLAHS, ATsD NUTS. 107 



For the winter pruning, take out cross shoots wher- 

 ever they are crowded. The shady side of the tree may 

 be kept thinner than the sunny side, and watery spray 

 growing from the branches in the middle of the tree 

 should be removed. No shortening is needed except in 

 the case of over-rampant branches, which may be cut 

 back, and their place supplied with fresh leaders. 



Mulberries bear forcing, and the fruit may be ripened 

 early in July. The trees may be planted in a bed in 

 the house, or grown in pots for the purpose. They will 

 bear a high temperature. 



The Black mulberry is the kind cultivated for eating 

 in England. The White is spoken of for feeding silk- 

 worms ; but it is seldom seen. Young mulberry trees 

 are bought for from 3s. 6d. to 5s. each, and larger for from 

 1 to 5. It is a touchy tree to remove. A good tree 

 produces a great quantity of fruit, which should be 

 eaten as gathered, to be in perfection. 



Most owners of a garden like to have one medlar 

 tree, or perhaps more, if there be plenty of room to 

 spare. Blake's Large and Dutch produce large fruit; 

 but the Nottingham bears fruit which is, although 

 smaller in size, much better in flavour. The Stoneless 

 is inferior ; but the fruit keeps longer than any other 

 kind. The Royal is a new sort from France, which is 

 like the Nottingham in flavour, g( od in size, and an 

 abundant bearer. Trees may be bought for Is. Qd. or 

 %s. each. 



The soil which suits the medlar best is a well- 

 drained but retentive loam. The best modes of propa- 

 gation are by layers or by grafting. Layers of shoots of 

 the last year are laid down in February or March, and 

 they will root by the autumn. Grafting is sometimes 

 done on the white-thorn ; but it seldom produces good 

 trees, because the stock is of much slower growth than 

 the scion. On the pear stock it thrives much better. 

 It is best to train up the stock standard high, and then 

 graft or bud it. 



Standard medlars must be managed in forming their 

 heads like standard plums. The shoots are less mime- 



