THE NATIVE MULBERRY 165 



"A seedling from Ohio. Fruit very large, oblong 

 cylindric; blackish color, subacid, and of mild, agree- 

 able flavor. Growth of the wood strong and irregular. 

 Leaves uncommonly large." The Johnson is very little 

 known at the present time, and will probably soon pass 

 from sight. Mr. Berckmans, of Georgia, writes that 

 the "fruit is large, very good, but too little of it," and 

 that he has "long since discarded it." "The fruit," 

 he says "is fully two inches long by three -fourths inch 

 in diameter, very black and of a rich, vinous flavor." 



The Hicks (or Hicks' Everbearing) is a Georgian 

 variety, as near as I can learn, although Downing, in 

 1872, credits it to Kentucky. It was brought to notice 

 about 1850, or before, by Simri Rose, of Macon, 

 Georgia, who is said to have obtained it from Thomas 

 Elkins, of Effingham county, Georgia. Mr. Elkins 

 "planted it in avenues, on his lanes, in his fence 

 corners, and many other favorite places on his plan- 

 tation, for his hogs, and it is said that he always had 

 pork or bacon to sell." At the present time it is much 

 used in parts of the South as a food for swine. Mr. 

 Berckmaus says that "the value of mulberries as an 

 economic food for hogs is beginning to be appreciated 

 by many farmers, who have planted large orchards of 

 the Hicks for that purpose." It is also one of the very 

 best varieties for poultry. It is a most profuse bearer, 

 producing a continuous and bountiful crop for three 

 and four months. The fruit is medium to large, very 

 sweet, and rather insipid. 



The original Stubbs mulberry tree was found grow- 

 ing in a wood near Dublin, Laurens county, Georgia. 

 Col. John M. Stubbs, of that place, gave cions to Mr. 

 Berckmans some twenty years ago, and Mr. Berckraaus 



