THE BLACK MULBERRY ] 171 



if the layered branch is notched to induce the early 

 formation of a callus and the emission of roots. The 

 layers should be watered regularly, or at least should 

 be made in a moist soil and cool situation, otherwise 

 the formation of roots will be considerably delayed, or 

 the layers may fail altogether to form roots. Rooted 

 layers may be transplanted towards the close of the 

 following winter, in February or early in March, and 

 with ordinary care do not fail to establish themselves, 

 even if they happen to be but poorly provided with 

 rootlets. Cuttings are made during winter and should 

 be from 20 to 40 c. m. in length, with the terminal 

 bud on the last summer's growth. They should be 

 unbranched, and if there are any side twigs these 

 should be removed with a clean cut. The cuttings are 

 planted in a moist situation, in soil deeply worked, 

 with a top dressing of well-rotted manure, and should 

 be planted deep about three-fourths of their length. 

 They require to be watered carefully in dry weather 

 and during the first summer. With due care about 

 50 per cent, of the cuttings will root, and the young 

 plants may be allowed to remain for two or three 

 years in the nursery bed to acquire strength, at the 

 same time removing all side shoots to secure a clean 

 straight stem, and then they may be transplanted to 

 their final destination. 



The black mulberry being a large tree with far 

 spreading branches should not be planted less than 

 eight metres apart. This distance will encourage the 

 branches to spread, and these lower branches are 

 generally more productive and produce finer fruit than 

 the straight-growing upper branches. Planting is done 

 in winter, preferably early in February, and the young 

 trees being raised from cuttings or layers, and therefore 

 having no tap-root, should be planted deep enough to 

 encourage the formation of more roots at different levels 

 all round the stem, so that the tree may have a firm 



