THE MULBERRY AND WALNUT. 571 



(V. Myrtillus, L) ; the great bilberry (V. uliginosum, L.) ; and various 

 other species of Vaccinium, bearing edible and very agreeable cooling 

 acid fruit, may all be grown in moist peat. When a garden is situated in 

 a part of the country where peat soil abounds, and perhaps forms part 

 of the garden or adjoins it, it may be worth while to attempt growing 

 these fruits, but not otherwise. 



The Mulberry. 



The black or garden mulberry (Morus nigra), is a middle-sized de- 

 ciduous tree, a native of Persia, and supposed to have been introduced 

 into Europe by the Romans. It has been cultivated in England since 

 the middle of the 16th century, for its highly aromatic fruit, which 

 ripens in August. An agreeable wine is made from the juice, and a 

 syrup from the unripe berries ; it is also used in puddings and pies. 

 It is readily propagated by cuttings or truncheons, and will thrive as a 

 standard in any good garden soil in the central districts of England ; 

 but north of York, and in Scotland, it requires a south wall. As the 

 fruit drops as soon as it is ripe, the tree is generally planted on a lawn 

 or grass plot ; but the fruit attains a larger size when the soil round 

 the tree is kept slightly dug and well manured. In a small garden the 

 tree may be very conveniently grown as an espalier. The fruit is 

 produced chiefly on short shoots of the same year, which are protruded 

 from last year's wood, and on spurs from the two-year old wood ; both 

 laterals and spurs being produced mostly at the ends of the branches. 

 The tree being of slow growth, very little pruning is required for either 

 espaliers or standards ; though no doubt thinning out the branches 

 would strengthen those that remain. The fruit should be gathered just 

 when it is about to fall, and used the same day. The tree is remark- 

 able for the great age which it attains, and for its vitality ; instances 

 being common of trees growing after remaining out of the ground for 

 a year, or being transplanted in full leaf, and after remaining a year 

 dormant. One, or at most two, mulberry-trees are usually suffi- 

 cient for a garden, whether large or small. There is a Jarge-fruited 

 white sort, which may be planted for variety. 



The Walnut. 



The walnut (Juglans regia, L.), is a deciduous tree of large size, a 

 native of Persia and Caucasus, and has been cultivated in England 

 as a fruit and timber tree from the middle of the 16th century, or before. 

 The ripe kernel is used in the dessert, and the fruit whole, in a green 

 state, before the nut and its involucre or husk harden, forms an ex- 

 cellent pickle. The timber, being very light in proportion to its 

 strength and elasticity, is much used for gun-stocks. The variety 

 most esteemed for its fruit is the Thetford, but the large French Pro- 

 lific and tender-shelled are also good sorts. They are propagated 

 chiefly by budding on the common walnut, or by inarching ; but as 

 there is little demand for these trees, most of those which are sold in 

 the nurseries are seedlings. The tree thrives best in a deep sandy 



