z8 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



and useful, the mulberry is often planted on lawns and orchards in grass to prevent 

 damage to the fruit by its fall from the tree. Standard trees are the best for such 

 positions. Pyramids may be grown in gardens, and trees may be trained to walls, 

 keeping the main branches a foot asunder. Bearing trees of all forms are the most 

 economical to purchase. They should be had of the large-fruited kind (Fig. 8); other- 

 wise there is much uncertainty, and after waiting years they may prove indifferent in 

 cropping, size, and quality of the fruit. 



Planting is best performed in early spring ; and as sunlight is necessary for fruit- 

 fulness, avoid overcrowding the growths, thinning out the superfluous and stopping the 

 grosser shoots to insure spurs for bearing. 



The fruit should be gathered when about to drop, as it does when ripe and the 

 branches are slightly shaken. The best plan, however, is to place clean cloths under 

 the trees, and either shake the branches or let the fruits fall of their own accord upon 

 the cloths. Bed fruit answers for cooking, but that for dessert should be quite ripe, 

 dark purple or black, and dished on its own leaves. 



Birds eagerly devour the fruits even before they are ripe, and should be netted out. 

 Wasps skeletonise the ripe fruit, and can only be excluded by hexagon netting. Few 

 fungoid or insect pests attack the trees, but the branches are apt to split from the 

 weight of the foliage and fruit. The best safeguards against such accidents are 

 sheltered position, evenly balanced heads, and needful support. Many old trees with 

 the boughs sustained by an iron chain carried round them fruit enormously, even when 

 the iron is grown over by the bark and wood. 



Growing under Glass. Trees in pots or tubs succeed admirably in orchard houses, 

 either as bushes, pyramids, or low standards. The restriction at the roots conduces to 

 fertility, and the high feeding, with the superior climate, enable the grower to produce 

 fruit fit for any dessert. The trees may also be forced in a fig house, and if started in 

 January ripe mulberries may be had in June, when they are always welcome. Red 

 spider attacks trees grown under glass, but it is easily kept under by syringing. 



