414 MORUS ALBA. 
according to the " Nouveau Cours d" Agriculture," is apt to produce leaves which 
are so exceedingly succulent, that they cause the worms that feed on them, to 
burst. It is a valuable variety for poor soils, particularly in calcareous, rocky 
situations. There is a sub-variety of this kind, cultivated in France, under the 
name of La grosse Heine, with very deep-green leaves, and black fruit, instead 
of white. The celebrated Alpine Mulberry, also, introduced into the United 
States a few years since, from the south side of the Alps, by Mr. Samuel Whit- 
marsh, of Massachusetts, is believed to be only a sub-variety of the Morus a. 
macrophylla. When planted on elevated land, even when exposed to cold, dry 
winds, or in a light, sandy soil, it produces a most healthy and nutritious food 
to the worms, which produce, when fed upon its leaves, the largest quantity of 
strong silk, of the purest and finest quality. 
2. M. a. romana, Loudon. Roman White-fruited Mulberry ; Murier remain, 
of the French. This variety bears a close resemblance to the M. a. macrophylla. 
3. M. a. nervosa, Loudon. Thick-nerved-leaved White-fruited Mulberry ; Mo- 
rus nervosa (" Bon Jardinier," of 1836.) The leaves of this variety are strongly 
marked with thick, white nerves on the under side. There is a sub-variety with 
larger leaves, called M. a. nervosa longifolia. 
4. M. a. italica, Loudon. Italian W hite- fruited Mulberry ; Murier d'ltalie, ot 
the French ; with lobed leaves. In 1825, and for a few years before and after, 
while attempts were making to re-introduce the culture of silk into England and 
Ireland, this variety was principally planted. 
5. M. a. rosea, Loudon. Rose-leaved White-fruited Mulberry or Small-leaved 
While Mulberry ; Murier rose, Feuille rose, of the French. This tree is classi- 
fied by M. Castelet, in his " Traite sur les Muriers blancs," among the wild vari- 
eties. The fruit is small, white, and insipid ; and the leaves resemble the leaflets 
of a rose-tree, but are larger. This kind is said to produce remarkably strong 
silk. 
6. M. a. columbassa, Loudon. Murier columba, of the French, having small, 
delicate leaves, and flexible branches. It is considered the most tender of all 
the kinds. 
7. M. a. membranacea, Loudon. Membranous -leaved White-fruited Mulberry ; 
Murier a feuilles de parchemin, of the French, with large, thin, dry leaves. 
8. M. a. sinensis, Loudon. Chinese White-fruited Mulberry ; Murier de Chine, 
of the French ; Chinese White Mulberry, of the Anglo-Americans, having large 
leaves, and is considered as one of the best varieties in the United States, for the 
production of silk. 
9. M. a. pumila, Loudon. Dwarf White-fruited Mulberry ; Murier nain, of 
the French ; a shrub seldom exceeding ten feet in height. Its leaves, when 
young, are nearly as large as those of the M. a. macrophylla. 
10. M. a. fcemina. Female White-fruited Mulberry ; Murier femelle, of the 
French ; a spiny tree, classed by M. Castelet, among the wild varieties. It sends 
forth its fruit before the leaves, which are trilobate. 
11. M. a. morettiana, Loudon. Moretti' s Black-fruited White Mulberry; 
Murier de Moretti, Murier de Dandolo, of the French ; Dandolo 1 s Mulberry, of 
the English. This variety, the fruit of which is black, has very large, flat, deep- 
green, shining leaves, that are thin, and perfectly smooth on both surfaces. They 
rank high, as food for silkworms, and the silk made by the worms fed on them, 
has a beautiful gloss, and is said to be of a finer quality than any other. It is 
not so hardy as the Morus a. multicaulis, but is much more valuable for the pur- 
pose of raising silk. It was brought into notice, in Italy, in 1815, by Signore 
Moretti, professor in the university of Pavia ; whence its name. It was also 
named in honour of Count Dandolo, who has not only devoted much time to the 
improvement of the culture of silk, but has written a work on the subject. 
