BUTTONWOOD AND MULBERRIES 



sand years and more b. c. From China the 

 art passed into Persia, India, Arabia, and finally 

 (350 b.c.) into Greece. In 1440 a. d. the white 

 mulberry was introduced into upper Italy, and 

 during the reign of Charles VII. the first white 

 mulberry was planted in France. In 1609 the 

 silkworm was introduced into Great Britain 

 by James I., and at the same time he sent over 

 mulberry trees and silkworms to America, and 

 tried to induce the colonists in Virginia to 

 cultivate silkworms instead of raising tobacco. 

 The wood has been used for making wine 

 casks in Europe, and is highly valued on 

 account of the supposed violet flavor it gives 

 to white wines. The bark is used for making 

 bast for mats, and linen also has been made 

 out of it. The fruit of the white mulberry is 

 insipid and tasteless. 



*5 



