35 



Some measurements in upland situations are given, though it must 

 be remembered that the hedge system is not very conducive to good 

 growth. 



(iroirtli of 



RUSSIAN MULBERRY. 



This hardy variety of the white mulberry was brought into the 

 Western States by the Russian Mennonites nearly thirty years ago. 

 It is one of the hardiest trees planted on the Plains, and serves a num- 

 ber of useful purposes. Mulberry hedges and shelterbelts are com- 

 mon, and the fruit is often gathered for domestic use.. The wood is 

 said to make as durable posts as that of the native red mulberry. 

 The Russian mulberry grows quite rapidly, and endures almost any 

 amount of drought and neglect. The leading shoots frequently win- 

 terkill for a foot or two, however, and this increases still more the 

 natural tendency toward low, bushy growth. It branches diffusely 

 near the ground, and only severe priming can make it develop a 

 respectable trunk. 



The Russian mulberry is well suited to form a low, dense wind- 

 break around an orchard, and when so used the birds are likely to 

 take its berries instead of the more valuable orchard fruit. It makes 

 an excellent sheared hedge, some handsome examples of which are 

 found in western Kansas. In the court-house yard at Phillipsburg 

 are mulberries planted for both ornament and shelter. The trees 

 were set approximately 10 by 10 in 1883 and cultivated about fifteen 

 years, but stand in a dense sod at present. They average 15 feet in 

 height and 4.5 inches in diameter in the better part of the yard, where 

 there is a very slight depression. 



The court-house yard at Ashland is surrounded by a thickly set 

 row of mulberry put out for shelter in 1893. After seven years the 

 trees were pruned into the form shown in figure 4. When 10 years 

 old all the trees in the row 200 in number, extending for 20 rods 

 were measured and found to average 3 inches in diameter and 20 



[Cir. 161.] 



