TREE PLANTING IN UTAH. 253 



that it often debars the use of the tree for ornamental planting-. 

 I believe, however, that the Black Mulberry, of which I have 

 riot seen a tree in the State, is the only species that produces 

 fruit of much merit. The Red Mulberry, like the Black, is not 

 found, to my knowledge, in the State. 



White or Silk Mulberry, (Morns alba L.) This tree is a 

 native of China, where it has been cultivated for ages for its 

 leaves, which are used as food for the silk-worm. It is not 

 known when the tree was introduced in America, but nursery- 

 men have offered it for sale for at least a half century. Many 

 of the trees sold by nurserymen are seedling's, and, since all 

 trees that have escaped from cultivation are such, it is not to be 

 wondered at that scarcely any two specimens of the species to 

 be found are alike, and that their great variation can be so com- 

 monly remarked upon. 



At its best the Mulberry reaches the magnitude of most 

 forest trees, but is more often found attaining- a height of from 

 40 to 60 feet, and a diameter from 1 to 2 feet. The timber is of 

 first-class quality and very lasting. Some of the trees make 

 fairly pretty ornamentals, though, to my mind, they are never 

 really handsome. Nurserymen offer several horticultural 

 varieties of this species, some of which possess merits quite 

 superior to the type-plant, either for ornamental planting, or as 

 food for the silk-worm. The following is one of these: 



The Russian Mulberry* (Mortis alba tartarica (L.) Loud.) 

 This tree does not differ in any important botanical characters 

 from the former. It is usually not so large, with a bushier 

 top, smaller and morelobedleaves, with smaller fruit which varies 

 from white to violet, red or black, and is insipid to the taste. 

 The trees are hardier than those of the above, and the wood is 

 said to be firmer, and hence better for posts, etc. The variety 

 grows rapidly and makes a good screen or hedge. Our trees 

 average 22 feet in height, and 18 inches in diameter. 



PROPAGATION OF THE MULBERRY. 



Mrs. Margaret Caine, President of the State Silk Com- 

 mission, tells me that many people are deterred from rearing 

 silk-worms because of not being able to get suitable mulberry 

 trees upon which to feed the worms; and that she thinks that 

 some individual trees of a species are better than others for 

 this purpose. She asks that directions be given in this Bulletin. 



