596 



The Orchard. 



CHAP. XXI 1 1 1. 

 Moras. The Mulberrie. 



THere are two forts of Mulberries fufficiently known to moft, the blackifh and 

 the white : but wee haue had brought vs from Virginia another fort, which is 

 of greater refpecl: then eyther of the other two, not onely in regard of the ra- 

 ritie, but of the vfe, as you (hall prefently vnderftand. 



i. Morus nigra. The blacke Mulberrie. 



The blacke Mulberrie tree groweth oftentimes tall and great, and oftentimes alfo 

 crooked, and fpreading abroade, rather then high ; for it is fubieft to abide what forme 

 you will conforme it vnto : if by fuffering it to grow, it will mount vp, and if you will 

 binde it, or plafh the boughes, they will fo abide, and be carried ouer arbours, or other 

 things as you will haue it. The bodie groweth in time to bee very great, couered with 

 a rugged or thicke barke, the armes or branches being fmoother, whereon doe grow 

 round thicke leaues pointed at the ends, and nicked about the edges, and in fome there 

 are to be feene deep games, making it feeme fomewhat like the Vine leafe : the flowers 

 are certaine fhort dounie catkings, which turne into greene berries at the firft, after- 

 wards red, and when they are full ripe blacke, made of many graines fet together, like 

 vnto the blacke berrie, but longer and greater : before they are ripe, they haue an au- 

 ftere and harm tafte, but when they are full ripe, they are more fweete and pleafant ; 

 the iuice whereof is fo red, that it will ftaine the hands of them that handle and eate 

 them. 



2. Morus alba. The white Mulberrie. 



The white Mulberrie tree groweth not with vs to that greatneffe or bulke of bodie 

 that the blacke doth, but runneth vp higher, flenderer, more knotty, hard and brittle, 

 with thinner fpreade armes and branches : the leaues are like the former, but not fo 

 thicke fet on the branches, nor fo hard in handling, a little paler alfo, hauing fomewhat 

 longer ftalkes : the fruit is fmaller and clofer fet together, greene, and fomewhat harm 

 before they be ripe, but of a wonderfull fweetnefle, almoft ready to procure loathing 

 when they are thorough ripe, and white, with fuch like feede in them as in the former, 

 but fmaller. 



3. Morus Virginiana. The Virginia Mulberrie. 



The Virginia Mulberry tree groweth quickely with vs to be a very great tree, fprea- 

 ding many armes and branches, whereon grow faire great leaues, very like vnto the 

 leaues of the white Mulberrie tree : the berry or fruit is longer and redder then either 

 of the other, and of a very pleafant tafte. 



The Vfe of Mulberries. 



The greateft and moft efpeciall vfe of the planting of white Mulber- 

 ries, is for the feeding of Silke wormes, for which purpofe all the Ea- 

 fterne Countries, as Perlia, Syria, Armenia, Arabia &c. and alfo the hither 

 part of Turkic, Spaine alfo and Italic, and many other hot Countries doe 

 nourifh them, becaufe it is beft for that purpofe, the wormes feeding there- 

 on, giuing the fineft and beft Hike ; yet fome are confident that the leaues 

 of the blacke will doe as much good as the white : but that refpecl muft be 

 had to change your feede, becaufe therein lyeth the greateft myfterie. But 

 there is a Booke or Tractate printed, declaring the whole vfe of whatfoeuer 

 can belong vntb them: I will therefore referre them thereunto, that 



would 





