Handbook of Tbees of tiik Xortiieen States and Canada. 107 



The White Mulberry, in that its leaves fur- 

 nish the most valuable food known for the 

 Silk-worm, has the distinction of being the 

 tree about which more has been written than 

 any other tree. I'^ion its existence, too, de- 

 pend the cmi)loyment of vastly more people 

 and capital than any otlier tree, and no other 

 tree has been so exlcn^ively cultivated. It 

 grows naturally in nurthcrn C'liina and Japan, 

 hut has been ciuried into all countries where 

 climatic conditions are favorable. As early 

 as in the seventeentii century it was brought 

 to America and until the outbreak of the Re- 

 volutionaiy ^^'ar its propag:'.tion was en- 

 couraged by the British government, as a basis 

 for the establishment of silk production in this 

 countr}'. Many thousands of trees were planted 

 and great preparations made, but the value of 

 labor here has always made it impossible to 

 compete witli tlie Old World in silk production 

 and the fortunes spent in early days were lost, 

 but the White ^Mulberry tree remains as a last- 

 ing monument to the departed hopes. 



The Wood of the White Mulberry is of sec- 

 ondary importance, but is hard and dural)le 

 and used to some extent for furniture, boat- 

 building, etc.i Its fruit is edible and from 

 that of a variety growing in Turkestan it is 

 said a Hour is made. 



Lea res mostly ovate. 3-7 in. long, serrate, and 

 en visorons shoots often with from 1-5 wide lobes. 

 cordate or truncate at base, mostly acute at apex, 

 thin, shinins: dark green above, 'duller beneath. 

 Fruit maturing in .June or .Tuly, %-!% in. long, 

 sweet and succulent, usually "white or pinkish 

 tinted. Several varieties have originated in culti- 

 vation, one with nearly black fruif.- 



1. A. W., XII. liilU.' 



2. For genus see p. 4-'!;;. 



