AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES. 191 



for granted that its general botanical character is already known. 

 But in refutation of one widespread error, it is well to remark 

 here that some varieties of this " white mulberry " bear black fruit, 

 but are always to be distinguished from Moms nigra, L., by their 

 leaves, which are a lighter green, and thinner and more delicate. 



The tree accommodates itself to different climates and soils, and 

 on this account, and for its importance in silk-culture, is widely 

 distributed. Thus we meet with it in Europe, from the shores of 

 the North Sea and the Baltic to those of the Mediterranean, some- 

 times only singly, and again in greater numbers, the last more 

 frequently in proportion as the use of its foliage has become im- 

 portant. 



Reproduction can take place by means of seeds, cuttings, and 

 shoots, though one of the last-named methods is chosen as a rule. 

 Melioration by grafting, or budding, does not take place. The 

 plant has a rapid growth, and if it is headed after the manner of 

 willows, puts forth every year thickly foliaged stout shoots more 

 than a meter long. In any one of its usual forms it attains an 

 age of 40 to 60 years, but is generally renewed in 30 to 40 years. 

 In sub-tropical countries, as in Syria and Andalusia, the new 

 leaves come out in March ; in Provence and Northern Italy, and 

 also in Japan, in April ; in Germany, not till May. Of the various 

 sub-species I found in Japan : 



{a) M. alba laciniata, Hort, with which must be placed a vulgaris 

 indica, D.C. (Prodromus XVII. p. 238, ff). It has deep-lobed 

 leaves, is called T6-kuwa, and found principally in the higher 

 valleys. 



{b) M. alba viacrophylla, Hort. 



(^) M. alba Morettiajia, Hort. with large, bright, smooth leaves, 

 which are heart-shaped, pointed, and sharply dentated, and less 

 frequently lobed. This, as is well known, is the principal species 

 in Southern Europe. 



(d) M. multicatdis, Perr. {M. Constantinopolitana, Lam.) with 

 large heart-shaped leaves, somewhat hairy on their under-side ; is 

 planted principally in the plain and hilly country of Japan, and 

 treated mostly as a bush. 



As regards treatment, three kinds of cultivated mulberry-trees 

 are found in Japan : 



I. The shrubby (Hiku-kabu, i.e. low stump). This is the kind 

 most carefully and extensively cultivated, and predominates in the 

 more level parts of the great silk districts. The mulberry shoots 

 are set out in soil that has been thoroughly and deeply worked, 

 two-thirds of a meter apart, in rows i meter apart. Every year 

 they are cut down nearly to the ground, like osiers. The head 

 or stump thus formed puts forth annually a great number of shoots 



mulberry tree and the tea-shrub also, grow wild in that country, the statement 

 still needs to be verified by some one qualified to speak on the matter. 



