NOTES ON FOREST TREES SUITABLE 

 FOR PLANTING IN THE UNITED 



STATES* 



IV. The Russian Mulberry (morus alba tatarica) 



DISTRIBUTION. 



rilE Russian mulberry is a hardy 

 variety of the Asiatic white mul- 

 berry. It was introduced into the 

 western states by the Russian Menno- 

 nites about thirty years ago and has 

 become widely distributed over the 

 plains region. The range for its eco- 

 nomic planting is southern Nebraska, 

 Kansas, Oklahoma and Indian Terri- 

 tory. It cannot endure the cold win- 

 ters of the Dakotas, and the leading 

 shoots are often frozen back in Kan- 

 sas. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF FORM AND 

 GROWTH. 



The habit of growth of the Russian 

 mulberry is low and bushy, hence se- 

 vere pruning is required to make it de- 

 velop a good trunk. Height and diam- 

 eter growth are fairly rapid. A tree 

 of this species growing near Fairbury, 

 Neb., was found to measure eigfht 

 inches in diameter and twenty feet in 

 height when eight years old, but this 

 growth is somewhat exceptional. Rus- 

 sian mulberry never attain great size, 

 although it is said to reach three feet 

 in diameter and fifty or sixty feet in 

 height. In favorable situations it will 

 produce fence-post timbers in ten years 

 or less. The natural form of the tree 

 makes it well suited to form a low, 

 dense windbreak when left unpruned. 

 It stands pruning well and may be 

 made into an excellent sheared hedge. 



ECONOMIC USKS. 



Tbe Russian mulberry serves a num- 

 ber of useful purposes. The wood is 

 heavy, elastic, coarse-grained and 

 moderately strong. It splits easily 



and, when seasoned, makes a verv 

 durable fence post. It also has a high 

 fuel value. While the fruit is of in- 

 ferior quality, it is much used for do- 

 mestic purposes in the absence of bet- 

 ter kinds. Many horticulturists like 

 to have a mulberry windbreak around 

 their orchards. Aside from being a 

 protection from the wind, the berries 

 furnish food for birds, so that they are 

 less likely to eat the more valuable 

 fruit in the orchard. It is a good tree 

 to plant in the farm woodlot for posts 

 and fuel. 



The Russian mulberry will grow on 

 either sandy or clay soils and can live 

 through almost any amount of drought 

 and neglect. It grows best on rich, 

 loamy soil where the water table is 

 ten to fifteen feet below the surface, 

 but even in very dry situations growth 

 is fairly rapid. These qualities adapt 

 it to both upland and valley situations 

 in the semi-arid regions. It is decid- 

 edly tolerant of shade and can there- 

 fore be used for underplanting or mix- 

 ing with more rapid-growing species 

 to increase height growth and aid nat- 

 ural pruning. 



PROPAGATION. 



Reproduction of the Russian mul- 

 berry takes place both by stump 

 sprouts and by seed. Renewal after 

 cutting is a simple matter A quick- 

 growing stump sprout will have better 

 form than the original tree, and all the 

 treatment that is necessary is to re- 

 move the surplus sprouts and give the 

 best ones a chance to develop. Mul- 

 berry can also be reproduced by cut- 

 tings, but propagation from seed is 

 easier, and produces better plants. 



* Furnished bv U. S. Forest Service. 



