184 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



aspect, as all plants not perfectly hardy are much injured 

 by the late growth, caused by an excess of moisture and 

 consequent upon an immature state of the wood, which is 

 unable to resist the effects of a severe winter. 



THE MULBERRY TREE. Morus. 



Nat. Ord. Urticaceae. Lin. Syst. Moncecia, Tetrandria. 



The three principal species of the Mulberry, are the 

 common Red American, the European Black, and the 

 White mulberries. None of them are truly handsome in 

 scenery ; and the two latter are generally low spreading 

 trees, valued entirely for the excellency of the fruit, or the 

 suitableness of the . foliage for feeding silkworms. Our 

 common mulberry, however, in free, open situations, forms 

 a large, wide-spreading, horizontally branched, and not 

 inelegant tree : the rough, heart-shaped leaves with which 

 it is thickly clothed, afford a deep shade ; and it groups well 

 with the lime, the catalpa, and many other round-headed 

 trees. We consider it, therefore, duly entitled to a place 

 in all extensive plantations ; while the pleasant flavor of 

 its slightly acid, dark red fruit, will recommend it to those 

 who wish to add to the delicacies of the dessert. The 

 timber of our wild mulberry tree is of the very first quality , 

 when fully seasoned, it takes a dull lemon-colored hue, and 

 is scarcely less durable than the locust or Live oak. Like 

 those trees, it is much valued by ship-builders ; and at 

 Philadelphia and Baltimore it commands a high price, for 

 the frame-work, knees, floor-timbers, and tree-nails of 

 vessels. The Red mulberry is much slower in its growth 



