1360 ARBORETUM AND FUUTICETUM. PAKT III. 



lobes; rounded, cordiform, and denticulated; of a dark green colour, a thick 

 texture, and a rough uneven surface." (Michx. Syl. Amer., iii. p. 51.) They 

 are the worst of all the kinds of mulberry leaves for feeding silkworms. The 

 fruit is of a deep red colour, an oblong form, and an agreeable, acidulous, 

 sugary taste. The trunk of the red mulberry is covered with a greenish 

 bark, more furrowed than that of the oaks and hickories. The perfect wood 

 (which is fine-grained and compact, though light,) is of a yellowish hue, 

 approaching to lemon colour. " It possesses strength and solidity ; and, 

 when perfectly seasoned, it is almost as durable as that of the locust, to which, 

 by many persons, it is esteemed equal." (Michx.) It, however, grows more 

 slowly, and requires a richer soil, it being generally found in valleys, at 

 a distance from the sea. It is a common opinion among shipwrights and 

 carpenters, that the wood of the male mulberry is more durable, and of a 

 better quality, than that of the female; but Michaux does not appear to 

 credit this supposition ; which, indeed, evidently cannot be depended on, as 

 the male and female flowers are very often found on the same tree. The red 

 mulberry is well deserving of cultivation as an ornamental tree, from its 

 thick and shady foliage ; and as a fruit tree, from the agreeable flavour of its 

 fruit. Miller mentions a plant of this species in the garden of Fulham 

 Palace, which, in 1731, had been there for several years without producing any 

 fruit ; but which, at some seasons, produced a great number of catkins, much 

 like those of the hazel nut ; which occasioned Ray to give it the name 

 of CYtrylus. (Diet., ed. 1.) On enquiring for this tree in 1834, we found 

 nothing known about it. It is generally said that no insect feeds on the mul- 

 berry but the silkworm. In Smith and Abbott's work on the insects of 

 Georgia, however, a specimen is given of the red mulberry, with the small 

 ermine moth (Phalae v na punctatfssima) feeding on it. (See Insects of Georgia, 

 vol.ii. t. 70.) 

 V Variety. 



% M. canadensis'Lam. Diet., iv. p. 380., seems to be a variety of M. rubra. 

 (Smith in liees^s Cyclopcedia.) 



Statistics. In the environs of London, almost the only plants that we know are those mentioned 

 as in the Horticultural Society's Garden, and in the arboretum of Messrs. Loddiges ; the latter being 8ft. 

 or 10ft high, and the former 16ft. high. In Durham, at Southend, ;30 years planted, it is 20ft. high, 

 against a wall ; diameter of trunk 12 in., and of the head 21 ft. not trained. In Oxfordshire, in the 

 Oxford Botanii- Garden, 40 years old, it is 12 ft. high against a wall ; diameter of the trunk 10 in., and 

 of the head 30 ft. In France, in the Jardin des J'lantes, 50 years planted, it is 45 ft. high ; the diameter 

 of the trunk li ft., and that of the head 38 ft, In Italy, at Monza, 60 years old, it is 26 ft. high ; the 

 diameter of the trunk 2 ft, and of the head 30 ft. 



Commercial Statistics. Price of plants, in London, 2s. each; at Bollwylier, 

 francs; at New York, 37 cents. 



*t 6. M. (R.) SCA V BRA Willd. The rough-fea-ww/ Mulberry Tree. 



Identification Willd.; Spreng. Syst. Veget, 1. p. 492. : Nutt. Gen. N. Amer. PL : Lodd. Cat.ed. 



1836. 

 Kynonyme. M. canadcnsis Pair. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves rough on both surfaces, heart-shaped, 5-cleft ; the 

 lobes acuminated to the tip, tapered to the; base, and serrated with equal 

 teeth. A native, of North America. (Spreng. Syst. l r <-'K-) A tree, growing 

 to the height of 20 ft. Introduced in 18 1 7 ; and, from the appearance of the 

 plant bearing this name in the Horticultural Society's Garden (which, in 

 1836, was 8ft. high), doubtless only a variety of, or possibly identical 

 with, M. rubra. 



A pp. i. Half -hardy Species of Elbrus. 



M. ind'tca L. is near M. alba; but its leaves are not heart-shaped at the base. (Willdenotc Sp. TV.) 

 This name occurs in Mr. Royle's list (see p. 175.). " Rumphius says that the fruit is delicately fla- 

 voured, and black when ripe ; and that the Chinese feed their silkworms with the leaves. Loureiro 

 mentions the same practice of the inhabitants of Cochin-China,who replant the tree every year, that 

 the foliage may be tender." (Smith in fiees's Cyclopedia.) 



M. maurUiitna Jacq. has the leaves oblong, entire, tapered to both ends, and rough. The leaves of 

 young plants are fiddle-shaped. ( WUldenow Sp. Pi.} " A large and strong tree. Fruit green, sweet, 

 with some acidity ; 1 in. or Sin. long. The French call this tree la rape, or the rasp tree of Ma- 



